The Last Great Strike

Little Steel, the CIO, and the Struggle for Labor Rights in New Deal America

By: Ahmed White

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Hardcover | 4 January 2016 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
416 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.22 x 16.23 x 3.02

Hardcover

$161.70

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In May 1937, seventy thousand workers walked off their jobs at four large steel companies known collectively as “Little Steel.” The strikers sought to make the companies retreat from decades of antiunion repression, abide by the newly enacted federal labor law, and recognize their union. For two months a grinding struggle unfolded, punctuated by bloody clashes in which police, company agents, and National Guardsmen ruthlessly beat and shot unionists. At least sixteen died and hundreds more were injured before the strike ended in failure. The violence and brutality of the Little Steel Strike became legendary. In many ways it was the last great strike in modern America.

Traditionally the Little Steel Strike has been understood as a modest setback for steel workers, one that actually confirmed the potency of New Deal reforms and did little to impede the progress of the labor movement. However, The Last Great Strike tells a different story about the conflict and its significance for unions and labor rights. More than any other strike, it laid bare the contradictions of the industrial labor movement, the resilience of corporate power, and the limits of New Deal liberalism at a crucial time in American history.

Industry Reviews

"In much the same way as those who appreciate various branches of the arts, scholars are also on a never ending search for excellence; something that lifts the spirits. Ahmed White has accomplished this in The Last Great Strike... The extent of his research is breathtaking... He combines a breadth of minute detail with a clear eye for broader implications." Labour History "Ahmed White's The Last Great Strike is a fascinating analysis of an often overlooked labor struggle in the New Deal era." International Socialist Review "The Last Great Strike is a strong piece of scholarship, rich with archival discoveries. Compelling and accessible ... an important contribution to our understanding of U.S. labor history, union organizing, and class conflict." Monthly Review

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