Polish American Women and Detroit’s 1938 Federal Screw Works Strike

Dr. Martin Hershock recounts the violent three-day strike against General Motors supplier Federal Screw Works in 1938, when women from Detroit’s Polish community led the fight to preserve both their recently-recognized union and their neighborhood. Hershock is a Professor of History at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and author of the article, “Seems to Me You Have Plenty of Nerve”: Polish American Women, Detroit’s Federal Screw Works Strike of 1938, and the Fate of the UAW.”

Related Resources:

“Seems to Me You Have Plenty of Nerve”: Polish American Women, Detroit’s Federal Screw Works Strike of 1938, and the Fate of the UAW.”

Related Collections:

Peter H. Amann Papers (UP001229)

Joe Brown Papers (LP000047)

Stanley and Margaret Collingwood Nowak Papers (LP000003)

UAW President’s Office: Walter P. Reuther Records (LR000261)

Virtual Motor City / Detroit News Photograph Collection

Episode Credits

Interviewee: Martin Hershock

Producers: Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English