1913: Detroit witnessed the first of many historic automobile strikes, marking not only the city's first auto strike but also the first in the nation. Workers at multiple Studebaker plants in Detroit initiated the strike and were represented by The Industrial Workers of the World, a union with approximately 200 members. The intertwined history of Detroit and other cities in Michigan as both car towns and union towns underscores their pivotal role in shaping American labor conditions for the better. Through strikes, Michigan's workers have contributed to securing fair wages, stable employment, safer work environments, and predictable hours for industrial workers nationwide.