Commentary: Ford’s better idea

Jack Lessenberry — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:47:34 +0000

There’s a lot going in Michigan this week. The governor is asking the state supreme court to rule on the constitutionality of his Right-to-Work law. Detroit City Council is deciding whether to allow the state to improve Belle Isle, the city’s once-lovely island park.

The Red Wings are playing hockey again, and many of us are starting to tire of what has been a rather depressing winter.

Yet I think that the best thing we could do to clear our heads to imagine Michigan’s future would be to take a trip to the past tonight, by sitting in our living rooms. American Experience, the public television’s documentary series, is airing a new two-hour biography of the original Henry Ford.

UAW commemorates 75 years since "The Battle of the Overpass"

Sarah Cwiek — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:17:01 +0000

The UAW remembered the 75^th anniversary of the “Battle of the Overpass” Friday.

Many union members see the event as a pivotal point in Detroit--and national--labor history.

On May 26^th, 1937, UAW President Walter Reuther and other union leaders were trying to organize workers at the massive Ford Rouge plant in Dearborn.

A confrontation ensued, and some union leaders were badly beaten by members of Henry Ford’s security team.

Bernie Ricke is President of UAW Local 600, which represents Ford Rouge workers today.