Labor hailing gains made in GM struggle.

• Position: THE 1930S FLASHBACK - General Motors strike - Brief article

February 20, 1937

Thousands of new members began flocking into the United Automobile Workers of America on the heels of the agreement ending the forty-four-day General Motors strike, which for the first time establishes unionism as a great power in the industry.

The five-cent hourly increase, gained by GM in advance of wage negotiations, was so transparent an attempt to avoid the appearance of direct concession to the union that it will fool few people. The epic struggle put up by General Motors workers under the union banner is receiving full credit for the higher scale, as for the recent Chrysler increase.

Among the points at which the union is making tremendous headway on...