by Tony Leah
“Oshawa has fallen!” wrote the monthly New Commonwealth. “One week ago it was known as ‘The Home of General Motors.’ Today it belongs to the United Automobile Workers, International Union.”
How did autoworkers at the GM plant in Oshawa in 1937 beat a rabidly anti-union government, a hostile press, and the world’s largest corporation? The conventional wisdom popularized by academic Irving Abella has obscured the truth about the ’37 strike for 50 years. Abella claimed the international UAW was a hindrance, not a help. He downplayed the role of both reds and rank and file workers. And Abella completely ignored the role of women strikers, stewards and bargainers.
Tony Leah reveals what actually took place at the Oshawa GM plant in 1937 through the voices and actions of rank-and-file workers and shop-floor activists that have been covered up for decades. We need to study the lessons of the ’37 strike; it can provide a guidepost for workers today who are striving to revive a fighting labour movement that can win.
“It’s clear, it’s thorough. It reads almost like a novel.” Wayne Lewchuk, Professor Emeritus, McMaster University School of Labour Studies
“It takes the tenacity and truthfulness of a grassroots activist to tell the real story of working-class politics. Tony Leah does just that in this behind-the scenes tale of the historic ’37 GM strike.” Sid Ryan, former President, Ontario Federation of Labour.
Tony Leah is a long-time union activist with experience in bargaining, shop-floor representation, labour education, and political mobilization. A maintenance and construction welder with GM, Oshawa for nearly 40 years, he has held many positions at Local 222 and with the national union. He holds an MA in Labour Studies (2023) from McMaster University and lives in Toronto.
The flyer attached has info on the Toronto Book Launch on October 30, 2024 at 7 PM at A Different Booklist, 779 Bathurst St., Toronto.