United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America

United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America is a labor union that was founded in 1936 by James J. Matles, James B. Carey, and other labor leaders, with the goal of organizing workers in the electrical, radio, and machine industries, including those at General Electric, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and RCA Corporation. The union was one of the founding members of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and played a key role in the Labor Movement of the 1930s and 1940s, alongside other prominent unions such as the United Mine Workers of America and the United Steelworkers. The union's early years were marked by significant organizing victories, including the Remington Rand strike of 1936-1937, which involved workers at Remington Rand and was supported by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the National Labor Relations Act.

● History

The union's history is closely tied to the development of the electrical and radio industries in the United States, with key companies such as AT&T, IBM, and DuPont playing important roles. The union's founding in 1936 was influenced by the National Industrial Recovery Act and the National Labor Relations Act, which protected workers' right to organize and engage in collective bargaining, as seen in the Wagner Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. During World War II, the union played a crucial role in the war effort, with its members working in the production of radar, sonar, and other military equipment, in collaboration with the War Department and the Office of Price Administration. The union also had close ties to the Communist Party USA and was a strong supporter of progressive causes, including the Civil Rights Movement and the American Labor Party.

● Organization

The union is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has locals and members across the United States, including in major cities such as New York City, Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and has worked closely with other unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), on issues such as workers' rights and social justice, as seen in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the United Farm Workers movement. The union's leadership has included notable figures such as Albert J. Fitzgerald, who served as president from 1941 to 1954, and Baldwin Baldwin, who played a key role in the union's early years, alongside other prominent labor leaders such as John L. Lewis and Walter Reuther.

● Strikes_and_Disputes

The union has been involved in numerous strikes and disputes over the years, including the General Electric strike of 1969-1970, which involved workers at General Electric and was supported by the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the International Union of Electrical Workers (IUE). The union has also been involved in disputes with companies such as Westinghouse Electric Corporation and RCA Corporation, and has worked to protect workers' rights and benefits, as seen in the Taft-Hartley Act and the Landrum-Griffin Act. The union's strikes and disputes have often been supported by other labor unions and progressive organizations, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and have been influenced by key events such as the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Flint Sit-Down Strike.

● Political_Activities

The union has been active in politics and has supported various progressive causes and candidates, including Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, as well as Harry S. Truman and the Fair Deal. The union has also been a strong supporter of labor rights and social justice, and has worked to protect workers' benefits and pensions, as seen in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The union's political activities have been influenced by key events such as the Great Depression and World War II, and have been shaped by the union's relationships with other labor unions and progressive organizations, such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the American Labor Party.

● Notable_Members

The union has had many notable members over the years, including James J. Matles, who served as the union's first president, and James B. Carey, who played a key role in the union's early years, alongside other prominent labor leaders such as John L. Lewis and Walter Reuther. The union has also had close ties to notable figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr., who supported the union's efforts to protect workers' rights and promote social justice, as seen in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Poor People's Campaign. Other notable members have included Albert J. Fitzgerald, who served as president from 1941 to 1954, and Baldwin Baldwin, who played a key role in the union's early years, alongside other prominent labor leaders such as George Meany and Lane Kirkland.

● Legacy

The union's legacy is closely tied to the development of the labor movement in the United States, and its efforts to protect workers' rights and promote social justice, as seen in the National Labor Relations Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The union's history and activities have been influenced by key events such as the Great Depression and World War II, and have been shaped by the union's relationships with other labor unions and progressive organizations, such as the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the American Labor Party. Today, the union continues to be an important voice for workers' rights and social justice, and its legacy serves as an inspiration to labor activists and progressive organizations around the world, including the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

Category:Labor unions in the United States