Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement

History

The Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement was an organization of African-American workers formed in May 1968 in the Chrysler Corporation's Hamtramck Assembly plant, formerly Dodge Main, Detroit, Michigan. Auto workers who were members of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers created DRUM as a subsidiary organization which could challenge the official local union as defacto representative of Dodge workers.

Detroit labor activist Martin Glaberman estimated at the time that the Hamtramck plant was 70 per cent black while the union local (UAW Local 3), the plant management and lower supervision, and the Hamtrack city administration was dominated by older Polish-American workers.

DRUM sought to organize black workers to obtain concessions not only from the Chrysler management, but also from the United Auto Workers. Walter Reuther and the senior leadership had been early supporters of the American Civil Rights Movement. Within the union, African-Americans rarely rose to positions of leadership. DRUM led a wildcat strike against conditions in the Hamtrack plant. In the subsequent Local 3 election, DRUM ran as an alternative slate. Although it did not win, the new organization drew notice for its militancy and willingness to challenge the UAW hierarchy

The organization grew quickly in other Dodge plants. New locals were established at Ford and General Motors plants. These locals initially went by the name of the plant in which they were organized. ELRUM (Eldon Avenue Revolutionary Union Movement) was organized in the Chrysler Eldon Avenue plant. Eventually DRUM was renamed the Detroit Revolutionary Union Movement to account for its growth in the auto industry.

As it grew, DRUM faced a crisis of expectations. Auto workers had created an independent organization, but opinions differed DRUM's future mission. Debates concerned whether DRUM should continue as a reform movement within the UAW or a dual-union which would seek to replace the UAW, and whether it should remain a local to Detroit, or become a national organization of African-American workers.

DRUM didn't have a problem leading 4 strikes. One specifically shut down the plant for 2.5 days when three thousand black workers didn't work. This stopped the production of three thousand cars.

The League of Revolutionary Black Workers eventually split between those who wanted to remain focused on the auto industry and those who wished to expand the League into a national political organization. Both organizations retained the LRBW name. The nationally oriented movement, led by General Baker, was associated with the New Communist Movement. By 1975, however, both organizations were largely defunct. Members had either joined other currents in the union reform movement, or were associated with other leftist organizations.

External links

Detroit Revolutionary Movements Collection at the Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs at Wayne State University.
"The League of Revolutionary Black Workers: A Historical Study" by A. Muhammad Ahmad.
General Baker biography and writings. League of Revolutionaries for a New America speakers bureau.
Martin Glaberman Internet Archive

Glaberman, Martin. Dodge Revolutionary Union Movement. International Socialism (1st series), No.36, April/May 1969. Transcribed & marked up by Einde O'Callaghan for the Marxists Internet Archive. Retrieved August 13, 2005.
Glaberman, Martin. "Workers have to deal with their own reality and that transforms them". Courtesy Endpage.com. Marked up by Einde O'Callaghan for the Marxists' Internet Archive. Retrieved August 13, 2005.

History

External links

Further reading