Learn about the bold leaders at a decisive moment in history, John L. Lewis and Sidney Hillman, in this episode. Discover the institutional formation of the CIO and key personalities. Hear about the CIO's organizers from the United Mine Workers of America and the significance of organized labor demands for economic security and abundance.
The CIO was formed by John L. Lewis, Sidney Hillman, and David Dubinsky to organize key industries like steel and automobiles, facing opposition from the AFL but successfully gaining momentum with the support of the Roosevelt administration.
John L. Lewis played a crucial role in the CIO's formation and success, leveraging the National Recovery Administration, including Section 7A, to secure workers' rights and target mass production industry owners, driven by his fear of communism and the domination of the economy by corporations.
Deep dives
The Formation of the Committee for Industrial Organization
The podcast episode explores how the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) was formed in response to the need for unionization in areas of the economy where unions had historically struggled. The CIO was established by John L. Lewis, leader of the United Mine Workers, along with Sidney Hillman and David Dubinsky, leaders of other unions. They recognized the opportunity presented by the Roosevelt administration and aimed to organize key industries like steel and automobiles. The CIO faced opposition from the craft unions of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). However, with the support of the Roosevelt administration and the growing New Deal wing of the Democratic Party, the CIO successfully pushed for legislative change and gained momentum in organizing campaigns.
John L. Lewis: The Transformative Leader
John L. Lewis, the president of the United Mine Workers, played a crucial role in the formation and success of the CIO. Lewis was known for his tenacity and progressive ideals, although he had faced criticism in the 1920s for his union autocracy. Lewis saw the opportunity presented by the National Recovery Administration and pushed for the inclusion of Section 7A in the Recovery Act, guaranteeing workers the right to organize and bargain collectively. His calculation of self-interest led him to target the owners of mass production industries, particularly in the steel industry. Lewis also perceived a fundamental threat to the American polity, seeing the domination of the economy by bankers, financiers, and corporations. His fear of communism and the radical left motivated him to take action, using both radical organizers and the communists to his advantage.
The Role of Sidney Hillman and Key Organizers
Sidney Hillman, the head of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, was another important figure in the CIO. He supported the vision of bringing political unionism and state support to workers, recognized the significance of a friendly federal government, and strengthened ties with the New Deal. Hillman's broader social vision and connections to the political classes made him a key figure in the CIO's relationship with the Roosevelt administration. Additionally, the podcast highlights the role of key organizers from the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) as instrumental in the success of the CIO. These miners, known for their radical history and experience in organizing, provided crucial knowledge and determination in the efforts to organize industries and advocate for industrial unionism.
On the second episode of Organized the Unorganized: The Rise of the CIO, we discuss the institutional formation of the CIO and meet some of the organization’s key personalities. We learn about figures such as John L. Lewis, whose bold leadership came at a decisive moment in history, and Sidney Hillman, the only other real center of power besides Lewis in the early CIO. Finally, we hear about some of the CIO’s key organizers, most of whom hailed from the United Mine Workers of America.
Find all the episodes on the web, or by searching for "Organize the Unorganized" on your podcast app.
Organize the Unorganized: The Rise of the CIO is a limited-run history podcast telling the story of the CIO through the voices of labor historians. Hosted by Benjamin Y. Fong and produced by the Center for Work & Democracy at Arizona State University with Jacobin. Find the full show notes for this episode at https://soundcloud.com/organizetheunorganized/episode-2-powerful-personalities.
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