The Evolution of Getting a Living in MiddletownMain MenuIntroductionMachine Made: The Rise of Industrial Work in MuncieRusty Muncie: Deindustrialization in MiddletownInvisible Experiences: Making a Living as a Minority in MuncieWomen's Work: 9 to 5 and BeyondWomen's Work Introduction
UAW Local 287 Members welcome John F. Kennedy to Muncie, October, 1960.
1media/FrlEvrtW_687_medium_thumb.jpg2023-02-07T16:04:18+00:00Jim Connolly46c7b502c79bde22331f06c832c764e9eca6a07132BorgWarner workers welcome presidential candidate John F. Kennedy to the BorgWarner plant in Muncie. Kennedy's visit reflected the importance of organized labor as a political force.plain2023-02-07T16:06:06+00:001960-10-05Everett W. Ferrill Collection, Ball State Digital Medial RepositoryEverett W. FerrillJim Connolly46c7b502c79bde22331f06c832c764e9eca6a071
This page is referenced by:
12023-02-07T15:20:28+00:00Unions6tagplain2023-02-09T20:10:58+00:00 The history of work in an industrial community such as Muncie includes labor unions. Muncie had a strong union movement during the Gas Boom era, but it declined considerably during the early twentieth century. The Lynds were surprised by the absence of a robust labor movement when they first came to Muncie during the 1920s. Boosted by the New Deal, union organization revived in Muncie during the 1930s and 1940s and labor unions remained strong in the city through the remainder of the twentieth century. They helped workers secure better pay, working conditions, and schedules. Unions also encouraged political engagement and enabled workers to give back to their communities. But the increased costs to companies associated with higher pay and better benefits led some companies to move operations to places with cheaper labor, contributing to deindustrialization in places such as Muncie.
Follow the links below for more on the history of unions in Muncie.
