This is a great 'hidden wonder' of recent American Labor History. As an unabashed and truly proud pro-labor, pro-New Deal and pro-working class Democrat and Progressive("Progressive" in the real, tough and true sense, not the ACLU-'save the spotted owl' and 'hug a treee' sense), I loved this book as both a study in recent history, and a tribute to one of the greatest movements ever produced on God's green earth.
The American Labor movement - as comparatively small as it may be - is one of this nation's greatest movements, alongside the abolitionist and civil rights ones. In the past 100 years, this movement, along with its allies in the Democratic party and other forward looking sections of the U.S., has given us the 40 Hour Work Week, the Minimum Wage, child labor laws, public works, Social Security, the safety net, Food Stamps, Medicare, Medicaid, consumer safety laws, public employment programs for the at-risk, OSHA and various anti-discrimination laws. This is the movement which has dared to look into the face of greed and demand true justice.
This is the grand story of the United Auto Workers - and their heroic leader, Mr. Walter Reuther - and their quest into traditional American liberalism in the Democratic party. Their quest for true social justice was never achieved, yet, their aims remain those of many forward looking, compassionate and decent Americans who know that the shaft of the workers is one which hurts not only these men and women on the job, but their families, loved ones and community in general.
The book is right when, in the end, it states that we need forward looking voices like the UAW in our culture to demand an end to injustice and keep the forces of injustice in check. We need voices to stand up to right wing efforts to scale back labor laws for the working man and woman, civil rights and health care, day care, family leave and wage oriented legislation of the past. We need more moral voices for American workers and their allies across the world. This book is such a voice. I especially loved the part of George Wallace. This bigoted demagogue constantly exploited the working class by giving out racist rhetoric which was - as some saw it unfortunately - 'pro worker.' Wallace's current followers of the past 20 years include Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Newt Gingrich and the Lott/Delay gang in the Congress. All of these overlook - and ignore - class in order to protect their rich special interests. Instead, they bash the welfare mother, the immigrant and the ghetto child - and call that 'progress.'
May the American labor movement not only stop falling, but may it rise again to successfully demand justice for the working American and his or her family. God would want nothing more from us.
