December 30

Beginning on December 30, 1936, United Auto Workers staged a sit-down strike at GM's Fisher Body plant in Flint, Michigan. By occupying the factory floors, workers denied management the use of production facilities and forced negotiations. The strike lasted 44 days, during which strikers withstood harsh winter conditions and legal challenges. Its success led General Motors to recognize the UAW, heralding a new era of union power in American industry. The Flint action inspired similar tactics nationwide, contributing to the rise of labor rights and collective bargaining.

Facing growing public debt, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a budget plan on December 30, 1996, that included deep cuts to social welfare, education, and public sector wages. Labor unions perceived the proposals as a direct threat to workers’ livelihoods and quickly mobilized a nationwide strike. Approximately 250,000 public and private sector employees joined protests, shutting down buses, schools, and government offices. The demonstrations lasted several days and brought attention to the social cost of fiscal austerity. Netanyahu’s government engaged in tense negotiations with union leaders and eventually made concessions on key measures. The events highlighted the power of collective action in Israeli society and influenced future budgetary decisions. To this day, the 1996 protests are remembered as one of the country’s largest labor mobilizations.