biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1886–1952)
|
| biography:
| Labour leader, born in New Glasgow, Scotland, UK. A coal miner from age 10, he emigrated to the USA in 1902. He held many offices within the United Mine Workers Union, climaxing with that of vice-president (1920–42). He and John L Lewis founded the Committee of Industrial Organizations (1935), and he was president of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (1936) and succeeded Lewis as president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) (1940–52). Although he was a strong proponent of labour's co-operation with the government during World War 2 and the Korean War, he never abandoned the struggle to improve the situation of labourers. His tact and personal skills kept the CIO together during the difficult war years. |
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