East Windsor in Essex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Windsor Ford Strike of 1945
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La Grève Ford-Windsor de 1945
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 14, 2026
1. The Windsor Ford Strike of 1945 side of marker
As wartime labour shortages eased in 1945, contract talks between Ford of Canada and the United Auto Workers in Windsor stalled. The 10,000 members of Local 200 went on strike on September 12 to win recognition of the union that they had built during the war. When Ford had police called in to reopen its powerhouse, 8,000 workers from Local 195 walked out of other Windsor plants. For three days, strikers parked cars in this area, creating a 2,000-vehicle traffic jam that completely blockaded the powerhouse. After 99 days, both sides accepted arbitration. The settlement - a major victory for the auto workers included the Rand Formula, which established union security as a basic principle of post-war labour relations.
Tandis que diminue la pénurie de main-d'œuvre en 1945, les négociations contractuelles entre Ford du Canada et les Travailleurs unis de l'automobile à Windsor aboutissent à l'échec. Les 10 000 membres de la section locale 200 débrayent le 12 septembre pour faire reconnaître le syndicat établi pendant la guerre. Lorsque Ford fait appel à la police pour ré-ouvrir sa centrale électrique, 8 000 autres ouvriers de la section locale 195 se mettent aussi en grève. Pendant trois jours, les grévistes garent des voitures dans ce quartier, créant un embouteillage de 2 000 véhicules qui isole complètement la centrale électrique. Après 99 jours, les deux camps acceptent l'arbitrage. L'accord, qui constitue une victoire majeure pour les ouvriers, comprend la Formule Rand garantissant la sécurité syndicale comme principe fondamental des relations industrielles d'après-guerre.
Erected by Ontario
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Labor Unions. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 12, 1945.
Location. 42° 19.577′ N, 83° 0.183′ W. Marker is in Windsor, Ontario, in Essex County. It is in East Windsor. It is at the intersection of Drouillard Road and Riverside Drive East, on the right when traveling north on Drouillard Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 227 Drouillard Road, Windsor ON N8Y 2S8, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area and in Southwestern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hiram Walker (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Hull's Landing 1812
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 14, 2026
2. La Grève Ford-Windsor de 1945 side of marker
Also see . . . 1945: Windsor’s Ford Strike (Canadian Labour Congress).
Ford announced it was laying off 1,500 workers. Then negotiations broke down over union demands that would have made union membership mandatory, and seen dues automatically deducted from workers’ pay and handed to the union, something Ford had agreed to in another plant. Workers had also demanded a paid two-week annual vacation.(Submitted on May 18, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
On September 12, 1945, the union struck. It was a new and inexperienced union, but the workers had cultivated community support, and Ford’s confrontational tactics fostered even more solidarity.
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 14, 2026
3. The Windsor Ford Strike of 1945 / La Grève Ford-Windsor de 1945 Marker
1945
4. Cars blocking the powerhouse in the Windsor Ford Strike of 1945
Wikipedia (Windsor Star) public domain
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 18, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
