Ford Strike of 1945

1945 Ford strike
Workers blockade Sandwich Street, November 6, 1945
Date12 September 1945 – 19 December 1945
Location
Caused byLayoffs, unequal treatment of workers in American and Canadian plants
MethodsStrike, picket line
Resulted inFull recognition of the UAW
Parties
United Auto Workers Local 200
Other unions in support
Lead figures

Roy England

Number
8,000+ (including supporters)
250+ police

The 99-day Ford strike of 1945 took place in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, from September 12, 1945, to December 19, 1945.[1] Although several union demands were contentious issues, the two main demands of the UAW Local 200 were "union shop and checkoff," which became a rallying cry for the strikers.[2] Negotiations for a new contract had spanned 18 months and officially ended with the exodus of Ford workers at 10 a.m. on the morning of September 12.[3] The strike included picketing and eventually led to a two-day blockade of vehicles surrounding the Ford plant on November 5.[4]

The strike ended on December 19 as both sides agreed to a temporary agreement proposal, while arbitration regarding the implementation of a fully unionized shop and medical coverage continued under Justice Ivan C. Rand.[5] His report was released on January 29, 1946.[6] The Rand Formula, as it became known, was one result of his report. This gave the UAW formal recognition as the sole negotiators representing all employees of Ford Motor Company.[6] This changed both collective bargaining and labour relations by legitimizing unions.[7]

  1. ^ Abella 1974, p. 149.
  2. ^ Abella 1974, p. 134.
  3. ^ Morton 1980, pp. 184–186; Abella 1974, p. 130.
  4. ^ Morton 1980, p. 185.
  5. ^ Abella 1974, p. 147.
  6. ^ a b Abella 1974, p. 148.
  7. ^ Krahn 2002.