Michael Johnston, a 1972 graduate of Wayland High School, is working on the manuscript about the history of labor unions in West Michigan.
Johnston, who retired as a history teacher at Kenowa Hills High School and editor of a weekly labor newspaper, said, “I’ve been researching and collecting anything to do with the rich labor union history of West Michigan, especially from 1972 backward.”
He said he will include Labor Day photos, personal shop stories, leaders, politics, strikes, strikes broken, poverty, middle class etc., and he hopes to have his first manuscript finished by next May after 30 years of research and collecting.
The work is titled, “Grand Rapids Rebels, Rubes, Rogues, and Radicals: A people’s history of the nation’s weather vane city.”
Johnson said, “Folks will be amazed at the stuff I’ve uncovered. The story of union members, the great author Mark Twain coming to Grand Rapids and his subsequent speech about his insights from GR has never been published.
“G.R. was the first union city in Michigan long before Detroit. Yup! Folks are going to see a lot of myths blown away like so much furniture factory sawdust.”
Johnston is seeking area residents’ help in his research, asking then to share authentic stories, memorabilia “and if I can use them, your name will be in the beautiful hardbound, coffee table type book for generations to come.”
Johnston also ran for Kent County Commissioner twice, narrowly losing in 2012 to a 20-year Republican incumbent. He most recently was living in Kentwood, but he and his wife spend a lot of time in Florida, particularly during colder months.
His former wife was a fellow 1972 Wayland High School graduate and retired teacher, Linda Shoemaker Johnston.
PHOTO: Michael Johnston
