On this day in Labor History the year was 1829.
That was the day that William Sylvis was born in Armagh, Pennsylvania.
Growing up he was one of twelve children.
His father was a wagon maker and taught him the trade.
At the age of eighteen he became an iron working apprentice.
His skill took him to Philadelphia, where he found work.
But iron work was changing.
More and more foundries were hiring unskilled labor, or helpers, to assist in production.
They could pay these workers significantly less, and undercut the wages of the skilled iron moulders.
In response William joined his local iron moulders union.
But he knew if they were to really have any power as workers, they would need to join together with other locals.
In 1863 he brought together 21 locals to form the Iron Moulders International Union.
Three years later, he embarked on an even more ambitious project—forming a national labor organization for workers across the trades.
Under his leadership the National Labor Union grew to 300,000 members strong.
William shared his thoughts on the importance of labor in a speech to the Iron Moulders Union in 1864 saying quote,
“If workingmen and capitalists are equal co-partners, composing one vast firm by which the industry of the world is carried on and controlled, why do they not share equally in the profits? Why does capital take to itself the whole loaf, while labor is left to gather up the crumbs? Why does capital roll in luxury and wealth, while labor is left to eke out a miserable existence in poverty and want?”
Sadly after all these years, William’s questions are still being asked today.
May 11 - Organizing in the Fields
May 10 - Bankruptcy Bonanza for Big Bankers
May 9 - The Historic ‘34 West Coast Maritime Strike Begins
May 8 - Mary Marcy is Born
May 7 - Popeye The Union Man
May 6 - FDR Rolls Out the WPA
May 5 - The Bay View Massacre
May 4 - UE Beats Back HUAC in Dayton
May 3 - First Workers Compensation Law is Passed
May 2 - Our Thing is DRUM!
May 1 - Mayday Marchers Attacked in Cleveland
April 30 - Refinery Workers Walk Off the Job
April 29 - Allis-Chalmers and the Road to Taft-Hartley
April 28 - OSHA Goes Into Effect
April 27 - Disaster in West Virginia
April 26 - National Guard Ousts Montgomery Ward CEO
April 25 - UAW Mobilizes Against Taft-Hartley
April 24 - The California Spinach Riot
April 23 - Sitting Down for Dignity at Ford
April 22 - The Red Jacket Mine Explosion
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