Full bibliography

• Colling, Herb (Author)

Ninety-Nine Days: The Ford Strike in Windsor, 1945

UAW Local 200's strike against the Ford Motor Company of Canada ended in partial victory, establishing the Rand Formula, providing union security and dues check-off, but restricting union activities during labour strife. It was the first large post-war strike, an emotional and bitter battle in an uncertain time. This new book is a day-to-day account of union and non-union workers fighting for their jobs, differences between a radical local and the more conservative international executive, the role of Communists and of the labour centres, and political parties and reluctant governments manoeuvring for control of the labour movement. It is a human drama with court challenges, confrontations, a rank and file blockade of cars that prevented police from breaking through to the plant, and Windsor's longest burning coal fire which could not be extinguished until the men returned to work. The book also tells the poignant stories of devoted women who made bologna sandwiches and coffee for the men on the line, and who struggled to put food on their own tables. Chickens, eggs and vegetables were delivered to the picket line by local farmers. Ford watchmen, afraid to leave the plant, had to scrounge for food until they thought it safe to come out; children aped their elders and struck their schools until they were forced back into class; and a superintendent refused to leave the plant and had to be carried out by the men. --Publisher's description

1995

NC Press

Toronto

200 pages, 24 unnumbered pages of plates: illustrations, plans

978-1-55021-088-0

English