Solidarity Forever: UAW Remembers Battle of the Overpass

UAW leaders and workers gathered this morning at Ford’s Rouge complex in Dearborn to commemorate the Battle of the Overpass, one of the most pivotal moments in labor history.

Remembering the union's  struggle remains important as the UAW fights to rebuild from its recent membership losses, UAW President Bernie Ricke said.

“This is more of a celebration of all the sacrifice and the courage from back then, and the progress we’ve made,” Ricke said, according to the Free Press.

On May 26, 1937, Walter Reuther and other labor leaders went to the overpass that connected the front entrance of the complex to Miller Road as they were trying to unionize the company.

After successfully organizing General Motors and Chrysler, the UAW came to the Ford Rouge Complex to hand out informational leaflets and talk to workers about organizing. They were met by Ford’s security forces and were attacked and beaten in an event that was caught on camera by news photographers.