American Vanguard: The United Auto Workers During the Reuther Years, 1935-1970 Revised Edition Contributor(s): Barnard, John (Author) |
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ISBN: 0814332978 ISBN-13: 9780814332979 Publisher: Wayne State University Press OUR PRICE: $32.66 Product Type: Paperback Published: September 2005 Annotation: Geared toward general readers and scholars alike, American Vanguard presents the first history of the UAW, one of America's most significant workers? organizations, from its origins through its period of greatest impact. |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Business & Economics | Industries - Automobile Industry - History | United States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic (dc, De, Md, Nj, Ny, Pa) - Political Science | Labor & Industrial Relations |
Dewey: 331.881 |
Physical Information: 1.48" H x 7.1" W x 9.98" (2.83 lbs) 624 pages |
Themes: - Chronological Period - 1950-1999 - Chronological Period - 20th Century - Cultural Region - Mid-Atlantic |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: The struggles and victories of the UAW form an important chapter in the story of American democracy. American Vanguard is the first and only history of the union available for both general and academic audiences. In this thorough and engaging narrative, John Barnard not only records the controversial issues tackled by the UAW, but also lends them immediacy through details about the workers and their environments, the leaders and the challenges that they faced outside and inside the organization, and the vision that guided many of these activists. Part one explores the obstacles to the UAW's organization, including tensions between militant reformers and workers who feared for their jobs; ideological differences; racial and ethnic issues; and public attitudes toward unions. By the outbreak of World War II, however, the union had succeeded in redistributing power on the shop floor in its members' favor. Part two follows the union during Walter P. Reuther's presidency (1946-1970). During this time, pioneering contracts brought a new standard of living and income security to the workers, while an effort was made to move America toward a social democracy-which met with mixed results during the civil rights decade. Throughout, Barnard presents balanced interpretations grounded in evidence, while setting the UAW within the context of the history of the U.S. auto industry and national politics. |