In addition to representation rights, the UAW, working jointly with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), sought to resolve existing grievances of skilled workers.
These statistics led GM to question union membership, and in turn withdraw its recognition of the UAW-CIO, effectively nullifying the 1937 agreement.
Skilled workers were particularly loyal to the CIO and UAW due to the onset of the Great Depression and they often viewed these unions as a way to protect the integrity of their craft.
The UAW aimed for a new structure at GM which would ensure "orderly and responsive consideration of collective bargaining objectives, conduct of negotiations, and coordination of tactics on grievances."
The strike also sought a work week of 30 hours, cessation of pay docking for workers, and formal reinstation of shop steward systems.
The following day, men from four other GM facilities in Detroit walked out, including the largest tool and die shop in the world, Fisher No.
While such rapid movements led to the lay offs of some workers, GM's fall production schedule began to face serious difficulties.
On July 30, Reuther reached out through other forms of media, denouncing the GM-Dupont partnership on the radio as well as attempting to disclose the salaries of executives Alfred Sloan and William Knudsen.
Shortly following Reuther's radio broadcast, GM offered to recognize the UAW-CIO "as an exclusive bargaining agent for those plants, 41 in all, where only CIO had shop committees.
"[9] On August 4, 1939, GM agreed to a higher wage structure for skilled workers in an effort to halt the strike and prevent future escalation.
Despite the concession by GM, the UAW still had to confirm a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to vote for representation, which didn't occur until April 1940.