HUNGRY GERALD

Yes, it’s a joyous holiday celebrating the end of summer, the onset of autumn, beginning of the football season, and, sadly for some, back to school. What may be forgotten is the frightening exploitation of working men, women and children before the trade union movement gained strength. There are many horrors. The Triangle Shirtwaist tragedy where immigrant young women died by flames or suicide. The Ludlow Massacre in Colorado. The Blair Mountain civil war in West Virginia where thousands of miners battled hired thugs, sheriff deputies and state troops. And, the very unsavory history of Ford Motor Co. where the vicious Harry Bennett ruled the 2,000 man “service department” for 20 years. This was Ford’s violent union busting department. Bennett employed former boxers, prize fighters and streetfighters. Their job was to intimidate (and injure) UAW organizers and members. Their activities (and those of the Dearborn,Mich. police) caused deaths. Four marchers were shot to death in the Ford Hunger March of 1932.  UAW members (including leaders Reuther and Frankensteen) were assaulted brutally by Bennett’s men in the Battle of the Overpass (1937).  Photos of the bloody UAW officials helped turn public opinion against Ford and led to Ford signing a union contract. This is just skimming the surface of many decades of anti union violence and injustice. So, let’s not forget the true meaning of Labor Day. It’s a holiday created by blood and suffering. HG/BSK do not forget. Both belonged to labor unions. HG: Newspaper Guild. BSK: Actors Equity. Solidarity Forever, brothers and sisters!!!