Forging a union of steel : Philip Murray, SWOC, and the United Steelworkers

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

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

Contents Preface The History Is Missing, Almost: Philip Murray, the Steelworkers, and the Historians The Origins of Modern Steel Unionism: The SWOC Era Labor's Odd Couple: Philip Murray and John L. Lewis Consolidating Industrial Citizenship: The USW A at War and Peace, 1939-46 Battling over Government's Role Comments I. W. Abel Walter Burke Abe Raskin John Hoerr Harold J. Ruttenberg Bibliography Major Events in the History of the Steelworkers Contributors Editors Index