The tumultuous Flint sit-down strike of 1936-1937 was the birth of the United Auto Workers, which set the standard for wages in every industry.

Midnight in Vehicle City tells the gripping story of how workingmen defeated General Motors, the largest industrial corporation in the world. Their victory ushered in the golden age of the American middle class and created a new kind of America, one in which every man had a right to the wealth his labor produced. The causes for which the strikers sat down--collective bargaining, secure retirement, better wages--enjoyed a half century of success

But now, the middle class is disappearing and economic inequality is at its highest since the New Deal.

Journalist and historian Edward McClelland brings the action-packed events of the strike back to life--through the voices of those who lived it

In vivid play-by-plays, McClelland narrates the dramatic scenes including of the takeovers of GM plants; violent showdowns between picketers and the police; Michigan governor Frank Murphy's activation of the National Guard; the actions of the militaristic Women's Emergency Brigade who carried Billy clubs and vowed to protect strikers from police; and tense negotiations between labor leader John L. Lewis, GM chairman Alfred P. Sloan, and labor secretary Frances Perkins.

The epic tale of the strike and its lasting legacy.

Thank you Goodreads and Beacon Press for a chance to read Midnight in Vehicle City by Edward McClelland!

This was a very interesting book. I knew about the strike. Anyone who grew up in a family that was middle class or lower heard about it. But I never knew half of what I read in this book. It’s a fast past and easy to read. I was surprised by some of the events that took place. The author does a good job retelling the stories from these people. You will have no problem staying interested in this book if you enjoy a good story and a history lesson! Happy reading everyone!! ( )