How did autoworkers at the GM plant in Oshawa in 1937 beat a rabidly anti-union government, a hostile press, and the world's largest corporation? The conventional wisdom popularized by academic Irving Abella has obscured the truth about the '37 strike for 50 years. Abella claimed the international UAW was a hindrance, not a help. He downplayed the role of both reds and rank-and-file workers. And Abella completely ignored the role of women strikers, stewards, and bargainers.

The Truth About the '37 Oshawa GM Strike sets the record straight by focusing on the voices and actions of rank-and-file workers and on the exciting day-to-day events of the strike. The book also shows that Abella's account failed to grasp the degree to which class struggle organizing principles were crucial to the strike's success.

Deeper understanding of the principles and strategies that brought about the victory of the 1937 can provide valuable lessons for workers today who want to revitalize a fighting labour movement.

The Truth About the'37 Oshawa GM Strike brings history to life with over 60 photos and illustrations — many never before published.

Tony Leah's profile page

Tony Leah is a long-time union activist with experience in bargaining, shop-floor representation, labour education, and political mobilization. A maintenance and construction welder with GM, Oshawa for nearly 40 years, he held many positions within both Local 222 and the national union (CAW, then Unifor). In the 1996 strike against GM, he advocated and helped organize the occupation of a key GM plant that resulted in winning the strike.

From 2000 to 2014, Tony Leah designed curriculum and delivered union education programs with the CAW/Unifor. When GM announced the end of vehicle production in Oshawa in 2019, Tony was part of the Green Jobs Oshawa campaign that proposed nationalizing the Oshawa plant and converting it to the production of battery electric vehicles for government fleets. He is an active member of the Local 222 Retired Workers Chapter.

Editor and author of many articles on labour history and activities, Tony Leah completed an MA in Labour Studies from McMaster University in 2023. He lives in Toronto.

"Workers have shaped this community. This book is proof of their fight, their fire and their undeniable contributions to Oshawa — and the whole country . . . [it] is both a history lesson and a modern-day how-to book. It's a story that makes you mad — and fires you up. . . The fight is not over, and this book serves to inspire today's workers to fight for a better tomorrow for everyone." Jennifer French, Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Oshawa

"This would be a very useful book for union-based reading/discussion group dedicated to overcoming the carefully cultivated passivity that characterizes many unions today. Buy the book, tell your workmates about it, then collectively make good use of its lessons." Brian McDougall

"An outstanding new book on a key event in Canadian Labour History (. . .) Perhaps the most notable aspect of this historical review and re-evaluation of the historic 1937 GM Oshawa strike is the author's insistence on studying this event with one eye trained on its relevance to the present day.. . .. (an) admirable historical study." Rob Rolfe, former Poet Laureat of Owen Sound, Ont. and Toronto Trade Unionist

"remarkable book" Adam King, The Maple

"It takes the tenacity and truthfulness of a grass-root activist to tell the real story of working-class politics. Tony Leah does that in this behind-the-scenes tale of the historic '37 GM strike." Sid Ryan, Former President of the Ontario Federation of Labour

"a remarkable piece of research . . . a real substantial original contribution to the historiography of not just the Local but of the history of the UAW and the CAW in Canada." Professor Stephanie Ross, McMaster University School of Labour Studies

"This really needs to be seen, in part because it offers an important re-interpretation of this event in Canadian labour history . . . beautifully crafted . . .. It's clear, it's thorough. It reads almost like a novel" Wayne Lewchuk, Professor Emeritus, McMaster University School of Labour Studies.