Forging a Union of Steel - by Paul F Clark & Peter Gottlieb & Donald Kennedy (Paperback)

About the Book

More than any other labor victory of the 1930s, the emergence of the Steel Workers' Organizing Committee symbolized the rise of organized labor to a position of power in the United States.

Book Synopsis

More than any other labor victory of the 1930s, the emergence of the Steel Workers' Organizing Committee symbolized the rise of organized labor to a position of power in the United States. Yet, as the contributors to this volume demonstrate, the unionization of the steel industry, and most notably the role of SWOC and Philip Murray in that process, has received far less attention than it deserves.

Beginning with a discussion of why the unionization of steel has been relatively neglected by labor historians, the contributors to this volume analyze early organizing efforts in steel, the major transformations wrought and felt by the union, and the character of the union members and leaders. Critical throughout is discussion of the role of Philip Murray in shaping the United Steelworkers of America into one of the premier economic, social, and political institution of the war years and beyond.

Contributors: David Brody, Malvyn Dubovsky, Ronald L. Filippelli, Mark McColloch, Ronald W. Schatz

Review Quotes

A useful primer for researchers wishing to explore the rich interpretative and narrative possibilities of Philip Murray's leadership and the development of steel unionism between 1935 and 1952. The essays complement one another and suggest fresh questions and approaches to this important facet of labor history.

This book fills an obvious void and succeeds in its efforts at directing scholars into fertile territory for the future. It is a 'must' acquisition for all labor studies collections. It would be a good supplemental text in an upper division labor studies course devoted to the history and development of the CIO. The book might even be used on the history of the Steelworkers in those areas of the country where Big Steel and the Steelworkers continue to maintain a strong presence.

This useful anthology is a collection of papers and comments presented in a 1986 conference at Penn State by labor historians, trade unionists, and other commentators on the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC), the United Steel Workers of America (USWA), and the union's leader, Philip Murray.

About the Author

Paul F. Clark is Head and Professor in the Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Penn State University. He is the author, editor, or coeditor of several books, including Building More Effective Unions and Collective Bargaining in the Private Sector, both from Cornell.