Flint in Genesee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Sitting For 44 Days

The Historic Flint Sit-Down Strike

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021

1. Sitting For 44 Days Marker

Inscription. It is a pivotal event in American labor history. On December 30, 1936, workers sat down on assembly lines in Flint, including the Chevrolet and Fisher Body plants here across Chevrolet Avenue. Their strike was intended to improve working conditions and to force General Motors to recognize their new union, the United Auto Workers.
,br> Violence erupted between city police and the strikers, and the National Guard was called in to restore order. After 14 days GM agreed to recognize the LAW, and soon the auto industry was completely unionized.

"You might call yourself a man if you was on the street but as soon as you went through the door and punched your card, you was nothing more or less than a robot."
Fisher Body worker

You Auto Know
A monument to the UAW Sit-Down Strikers is located at the LAW Region - headquarters on Atherton Road.

Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions. A significant historical date for this entry is December 30, 1936.

Location. 43° 0.624′ N, 83° 42.612′ W. Marker is in Flint, Michigan, in Genesee County. Marker is on North Chevrolet Avenue near Hasselbring

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Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Flint MI 48504, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Body By Fisher (here, next to this marker); Flint Industry / GM Sit-Down Strike (here, next to this marker); At Their Side (here, next to this marker); Chevrolet Empire (here, next to this marker); Charles Kettering (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Learning Leadership (approx. ¼ mile away); Michigan School for the Deaf / Superintendent's Cottage (approx. half a mile away); Birthplace of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Flint.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021

2. Sitting For 44 Days Marker

Marker is located on far right

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021

3. Sitting For 44 Days Marker

Inset photo (Bottom Left) caption: Strikers celebrate the end of the strike at Fisher Body #2 on Chevrolet Avenue. Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Archives, Flint.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021

4. Sitting For 44 Days Marker

Inset photo (Middle right) caption: The National Guard patrols the street during the strike. Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Archives, Flint.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 29, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.