The Toledo Auto-Lite Strike, aka one of the most important events most people have never heard of - by Kurt Young

So when most people think of Toledo and history they don’t think of much.  Oh, a nearby battle or two, a very large venue built in North Toledo for an event and torn down, Jeeps, a few stars.  But one of the most important moments in workers right and labor in the US occurred here in Toledo 90 years ago this week.  

Toledo had been hit hard by the Great Depression.  Willys-Overland, the folks that started what is now the Jeep, had declared bankruptcy, Two the largest banks and almost everyone of the savings and loans associations had failed, 150 police officers had been laid off and the unemployment rate was 70%.  Which meant, of course, employers were running over workers with a steamroller.  

The American Federation of Labor, which later becomes the AFL-CIO, was organizing workers and a large scale strike between locals of the AFL and major car and parts manufacturers were only adverted by the intervention of President Franklin Roosevelt.  But the agreement didn’t hold everywhere.

Federal Labor Union, Local 18384 in Toledo was organized a bit differently than most locals at the time, but more like many today, representing workers at not one but multiple employers including the Auto-Lite Factory in Toledo.   Auto-Lite was a major manufacturer of spark plugs.  Later Champion Spark Plug where my grandfather worked was another one. 

The Local and Auto-Lite were nowhere in negotiations.  Management was not even giving in on the unacceptable compromise that the President had negotiated.  So on April 12, 1934, a strike voted on by the workers began.  Initially it wasn’t a huge success but groups, including the American Workers’ Party and other organized unemployed workers to essential surround the factory and try to stop efforts to break the strike.  

Over the coming months a legal battle ensued.  And then a physical one between the Ohio National Guard, the Lucas County Sheriff, professional strike breaker and the strikers.  It escalated from isolated fist fights, to leaders being addressed and beaten, to rock throwing and worse.  When the dust cleared from the physical confrontation, two were dead, hundreds injured. 

But by June 6th, a new contract was signed, the union was in place and the labor movement in Toledo, then the region began to flourish.  Toledo was one of the most unionized cities in the Nation for most of the 20th and early 21st Century.  And FLU Local 18384 become UAW Local 12.  My Uncle and Grandfather were members of it’s sister local, UAW Local 14.  Both of which we are proud to support and help the injured members of. 

In August of 1999, the site was turned into a memorial park. In the Vistula neighborhood, just outside of Downtown Toledo.  We frequently hold rallies and events there to this day.  And I can tell you it is an inspiring spot.  See a video I shot at Lucas County Party Chair for Labor Day years ago.  https://fb.watch/rvEDr6e8XN/

So, thank you to the brave strikers and their supporters for giving us many of the laws we have today and for standing up to protective them over and over again.