Fordism and welfare capitalism: company towns, benefits, and social programs (1914–1945)

1. Ford refines mass production at Highland Park

   Jan 1, 1913Labels: Highland Park, Ford Motor

   • The Henry Ford
   • Cambridge BHR

2. Ford forms Sociological Department for worker oversight

   Mar 1, 1913Labels: Sociological Department, Ford Motor

   • The Henry Ford
   • Cambridge BHR

3. Ford announces “Five-Dollar Day” profit-sharing plan

   Jan 5, 1914Labels: Five-Dollar Day, Henry Ford

   • The Henry Ford
   • EBSCO

4. Five-Dollar Day begins; three-shift system expands

   Jan 12, 1914Labels: Three-shift System, Five-Dollar Day

   • HFHA
   • EBSCO

5. Eligibility rules tie pay to “respectable” living

   Jan 12, 1914Labels: Sociological Department, Eligibility Rules

   • The Henry Ford
   • Cambridge BHR

6. Turnover drops, promoting the Ford welfare model

   Jan 1, 1915Labels: Turnover Reduction, Ford Motor

   • Cambridge BHR
   • MotorCities PDF

7. Ford expands wage plan coverage to more workers

   Oct 1, 1916Labels: Wage Expansion, Ford Motor

   • EBSCO
   • Cambridge BHR

8. Ford begins Village Industries decentralization experiment

   Jan 1, 1918Labels: Village Industries, Henry Ford

   • AskUs HenryFord
   • Village Industries

9. Court limits Ford’s social-purpose arguments in dividends case

   Jan 1, 1919Labels: Dodge v, Michigan Supreme

   • Dodge v Ford

10. Northville Village Industries plant opens

    Mar 1, 1920Labels: Northville Plant, Village Industries

    • AskUs HenryFord
    • Village Industries

11. Ford dissolves the Sociological Department

    Jan 1, 1921Labels: Sociological Department, Company Reorganization

    • Cambridge BHR
    • HenryFord AskUs

12. Great Depression sparks violent conflict at Ford Hunger March

    Mar 7, 1932Labels: Ford Hunger, River Rouge

    • Dearborn Museum
    • Ford Hunger March

13. Union organizing met with force in Battle of the Overpass

    May 26, 1937Labels: Battle of, UAW

    • Battle Overpass
    • Dearborn Museum

14. Ford signs first contract with the UAW

    Jun 20, 1941Labels: UAW Contract, Ford Motor

    • HISTORY
    • Cambridge BHR

15. War production and unions reshape Fordist labor bargain

    Sep 2, 1945Labels: War Production, Labor Institutions

    • HISTORY
    • Battle Overpass