Click on the link here for Audio Player – CBS Radio Department Of Talks – Governor Frank Murphy: A Fair Deal For Labor – Sept. 24, 1937 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection
With all the news in recent years about labor, unions, “right-to-work” and the anti-union movement, it’s important to remember the Labor Movement in the U.S. has been in an almost constant state of struggle since the days of Samuel Gompers in the early 20th century.
In the 1930s, in the midst of the Depression, Labor and Management were at odds and a movement was afoot to break the back of Labor in an effort to go back to the old days before fair labor practices and laws were written. Most notably were the strikes taking place in the auto industry and the violence that erupted because of them.
In 1937 the strikes and, crackdowns and union-busting measures were in full swing. So CBS Radio, via its Department of Talks arranged a series of radio addresses featuring those figures prominent in the then-current situation to explain their positions in the seemingly endless struggle.
This talk features Michigan Governor Frank Murphy, who was at the center of the historic sit-down strike at the GM Plant in Flint and was successful in mediating a settlement in what was termed as “the strike heard ’round the world”. The settlement of this strike was significant, as Murphy played a key role in getting Management at GM to recognize the United Auto Workers as a bargaining agent, which had a significant effect on the growth of organized Labor Unions.
It is doubtful many people know who Frank Murphy was, let alone hear his voice and his discussions on the state of Labor in America. Here is that address as broadcast on September 24, 1937.
So now you know.
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