The Rise of the Middle Class: GM Strike in Automobile Metropolis

The historic Flint sit-down strike of 1936-1937 by the United Auto Workers paved the way for fair wages across industries. "Midnight in Automobile Metropolis" recounts the thrilling saga of workers triumphing over General Motors, the world's largest industrial giant. This victory marked the birth of the golden era for the American middle class, ensuring equitable wealth distribution among employees. The strike's demands - including collective bargaining, secure retirement, and higher wages - resonated for decades. Yet today, as the middle class dwindles, economic disparity has reached pre-New Deal levels.

Experience the strike of the century through the compelling storytelling of journalist and historian Edward McClelland. He breathes new life into the dynamic events through firsthand accounts. McClelland vividly recounts the intense takeovers of GM plants, the violent clashes between picketers and law enforcement, Governor Frank Murphy's mobilization of the National Guard, the courageous Women's Emergency Brigade protecting strikers, and the high-stakes negotiations involving labor leader John L. Lewis, GM chairman Alfred P. Sloan, and labor secretary Frances Perkins.

The strike's epic tale and enduring legacy highlight why the middle class is considered one of the greatest innovations of the twentieth century. It offers valuable insights into what we stand to lose if we fail to revive this essential cornerstone of society.