Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1942-11-27

to and granted by the National
Executive Council of the A. F. of
L. for a charter as Federal
Labor Union. August A, 1888, the
charter was issued and the United
Auto Workers F deral Labor
Union, Local 1884, came into of
ficial existence.
From its original starting point,
the WHY'S Overland, the urge to
organize spread rapidly. The Spicer
Mfg. Co., City Auto Stamping Co.,
Auto-Lite, Logan Gear and Bing-
ham Stamping were organized in
quick succession, and the Union
movement grew strong in number
and purpose.
FIRST STRIKE
Six months after organization,
labor troubles beset the new Union,
and on Wednesday night, Februar--
81, 1884, the newborn Local took
its first strike vote. The vote to
strike was unanimous, with the
Auto-Lite, Spicep; Logan Gear, and
Bingham Stamping employees par
ticipating ii the strike vote.
At 1850 noon, Friday, Febru-
ary 23< 1884, the first strike was
in the plants which elected
out. Picket lines were thrown
\ 4 the plants, and after one
~ ( of strike, an agreement was
made by the Union to return to
work pending negotiations which
were to open in 80 days.
Only the Spicer Company held
to its promise to negotiate, and as
a result of the failure of the other
plants to keep their promise, the
Auto-Lite strike was called on
April 13, 1884.
Nationwide interest was center
ed in Toledo during the Auto-Lite
strike, which, in the minds of the
workers throughout the country,
was test of the new federal legis-
lation which guaranteed labor the
lation which guaranteed labor the
right to bargain collectively, as
we'll as test of strength and cour-
age for the newborn but lusty
Local Union. The press, radio, and
news reels sent their Representatives
into Toledo, and it became the
focal point of labor's first big
test in the struggle for its exist
ence.
UNION SUCCESS
After eight weeks of struggle on
the picket line, the Union succeed
ed in securing the rights to bar
gain with the management of the
plants as the representatives of the
plant employees. The bargaining
relations which had their begin
ming as the result of the strike,
have continued, and Local IL now
has labor contracts with 65 plants
in the City of Toledo covering
approximately 27,000 members.
HALL TROUBLE
Memories of Union meetings
held in vacant lots in all kinds of
weather, garages, Easements and
other out-of-the-way places will
linger long in the minds of our
older members.
In our early days, property own
ers frequently told us they were
not allowed to rent to the Union,
or that they were afraid to rent
to it because of what people might
say or think of them.
Eventually, we were able to
rent Memorial Hall, and it was in
this building that we continued
to meet for some time. While we
conducted meetings at Memorial
Hall, many of our members felt
that it was not sufficient for our
needs and secuted around looking
for more suitable quarters.
AS a result of the enterprise of
several of our memebrs, we finally
secured lease on the upstairs of
6121z Huron st. The rent receipts
piled up, and as our membership
grew, we realized that we would
need larger quarters. After in
vestigation and considerable shop
ping around, we purchased the
building at Gil Huron St., and
took possession of this property
in February, 1888. This building
is now occupied by the Toledo In
dustrial Union Council, which is
the central body for all C. I. O.
Unions in the city.
UNION GROWTH
AS time went on, we took more
interest in advancing the quality
lr membership, which we were