FDR, New Deals, and the Limits of Power 211as a green light for organizing. Employers, however, did not view it the same
way, so 1933-1934 saw one of the more intense strike waves in U.S. history, a
real manifestation of class struggle. Labor militancy began even before FDR’s
inaugural. In January 1933, the Briggs Manufacturing Company, which made
auto bodies and upholstery and in 1925 alone had made an $11 million dollar
profit [about $147 million today] was struck by workers who called it a “hell
hole” and complained of starvation wages which were actually being cut, and
long work hours. When Briggs ownership threatened another 20 percent
wage cut, its workers went on strike, and Briggs had to withdraw the pay cut.
A few weeks later, Briggs again announced a 15 percent cut in wages in its
Motor Products division, and those 1500 workers went out. On January 23d,
the entire workforce, over 10,000 strong, struck against Briggs and the com-
pany again had to fold, recognizing workplace committees, establishing a
minimum wage of 30 cents and hour for women and 40 cents for men, which
in some cases was more than a 50 percent pay increase. Walter Reuther, a union
militant, later president of the United Auto Workers [UAW], and considered “the
most dangerous man in Detroit,” was optimistic that “the present strikes in the
automobile field are the most significant and encouraging developments in
the history of the industry. The union claims it has the key men in the body
FIGuRE 4-14 wo men fight during a Ford Motor Company strike