In December of 1940 SWOC-CIO (Steelworkers Organizing Committee – Congress for Industrial Organization) petitioned the recently formed NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) for a vote of recognition of SWOC as the bargaining agent of GLS (Great Lakes Steel National Steel Corporation) (1)
SWOC had been attempting to organize GLS since 1937 (2)
SWOC Local 1299 initially operated out of a rented building at 220 Burke st in River Rouge Michigan. (1)
Other Unions claimed membership at GLS including what was known as company unions as well as the ISWU (Independent Steelworker Union). (2)(3)(4)
SWOC was granted recognition, claiming 80% of GLS employees support for SWOC, and began negotiating a Contract for the 8,000 employees of GLS as well as for sole recognition as the bargaining agent (Union) for employees of GLS (4)
After what was perceived as delaying in the negotiations, between SWOC and GLS, the employees began a walkout/strike at the GLS facility on June 3rd 1941. (5) James F. Dewey, a well renowned Federal Labor Conciliator with the Department of Labor, was called in to help mediate the contract between SWOC and GLS, which was to become the first under National Steel. After meeting with Dewey, the employees returned to work less than 40 hours after initially striking (6).
But this would not be the last strike of 1941. (7)
SWOC soon secured a contract for the employees of GLS by a vote margin of 2,635 to 569 that provided for upwards of 0.18 cents an hour, vacations with pay and bargaining rights for SWOC, on behalf of the employees at GLS. (8)
On July 14th 1941, the employees again staged a second walkout when they believed that there was a delay in the signing of the Contract. They returned to work on July 16th 1941. (7)(9)
This un-authorized walk out was frowned upon by the senior leaders of the CIO. (10)
A third wildcat strike commenced on August 27th when employees at GLS misinterpreted a letter from SWOC Staff Representative Orvall Kinkaid, stating that negotiations had been temporarily adjourned to give GLS time to study the wage adjustments proposed. Employees voted to return to work the next day, across the street from their new offices on West Jefferson in River Rouge Michigan, after listening to speeches from Dewey, Kinkaid and SWOC Mid-west Director of Organization John Daugherty (7)(11)
A fourth and final strike was called on October 15th 1941. Workers ignored Dewey calling the strike “illegal and unauthorized” stating that it was “sabotage” that they return to work for ‘their own sake, the sake of their families and for the sake of the country” and that all “must follow the Democratic way of life” and “live up to what your country expects of you”. Dewey also informed the workers that the company would not deal with the leaders of the strike (7)(12)
Orvall Kinkaid assailed the leaders of the strike as “Nazi sympathizers halting national defense” work which the strike leaders denied. Kinkaid suspended, from SWOC, Local 1299 Financial Secretary Andrew Evison and threatened discharge without reinstatement if he and 25 leaders of the strike did not return by midnight October 18th 1941. (12)
The strikers stated that they struck because “they did not obtain the highest wages in the steel industry that they were promised (12)
Further suspensions from SWOC were issued by Kinkaid. By October 20th 1941 19 members of Local 1299 had been suspended from the Union. (13)
The strike continued to be attacked, in the Detroit Times Editorial of October 22nd 1941, as “sabotage to National defense” as well as to the Union. Even indicating that the C.I.O. had requested the FBI to “inquire whether the activity of the strikers may be caused by pro Axis influence” (14)
The Detroit Times October 14th 1941 Night Edition reported that the threat of the Armed forces was looming if work did not resume. The strikers indicated a possible willingness to return if Kincaid was removed as District Director. That Kincaid’s suspension of the 19 strike leaders be reinstated and that no one be fired for participating in the strike. Kinkaid had so angered the strikers that they made effigy of him (Kincaid) and strung it on a light post before setting it ablaze. (2)(15)(15.1)
The strike was called off on October 23rd 1941 after a plan was put forward by leaders of the UAW and CIO. Walter Ruether, President of the UAW, concerned that the strike would soon impact 90k auto workers, along with Tracy Doll President of the Greater Detroit and Wayne County Industrial Council and August Scholl CIO State President put forth this plan to the members of Local 1299. It called for the reinstatement of those suspended by Kinkaid. That new elections of Local officers take place within 30 days. The new officers present a financial statement to the members of 1299. That printed copies of the contract be furnished to all members. And that the three of them guaranteed it would be carried out. (16)(16.1)(17)
An election for new officers was held on December 4th 1941. And all members were issued a copy of the contract. (18)(19)
In recognition of the importance of Local 1299 in the fight to organize Little Steel and the tenacity of the workers at GLS, in 1946 a New building was erected to house Local 1299 and is the building that still stands today.
The building was built to be a small-scale replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (20)
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt was invited to attend the ceremonies on April 10th 1946. Unfortunately she was able to attend as she had prior engagements in New York to dedicate F.D.R’s boyhood home to the public (21)(22)(23)
On April 10th 1941 Phillip Murray, President of SWOC and the CIO unveiled the plaque bearing FDR’s likeness for the newly built Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hall, Local 1299, located at 11424 West Jefferson, in River Rouge MI. The event was also attended by John Daugherty, Thomas Shane SWOC District Representative, R.J. Thomas General Vice President of the C.I.O as well as many more. (23)(24)(25)(26)
The building was described as decorative and to have had two halls. The main is able to seat 600 and the smaller to seat 150. 12 offices for Union activities and would also house the Great Lakes Federal Credit Union. There was also mention of adding 8 lanes for bowling in the basement but that never transpired. (23)
Local ads describe a new and modern building that could be rented for parties, weddings, dances, meetings, banquets and receptions. It also boasted two fine acoustic auditoriums with speakers and a performance stage as well as a motion picture projection booth. (27)
On April 16th 1959, on the front page of the River Rouge Herald, it was announced that the Credit Union would be moved to a new building (and currently housed) on West Jefferson and Benson st in Ecorse MI. It also shows a bond drive that took place at GLS with Local 1299 President John Sadvery. It also discussed the plans for a new 80” Hot Strip Mill with 3.6 million tons of rolling capacity being built at GLS. And it mentions that Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is to be the guest speaker at a church in Ecorse. (28)
Local 1299, upon hearing the news that Mrs. Roosevelt would be coming to the area, secured some of her precious time to ask that she come and rededicate the building she was unable to do in 1946. And on May 9th 1959 she did just that. Giving a dedication speech and dedication of the plaque bearing her late husband’s likeness. (20)(29)(30)
It should also be noted that 1946, the year the Hall was opened, and 1959, the year Mrs. Roosvelt’s visit, were pivotal years for Local 1299 and the Steelworkers as a whole. 1946 saw the largest steel strike ever, over 750k workers, in the beginning of that year, prior to the opening of the current Local 1299 Union hall. And in October 1959 the industry saw the second largest strike in the steel industry as the USW was forced to call a general strike amongst steel producers (31)(32)(33)
But even a strike could not stop Local 1299 from spreading good cheer and joy with a Christmas party for the children of the members of Local 1299. As 1959 saw 11k children attend the 12th annual Yule party over three days. This event still carries on to this day. (34)
Local 1299 has carried on the proud tradition of our past and the ever-waging fight for labor to be given fair recognition by management. Because of these early struggles, the Downriver community of Michigan was able to realize and prosper from good jobs and good wages. A large portion of the population of the Downriver community can trace direct roots to family members that have worked at the former GLS (currently Great Lakes Works United States Steel). And just as many can trace and/or remember going to Franklin Delano Roosevelt Hall for some event in their past.
Sincerely,
Bob Kemper
USW Local 1299
1. River Rouge Herald December 10th 1941
3. Electrical Department Association Handbook 1937
4. River Rouge Herald March 13th 1941
5. Detroit Times June 4th 1941
6. Detroit Times June 5th 1941
7. River Rouge Herald November 6th 1941
8. Detroit Times June 10th 1941
9. Detroit Times July 16th 1941
10. River Rouge Herald July 17th 1941
11. River Rouge Herald September 4th 1941
12. Detroit Times October 18th 1941
13. Detroit Times October 20th 1941
14. Detroit Times October 22nd 1941
15. Detroit Times Night Edition October 22nd 1941
15.1 Detroit Times Night Edition October 22nd 1941
16. Detroit Times October 24th 1941
16.1 Detroit Times October 24th 1941
17. River Rouge Herald October 30th 1941
18. River Rouge Herald December 11th 1941
19. 1941 Contract between S.W.O.C and GLS
20. River Rouge Herald May 14th 1959
21. My Day Eleanor Roosevelt April 10th 1946
22. My Day Eleanor Roosevelt April 13th 1946
23. River Rouge Herald May 10th 1941
24. Detroit News April 11th 1941
25. River Rouge Herald April 18th 1941
26. Plaque in Lobby of Local 1299
27. River Rouge Herald May 2nd 1941
28. River Rouge Herald April 16th 1959
29. Picture circa May 9th 1959 Eleanor on stage of local 1299
30. Picture circa May 9th 1959 Eleanor entering Local 1299
31. River Rouge Herald January 24th 1946
32. River Rouge Herald October 15th 1946
33. River Rouge Herald December 10th 1946
34. River Rouge Herald December 17th 1946
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