Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by psoots 2609 days ago
How is there no mention of the strength of organized labor during that period in the article or any of these comments? That was a big part of what motivated Ford to appease the workers when rolling out his new flexible production system. It wasn't his benevolence.

Ford, the company, along with GM gave up that system half a century later for a more rigid system that included more outsourcing but had the upside of being impermeable to strikes. Toyota on the other hand continued the flexible system along with the higher cost of labor and royally outsmarted the American companies in the 70s.

The role of organized labor shouldn't be ignored. And neither should the competitve advantage of working with well-skilled and well-contented labor.
2 comments
Aloha 2609 days ago
The strength of organized labor, particularly at Ford in 1914 was weak, both GM and Chrysler unionized in 1937, Ford was the last to do so of the big three, holding out until 1941.

Ford's rationale for increasing the wage for his workers, as laid out by him, was to make it so every Ford employee could buy a Ford car.

If you're curious, and want to know more about Ford Motor Company, I highly recommend a book called Wheels for the World by Douglas Brinkley. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067003181X/) Ford opened its full archives to the author, and it covers their entire history, warts and all.

link
crdoconnor 2609 days ago
>The strength of organized labor, particularly at Ford in 1914 was weak

It was about seeing off an incipient threat. IWW were quite active at the time. Amazon's goal last year was similar when they raised wages even though they refused to recognize the union.

>Ford's rationale for increasing the wage for his workers as laid out by him, was to make it so every Ford employee could buy a Ford car.

Which was obviously bullshit. The effect employees buying cars could have had on the bottom line was far outstripped by the increased wage bill.

link
astazangasta 2609 days ago
This is wrong. There were 8 hour movements going back to 1886. Notable are strikes for a 40 hour week in 1919. Ford was responding to the inevitable. https://libcom.org/history/articles/40-hours-strike-1919
link
crdoconnor 2609 days ago
>How is there no mention of the strength of organized labor during that period in the article or any of these comments?

For the same reason why luddites were and still are depicted as crusaders against technology: it's a convenient narrative for some.

link