The Electric Auto-Lite Strike of 1934
The passage of the National Recovery Act in 1933 helped bolster unionization efforts around the nation, and the AFL made a conscious decision to increase their efforts within the automotive industry. Toledo Ohio’s Electric Auto-Lite Company workers were represented in 1934 by the Federal Labor Union 18384, which also represented workers at other employers in the region. Electric Auto-Lite did not officially recognize the union, which did not represent a majority of the employees of the company, but did negotiate with them on several occasions prior to the 1934 strike.
In April 1934 the FLU struck over wages and recognition issues, with about 75% of Electric Auto-Lite employees electing to remain at work rather than support the strike. The American Workers Party joined the strike in support of the FLU, creating a pool of striking workers in Toledo from which to draw manpower, and then created a picket line around the Electric Auto-Lite facilities, denying access to workers who did not support the striking FLU. Court injunctions soon limited the number of picketers, which the AWP ignored.
In response, Electric Auto-Lite hired strikebreakers to cross the picket lines. As tensions grew the Toledo Police appeared indifferent to the potential for violence, largely because the Depression had led to wage cuts and benefit reductions in their own jobs. Lucas County Sheriff deputies were sent to the site of the picket lines to prevent the eruption of violence.
On May 23 picketers and deputies clashed over the picket lines and vandalism and random violence occurred throughout the city. A major riot which became known as the Battle of Toledo raged for the rest of the day. Deputies were able to prevent a surging mob from entering the plant, but the fighting continued outside. The Ohio National Guard was dispatched to the area, arriving in the early morning of the following day. Late that afternoon the rioting began anew, and the Guard responded by firing into the crowd, using rifles, side arms, and machine guns.
At least two were killed and countless more injured. The strike continued, with sporadic violence for another two weeks. When it was resolved the union won a small wage concession for its workers. The company at first balked at, but eventually rehired all of the striking workers. The following year FLU 18384 became the United Auto Workers Local 12. Today Electric Auto-Lite is known as Autolite.