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uawarchivist.bsky.social
UAW Archivist
@uawarchivist.bsky.social
3.5K followers 150 following 250 posts
The UAW Archivist at the Walter P. Reuther Library (@reutherlibrary), the UAW's official repository. Open to the public, learn more at http://reuther.wayne.edu. Proud Wayne Academic Union member.
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uawarchivist.bsky.social
Respect for Jasper. Of all the fact-checkers I’ve dealt with from the press, the New Yorker’s are the most thorough and dogged.
newyorkerunion.bsky.social The New Yorker Union @newyorkerunion.bsky.social · 13d
Last week, Condé Nast fired four staffers, including Jasper Lo, a senior fact checker at The New Yorker, in an act of illegal union-busting. Join us tomorrow at 6pm to demand that the company reverse this unjust and unlawful decision.
November 21, 2025 at 11:53 AM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
This 1974 cover of @uaw.org Ammunition made me realize we are at the very end of the best season of the year here in Michigan. Enjoy those remaining fall colors while you got ‘em, folks. From the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.🍂
Cover of Ammunition magazine, with cartoon of tree with leaves and squirrels. Headline is “Autumn.”
November 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by UAW Archivist
afscme-archivist.bsky.social
Gloria McCabe, @afscme.bsky.social Council 97 member, had an unusual commute to work w/ the AZ Department of Economic Security. 4X a year, she and colleagues traveled all day by horse into the #GrandCanyon to the most remote Native American reservation in the US. #NativeAmericanHeritage #Arizona
In 1983, a woman, Gloria McCabe, in a warm coat faces the camera as she stands next to two horses wearing bridles. Trees fill the background. From the AFSCME Communications Department records at the Reuther Library, Wayne State University.
November 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
"Space Shuttle: It's Meaning to Labor & the United Auto Workers"
Pamphlet from @uaw.org advocating NASA to develop a reusable space shuttle system and why it should be union-built. From the UAW Aerospace Dept Records at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social. 🚀👩‍🚀
Cover of "Space Shuttle: It's meaning to labor & the United Auto Workers" pamphlet, with early drawing of NASA space shuttle. Made by UAW in conjunction with North American Rockwell Space Division. "Why Space Shuttle Now" graph showing the pros and cons of "if we wait" versus "if we go ahead." From Space Shuttle: It's meaning to labor & the United Auto Workers pamphlet.
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Pamphlets on "right-to-work" repeal, social safety net, and raising the min. wage, from America's leading civil rights leaders. Includes MLK, Bayard Rustin, and more. Made by the A. Philip Randolph Institute, 1960s.
From @uaw.org President Walter Reuther's archive at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
Pamphlets on "Repeal 14b," "Urge congress to increase and extend unemployment benefits for all workers," and "Extend the minimum wage!' from the A. Philip Randolph Institute. Contents of a pamphlet on "Repeal 14b," co-signed by James Farmer, MLK, A. Philip Randolph, and Roy Wilkins. Pamphlet on A. Philip Randolph Institute, with photo of Randolph.
November 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Agricultural implement workers from @uaw.org Local 1301 on strike. Chicago area, circa 1950s. From the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
Picket line of workers from UAW-CIO Local 1301, tractor workers, holding picket signs.
November 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
This was my favorite radio program growing up, I even still have cassettes of old shows I taped on my boombox. So proud to be a supporter of @wdet.bsky.social!
November 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by UAW Archivist
afscme-archivist.bsky.social
Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the #EdmundFitzgerald on #LakeSuperior. This documentary from @clickondetroit.com uses the WDIV archives at @reutherlibrary.bsky.social and features our AV department's #Steenbeck (film viewing machine): www.clickondetroit.com/features/202...
Watch: The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, 50 years later (full extended cut documentary)
It’s been 50 years since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
www.clickondetroit.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Pamphlet for the Brookwood Labor Players chautauqua program, a traveling show teaching about labor solidarity. Performances included plays, songs, and "novelty numbers" about labor. In fact, many early @uaw.org leaders were Brookwood alum. From the archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
Cover for Brookwood Labor Players promotional pamphlet. Has photo of a play about labor negotiations. Inside of Brookwood Players pamphlet. Has pictures of the group painting their bus, a performance mimicking an assembly line, and a play about a company union.
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
If you want to win the city-wide bar trivia tourney, take it to the next level and get an archivist. My grad school bar trivia team of future archivists had a future Jeopardy! super champion and another who qualified for the show. As a profession, we are somehow nerdier than librarians.
rocketcheddar.bsky.social Hector Rodriguez @rocketcheddar.bsky.social · 18d
Anyone looking for a ringer for their bar trivia team, get a librarian.
November 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by UAW Archivist
minakimes.bsky.social
Bad AI supplanting human expertise is an issue that transcends any one field, but man—not many people on earth whose knowledge and dedication deserves respect like LIBRARIANS.
jasonkoebler.bsky.social Jason Koebler @jasonkoebler.bsky.social · 18d
The long-running ideological war on libraries, education, and government workers is not separate from AI boosterism. It is the same ideological war on human knowledge and expertise. In some cases AI is being used to directly supercharge this effort:

www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Bilingual newspaper from @uaw.org Local 51 as the union organized the many Polish immigrant autoworkers who had settled in the Detroit area. 1941. From the archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
UAW newspaper with articles in both English and Polish. Front page of The Beacon UAW local 51 newspaper. January 1941.
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Another reason to support @detcityfc.com? DCFC payers are unionized with USL Local 7211!
Banner at DCFC game that says "Support your ballers" and "Local #7211."
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Don't judge a book by its cover...Who would guess these cutesy scrapbooks contain dramatic history of the early @uaw.org? From the John Eldon Papers at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social, they're scrapbooks of news clippings about 1930s autoworker organizing. 📰🐶
archives.wayne.edu/repositories...
Three scrapbook covers. One with an image of deer, another with a black and white dog, and the other with terriers. Newspaper clipping of people demonstrating outside a Dodge Motor plant in Detroit. 1939.
November 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Also, it's Halloween and the last day of American archives month!
banditelli.org Brett "Solidarity 2025" Banditelli @banditelli.org · 24d
BIG WEEK for @uawarchivist.bsky.social:

1) given improper credit by me
2) given proper credit by the union
uaw.org UAW @uaw.org · 24d
Enlisting the assistance of Gavin Strassel, @uawarchivist.bsky.social for the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social at Wayne State University proved to be the detective they needed.
October 31, 2025 at 6:51 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
"Don't Let 'Em Scare You!"👻😱🏚️
#Halloween haunted house-themed flyer from @uaw.org Local 1069, telling members about their legal rights to wear a union button with pride, no matter what their foreman threatens.
1953, from UAW Aerospace Dept Records at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social
.
mage of a haunted house and ghosts. Text reads: ""DON'T LET ‘EM SCARE YOU!” It has been called to our attention that certain foremen are again threatening or coercing or intimidating workers but demanding that they take off UAW-CIO buttons, and in the next breath, the same foremen will ask that workers nut on a PC button. And some foremen are again droning broad hints that certain workers won't be around long if they continue their support of UAM-CIO and Local 1069. Tell, we want to say this…UAW-CIO encourages all workers to wear the Badge of honor, a UAW-CIO button; and we prompt you to solicit on your own time and on company premises, all possible UAW-CIO support! As workers you are protected by the Laws of this land in this endeavor and UAW-CIO came to you to see that you enjoy these rights! And we want you to know that the moral and physical and financial resources of the whole UAW-CIO International Union are supporting you in this campaign!! A word to the wise is usually suffice"
October 31, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by UAW Archivist
uaw.org
Enlisting the assistance of Gavin Strassel, @uawarchivist.bsky.social for the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social at Wayne State University proved to be the detective they needed.
October 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Such and honor and so much fun to be a part of this event!
uaw.org UAW @uaw.org · 24d
🧵 Solidarity House had some very special guests last week!

Former Ford workers, Jim and Cheryl Bassett, purchased a vintage Ford station wagon from UAW Local 174 around 10 years ago. It was a bit worn and dusty from being stored for decades, but it appeared to be something special.
Photo of Jim and Cheryl Bassett and UAW Archivist Gavin Strassel in front of Solidarity House with an old Ford station wagon that was used by UAW Local 174 in the late 1940s and 1950s to organize workers. News clipping from the United Automobile Worker, Westside 174 Conveyor Edition from February 1949 featuring a Ford station wagon purchased by the local to use as a sound car, with union leaders Ed Reno and George Lyons trying out to the new purchase. Old Ford station wagon that was used by UAW Local 174 to organize workers in the late 1940s and 1950s. Photo of the inside of a 1949 Ford station wagon purchased by UAW Local 174 as a sound car to organize workers in the late 1940s and 1950s. Includes a cardboard cutout of a smiling UAW President Walter Reuther behind the wheel.
October 31, 2025 at 4:20 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Gulliver breaks his bonds
Cartoon from 1941 issue of United Automobile Worker, newspaper of the @uaw.org. From the archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
Giant worker breaking free from bonds of miniature people, each labeled with anti-labor interests. Such as nazi, Harry Bennett, industry, and fascist. Reference to Gulliver’s Travels.
October 30, 2025 at 6:12 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Halloween hoopla!
👻🧙‍♀️🦇October 1989 issue of The 1866 Voice, publication for @uaw.org Local 1866. From the archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social. 🎃🏚️🌙
October 1989 issue of The 1866 Voice. Has picture of haunted house and ghosts.
October 30, 2025 at 2:44 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Deeply misguided and ahistorical view on organized labor by Vance. As Chris Cooper says in the film Matewan, "Any union keeps this man out ain't a union, it's a goddam club!"
dieworkwear.bsky.social derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 26d
JD Vance claims that diversity weakens unions, as people end up distrusting each other and not organizing.

Let me tell you two menswear stories related to this claim. 🧵
October 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Kid going all in on the 🍎 bobbing? Human-sized 🐕/surgeon? Girls terrified by something off-camera? Grim Reaper? Reaper's victim?
Tag which photo from this collage of @uaw.org Local 662's 1977 Halloween party you most identify with this Halloween! From the archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
Photo collage of @uaw.org Local 662's 1977 Halloween party, from 1977 issue of Delco Sparks.
October 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
🎃 @uaw.org members from the Lansing Car Assembly GM plant, rocking their Halloween costumes. 1990 issue of Line Times. From the archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
Images of autoworkers wearing costumes, featured in a union newsletter, Line Times.
October 28, 2025 at 6:07 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
Sweet and sour pork recipe from the Executive Chef at the @uaw.org’s Black Lake education center. 1976 issue of Solidarity magazine, from the UAW archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.
Article with recipe about chef Mike Gardner from the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center. Contains sweet and sour pork recipe.
October 27, 2025 at 8:57 PM
uawarchivist.bsky.social
🚗🔊Very excited to present today at Solidarity House on the history of sound cars and sound trucks used in the early decades of the @uaw.org! Lots of great content and stories from the archives at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social.📣
UAW Local 174's sound truck advertising labor candidates in Detroit city election. Local 600 sound truck. 1950s.
October 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM