Striking Steel: Solidarity Remembered

Critical Perspectives on the Past

by Jack Metzgar

Having come of age during a period of vibrant union-centered activism, Jack Metzgar begins this book wondering how his father, a U.S. Steel shop steward in the 1950s and '60s, and so many contemporary historians could forget what this country owes to the union movement. Combining personal memoir and historical narrative, Striking Steel argues for reassessment of unionism in American life during the second half of the twentieth century and a recasting of "official memory." As he traces the history of union steelworkers after World War II, Metzgar draws on his father's powerful stories about the punishing work in the mills, stories in which time is divided between "before the union" and since. His father, Johnny Metzgar, fought ardently for workplace rules as a means of giving "the men" some control over their working conditions and protection from venal foremen. He pursued grievances until he eroded management's authority, and he badgered foremen until he established shop-floor practices that would become part of the next negotiated contract. As a passionate advocate of solidarity, he urged coworkers to stick together so that the rules were upheld and everyone could earn a decent wage. Striking Steel 's pivotal event is the four-month nationwide steel strike of 1959, a landmark union victory that has been all but erased from public memory. With remarkable tenacity, union members held out for the shop-floor rules that gave them dignity in the workplace and raised their standard of living. Their victory underscored the value of sticking together and reinforced their sense that they were contributing to a general improvement in American working and living conditions. The Metzgar family's story vividly illustrates the larger narrative of how unionism lifted the fortunes and prospects of working-class families. It also offers an account of how the broad social changes of the period helped to shift the balance of power in a conflict-ridden, patriarchal household. Even if the optimism of his generation faded in the upheavals of the 1960s, Johnny Metzgar's commitment to his union and the strike itself stands as an honorable example of what collective action can and did achieve. Jack Metzgar's Striking Steel is a stirring call to remember and renew the struggle.

Genres: History, Labor, Nonfiction

264 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2000

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am biased with this book because my own family's personal history influenced how much i enjoyed this book. Even though my great grandfather and grandfather both worked in a different field, I felt as if I could better imagine their time with the union thanks to this book.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eloquent and moving evocation of working class life in the decades after World War II, a plea for the restoration of the labor movement to its rightful place at the center of 20th century American history, and a thoughtful meditation on the sources and uses of historical memory. Excellent.

[Garrett Strain · Rating 5 out of 5]

In-depth analysis of the 1959 national steel strike through the lens of Jack’s father, Johnny Metzgar, and his family. Interesting discussion of the battle between USW and U.S. Steel over Section 2-B of the national steel agreement, which enshrined some of the strongest past practice language won by any U.S. labor union. It’s also a refreshing celebration of the incredible gains that steelworkers won the 1950s, including a 13-week “steelworker sabbatical” for high-seniority employees.

Made me think differently about the 1950s, a period when many U.S. unions won their biggest contractual gains through mass strikes but is often depicted by PMC historians as a period of conciliation and consumerism.

Appreciated his incisive meta-analysis of some versions of left critique of the 1950s: “There’s some truth to the Left critique of postwar unionism, and we all owe leftists a debt for leading the charge out of the postwar American celebration. But the Left view of labor in the ‘50s as ‘defeated,’ ‘on the defensive,’ and ‘in decline’ confuses the labor movement with itself [the left] and supports the mainstream view of labor as ‘complacent’ and ‘corrupt’—and therefore not worth much attention.”

[Reanin Mcroberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an excerpt of this book in a labor history class in grad school and loved it. Finally read the whole through. So fascinating. Not just about the union and how it worked and the effects on the entire country and livelihoods for generations to come but for his perspective on middle class imperialism. The author was just really thoughtful and his ability to place himself in the middle of the story (without making himself a victim or a hero) and still make such meaningful connections to the larger economy and culture was really rare and brilliant. More academic tone than your typical memoir.
Note: I bought the e-book and formatting was kinda weird. Worth it to me for the ability to highlight but FYI.