America's Greatest Labor Leaders

Walter Reuther and John L. Lewis were chosen by the nation's newspaper editors a s the two most outstanding living union leaders. Reuther received more than twice a s many first- place votes a s his runner-up and swept the "election" as a run-away favorite.

Samuel Gompers won the top place as history's outstanding labor leader in a poll of union presidents. Eugene Debs (rail- roads) came in for a close second.

Who would you rate as history’s greatest figures in the American labor movement, and who as today’s greatest labor leaders? Define greatness in any way you wish as long as YOU consider ability, innovative ideas, ethical standards, and contribution to labor’s and the nation’s progress. Then match your choice with the country’s leading labor editors and union leaders who were polled by University of Michigan researchers.

Labor editors of the nation’s largest newspapers were asked to rate the greatest living labor leaders in order of preference. Union leaders, i.e. presidents of the nation’s largest unions, were asked to rate the oreatest leaders in the history of the labor movement. The results of the survey, listing the top ten names in each category, are summarized on the following pages.

Researchers who have interviewed business executives and graduate business students in other similar surveys decided that the labor leaders voted more intelligently than any previous panel polled. Labor historians might take issue with a name or two and they might suggest a few names not on the list; but they’d probably agree that the list as a whole is well-rounded and sound- indicative of a thorough knowledge of labor history on the part of the men who head our largest unions. The findings, researchers claim, strongly suggest that labor leaders are better informed about labor history and the men who made labor history than business executives are about business history and America’s greatest entrepreneurs. (For survey results of a poll cf businessmen on America’s ten greatest entrepreneurs, see Management of Personnel QuarterEy, Winter 1967.) Nancy L. Brown

9

David L. Lewis

David Dubinsky George Meany Joseph Beirne

A. Philip Randolph

3 3

HISTORY’S TOP TEN LABOR LEADERS‘ ’ As polled from presidents of the country’s largest

total 1 st place name offiliation points votes Samuel Gompers AFL 138 (151/z) Eugene V. Debs Railroods 105 (11V2) Philip Murray CIO 6 9 ( 4) Sidney Hillman Clothing 37 ( 0) John Mitchell Miners 27 ( 1) P. J. McGuire Carpenters 26 ( 2 ) William Green A n 26 ( 2 ) Terence Powderly Knights of Labor 13 ( 0) Daniel Tobin Teomiters 12 ( 1 ) William Hoywood IWW 12 ( 0)

S ~ M U E L COMPERS (185&1921), a Jewish immi. grant from London, became a journeyman cigar maker in New York a t age 13 in 1863. Named

resident of his local union in 1877, he was a Founder of the Organized Trades and Labor Unions (1881), reorganized as the American Federarion of Labor in 1886.

Gornpers headed the AFL for 38 years, until his death in 1924. His bread and butter brand OF “busi- ness” unionism, emphasizing immediate gains- higher wages, shorter work days and improved workin conditions-won out over the politically- oriente ! pie-in-the-sky unionism advocated by some

labor unions.

TODAY’S TOP TEN LABOR LEADERS * As polled from labor editors on the nation’s largest

newspapers total 1 st place

name affiliation points votes Wolter P. Reuther John t. tewis David Oubinsky George Mean A. Philip Randblph Joseph A. Beirne Horry Bridges Cesar Chovez James R. Haffo P. L. Sierniller

UAW UMW ILGWU AFL-CIO BSC P CWA ILWU UFWOC I BT IAM

167 104 72 68 33 29 24 26 18 21

WALTER REUTHER, 60, an ex-tool and die worker who plunged into organization work for the fledg- ling UAW in 1936, has been president of his 1.5 million member union since 1946. He served as president of the CIO between 1952 and 1955, played a key role in merging the CIO with the AFL in 1955, and since that year had headed the AFL- CIO’s Industrial Union Department, which em- braces 50 unions with more than 6 million of the federation’s 14 million members.

A tough bargainer, Reuther has kept his auto workers at or near the top of the industrial wage structure. He has gained for his membership such

34 America’s Greatest Labor Leaders

late 19th century labor leaders. Much of Gompers labor philosophy survives to the present day, espc- cially among craft unions.

Almost all of the union leaders surveved praised Gompers for his part in founding and nurturing the AFL during its most difficult years. “He sepa- rated labor from the extremists and the ‘isms,’ ” said one union president, “and instilled in the hetero- geneous labor organitations of his day the spirit of a common cause and a common bond.” “Gompers.” echoed another survey participant, ‘ h i l t a solid foundation for the labor movement and articulated a formula for trade unionism which, with modifica- tions, the labor movement still follows today.”

Gompers received high marks for his “foresight,” “courage,” “integrity,” “profound soundness of judgment,” and ‘‘dedication to the interests of work- ing men and women.” “Providing leadenhi to so many unions oing in so man diretions too I: a real genius,” stat J a union o f 5 J Added another: “He was labor’s greatest statesman.”

EUCENE v. DEBS (1855-1926) headed the Brotha- hood of Locomotive Firemen from 188&1892, then organized the American M w a y Union in 1893.

innovations as cost-of-living and productivity ad- justments, company-financed pension programs, supplemental unemployment benefits, health insur- ance plans, and profit-sharing programs.

The fiery auto workers’ chief is one of labor’s lead- ing exponents of political action. He also is a vigor- ous advocate of civil rights and other social causes. During the past year, Reuther has been feuding with George Meany, describing the AFLCIO presi- dent’s leadership as undemocratic, complacent, veg- etating, and stagnant.

Labor editors praised Reuther for his part in shaping the UAW into the largest and one of the most powerful of unions, and credited him winning “ex- cellent contracts for his membership, while showing concern for those not at his bargaining table.” “Reuther has long been labor’s pacesetter in new contract patterns,” typically noted a Houston labor editor, “and its most visionary, articulate spokesman as well.”

Study participants also gave Reuther high marks for his ethical standards, for his flexibility in seeking solutions to labor’s problems, for his responsiveness to social ills, for “making democracy within the UAW the model for all unions,” and for his “con-

Although short-lived, the Union’s inclusion of skilled and unskilled workers into one organization inspired successful imitation by later industrial unions.

Debs’ railway workers boycotted Pullman cars dur- ing the famous Pullman strike of 1894. Debs him- self, after defying a federal injunction against obstructing rail and mail traffic, was arrested and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for contempt of court. While languishing in jail, Debs became 3

Socialist, and, upon his release from prison in 1897. organized the Social Democratic Party of America. He was Socialist candidate for president between 1900-1920. Under provisions of the Sedition Act, Debs was sentenced in 1918 to 10 years‘ imprison- ment for opposing World War I, but was pardoned by President Harding in 1921. Debs’ reputation has been rehabilitated in recent years; in 1966 the De- partment of the Interior designated his Terre Haute, Indiana, home as a national historic landmark.

Almost evey union president who voted for Debs spoke of his personal courage and his willingness to sacrifice himself for his membership. Many respond- ents also noted that he was the “first major advocate of modern industrial unionism” and that his views

tinuing role as a useful gadfly to the labor move- ment.”

“Reuther,” said a Chicago editor, “has consistently displayed innovative leadership, integrity, and the capacity to deal effectively with technological tran- sitions.” “Whether confronting problems of tech- nology, unemployment, race, or other troubled areas,” echoed a Minneapolis newsman, “Reuther has sought new approaches, always tempered with responsibility to society as a whole.” A New York journalist summed up the views of many respon- dents: “Reuther is an ethical, devoted, and militant trade unionist. I don’t always agree with his tactics, but I admire him.”

JOHN L. LEWIS, 88, rated the second greatest living labor leader, served as president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1920 to 1960. The U M W s president emeritus now resides in Alexan- dria, Virginia. He maintains an active interest in UMW affairs, spending most weekdays in his office at the union’s Washington headquarters.

Lewis devoted much of his time during the 1930’s to organizing unorganized workers in the auto, rub- ber, shipbuilding, textile, and other mass production

on “social, economic, and judicial injustices served as a springboard to remedial steps to alleviate the burden of American workers.” “Debs.” typically observed one prominent union official, “gave of him- self without any concern for his personal welfare. He was willing to make any sacrifice to further his principles. Although many of the ideas he advocated appeared revolutionary in his day. they are common- place today.” Said another union leader: “Debs svm- boiized unions who hated social injustice. . . . He was a soul man, the Thomas Jefferson of the labor movement.“

PHILIP MURRAY (1886-1952), came to the U.S. from Scotland at age 16. He served as vice president of the United Mine Workers from ‘1920-1942; headed the Steelworkers from 1936-1952; and was president of the CIO from 1940 until his death in 1952.

Many union officials who voted for Murray cited his role in holding the CIO together during the turbu- lent World War I1 and postwar periods. Murray also was praised for his or nizing ability, “humani- tarianism,” “honesty,” anr“sincerity.” “He was re- spected in all walks of life,” said one union execu- tive, “including management circles. It is hard to

industries. He played a key role in establishing the CIO in 1935, and served as CIO president between 1935 and 1940. For his UMW membership, Lewis won abolition of payment to miners in company script, restrictions on the age at which young men could go to work in mines, abolition of compulsory company housing and stores, shorter work days, a union shop, and a checkoff system for union dues and assessments. But he regards the UMW Welfare and Retirement Fund, won in 1946, as his greatest achievement for his workers. The Fund, now the largest non-government industrial benefit program in the world, has served as a model for many funds in other mass production industries.

In exchange for the Welfare and Retirement Fund, Lewis, one of the first union leaders to support auto- mation, gave a green light to technological advances within the coal mining industry. As a result of his farsightedness, coal production per man in the U.S. today is 10 times greater than anywhere in Europe.

Labor editors lauded Lewis for his valiant fight to improve wages, working conditions, and the welfare of downtrodden miners, for giving a “tremendous boost to the labor movement by organizing indus- trial production workers,” and for “realistically ap-

Management of Personnel Quarterly, Fall, 1968 35

HISTORY’S TOP TEN LABOR LEADERS select Murray over Gompers as the greatest labor leader. Personal knowledge of the man helps me to

SIDNEY HILLMAN (1887-1946) emigrated from Lith- uania to the U.S. at age 20. After organizing textile workers for half a dozen years, he was elected pres- ident of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in 1915, remaining in that post until his death in 1946. The suave, quick-witted Hillman was associate director-general o€ the Office of Pro- duction Management in 1941 and head of the

duction Board’s Labor Division in 1912-43.

raised for his “imaginative. gifted leadership” “&e possessed a breadth of view,” said

official, “that enabled him to identify his mbition with the welfare of others. He

was dedicated to the concept of human betterment.” ndent : “Hillman probably was

this country has produced- and fair, with absolute in-

was

30m MITCHELL (1870-1919) began working in coal mines at age 12 in 1882. Rising through the

TODAY’S TOP TEN LABOR LEADERS praising and dealing with long-range trends within the coal mining industry.”

“Lewis elevated mass labor from the gutter when he established the CIO,” stated an Indianapolis editor. “He had the courage,” added a Memphis newsman, “to put his own men out of work by permitting mine owners to substitute machines for muscle. No one will ever know how many lives were thus saved, lengthened, or brightened.”

DAVID DUBINSKY, who emigrated from Russia to the U.S. at age 18 in 1911, rose through the ranks of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, serving as president between 1932 and 1966 He is now the administrator of the ILGWU’s newly- formed Retiree Service Department.

Respondents applauded Dubinsky for “carrying la- bor through its modernday birth pangs and setting it on the proper course,” and, in the words of a Hartford, Connecticut, labor editor, for “seeing the labor movement in terms much broader than a bread and butter program-for using unions as in- struments of social change, especially in the realm of civil rights.”

ranks, he served as president of the United Alinc Workers from 1898-1908. Mitchell so skillfully organized and directed the anthracite coal miners’ strike of 1902 that he won for labor-for the first time in a major strike-widespread public support and the active sympathy of a President, Theodore Roosevelt. The most popular labor leader of his time, Mitchell headed the New York State Indus- trial Commission between 1915 and his death in 1919.

Mitchell was lauded by survey respondents for his proficiency in bargaining, effective handling of pub- lic relations, and successful negotiation of the first industrywide wage agreements in the bituminous and anthracite coal industries on an industrial un- ion basis. “Mitchell’s contracts,” said one union leader, “established the form of existing wage agree- ments in our mass producing industries, as we11 as the first continuing form of grievance and arbitra- tion procedures.”

P. 3. MC CUIRE, general secretary of the Carpenters &om 1881-1906, was a co-founder and the first sec- retary of the AFL. A fiery orator, McGuire, like Gompers, was a strong advocate of “business” union- ism.

Other labor editors described the retired garment workers’ president as “progressive,” “intelligent.” “fearless,” “honest,” and “loyal to his workers” and as having a “great sense of dedication and responsi- bility.”

GEORGE MEANY, 74, rated the fourth greatest labor leader, regards the 1955 merger of the AFL and CIO as his major achievement. Meany, who received his journeyman plumber’s certificate in 1915, moved through the ranks of organized labor to become secretary-treasurer of the AFL in 1939 and presi- dent of the craft federation in 1952. He has been the AFL-CIO’s sole president.

Meany, like Reuther, Lewis, and Dubinsky, is J

militant foe of racketeering and Communists in the labor movement. T h e blunt-spoken AFL-CIO pres- ident is proud of his record in the civil rights and social spheres. But his critics, led bv Walter Reu- ther, insist that he has moved too m lowly in these fields, as well as in organizing non-union workers. Every labor editor who voted for Meany cited his role in unifying the AFL and CIO and in keeping the big federation glued together. “Only a man of Meany’s stamp could have effected a ‘shotgun mar riage’ like the AFL-CIO merger and made i t work, ’

36 America’s Greatest Lnbor Leaders

Participants in the study applauded McGuire for his selfless dedication to the trade union movement and for his part in organizing the AFL. “As a young man,” said one union president, “he rode the rods and scrounged meals while preaching unionism. More than any other one man he was responsible for making the main thrust of the American labor movement collective bargaining rather than social- ism as many leaders of European background wanted.” Added another labor leader: “He never got credit for his accomplishments; the fact of the matter is that he was maligned. But I personally feel that he was the true founder of the AFL.”

WILLIAM (1873-1952), tied with McGuire for sixth place in the poll, served as secretary-treas- urer of the Mine Workers from 1913-1924. Elected

observed a Dallas editor. “When he goes, it’s by no means certain there won’t be a divorce.”

“His personal strengths and the respect labor has for him,” said a Chicago newsman, “give him greater influence over the labor movement than is generally realized. As a man, he is great.”

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH, 79, organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in 1925, and has been presi- dent of that union for the past 43 years. A Negro, Randolph has been in the forefront of the civil rights movement since 1941, when he directed a march on Washington, which culminated in the establishment by President Roosevelt of the Fair Employment Practices Committee. Respondents who supported Randolph in the Michigan study said that he deserved recognition because he was “fighting two wars at once”-one in behalf of his union, one in behalf of his race.

JOSEPH A. BEIRNE, 47, a former employee of the Bell System, has been president of the Communications Workers of America since that union was organ- ized in 1947. Beirne was rated highly for his “imag- inative leadership,” “common sense,” “clear think- ing,” and “dedication and responsible approach” to unionism.

federation from 1883-1893. He was mainly re- sponsible for pushing through Congress an act for- bidding the importation of contract labor and was influential in establishing labor bureaus and public

CESAR CHAVEZ, 41, made headlines throughout the country between February 14 and March 10, while fasting to dramatize the non-violent efforts of his United Farm Workers Organizing Committee to organize grape growers in California’s Central Val- ley. At the close of his ordeal, Chavez was ten- dered a symbolic portion of bread by the late U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who described the Mexican-American labor leader as “one of the most historic figures of our times.” A saint to his fol- lowers, an anathema to employers, Chavez, rising by tactics of nonviolence and economic boycott, has obtained 1 I union contracts from California grow- ers. But many other growers continue to resist UFWOC demands for union recognition and high- er wages.

Chavez, a field laborer at the age of 10, has a seventh-grade education. He is described by a San Diego labor editor as “a natural leader, who quietly but forcibly became a respected figure to be reck- oned with, as Teamster and AFL-CIO organizers (as well as growers) have discovered.” “He is a grassroots leader who braved almost impossible odds,” adds a Honolulu newsman. “No other man in this century is his equal.”

Managemelit of Personnel Quarterly, Fall, I968 37

HISTORY’S TOP TEN LABOR LEADERS it had only a handful of members,” said one re- spondent, “and provided the solid foundation upon which is now built the largest free trade union in the world.”

Eugene Debs

P. J. McGuire

Sidney Hillman

Philip Murray

John Mitchell

William Green Terence Powderly

WILLIAM D. HAYWOOD (1869-1928), tied with T e bin for ninth place on the greatest labor leader list, became a miner at age 15. Joining the Socialist party in 1901, he co-founded the nation’s most revo- lutionary labor federation, the IWW, in 1905. Hay- wood‘s advocacy of violence by workers in industrial disputes led to his dismissal from the Socialist par- ty’s executive board in 1913. Arrested for sedition after America’s entry into World War I in 1917, he was convicted in 1918, then released on bail pend- ing a new trial. He fled to the Soviet Union in 1921, where he died in 1928. Part of his ashes are buried in the Kremlin’s wall.

Several survey respondents, noting that conservative unions later adopted many of the policies and tac- tics which Haywood preached and was punished for, lauded the radical leader for his “reckless, revolu- tionary intransigence” and for paving the way for the future development of unions.

TODAY’S TOP TEN LABOR LEADERS HARRY BRIDGES, 66, Australian-born president of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union since the mid-I930’s, is another ontroversial labor figure. For years, the Department oE Justice, Congressional committees, and labor leaders ac- cused him of being a Communist. Bridges’ union was kicked out of the CIO in 1950 on charges of fol- lowing the Communist party line. Bridges, who be- came an American citizen in 1945, fought of€ gov- ernment efforts to deport him, both before and after he was naturalized.

k

For more than two decades, Bridges’ union and em- ployers were bitterly hostile toward each other. On several occasions the longshoremen brought West Coast shipping to a standstill and virtually paralyzed Hawaii. In recent years, however, Bridges’ union has been less militant. Many participants in the Michigan study praised Bridges for signing a 1960 agreement which permits employers to automate the waterfront in exchange for a slice of productiv- ity gains. “The historic mechanization and mod- ernization agreement,” noted an Oakland labor edi- tor, “did not hamstring employers and at the same time softened the impact of automation.” “Bridges,” echoed a Seattle journalist, “has been an outstand-

38 America’s Greatest Labor Leaders

ing leader in recognizing the need to adjust to indus- trial change, while gaining for his members wages and working conditions that are among the best in the country.”

P. L. “ROY” SIEMILLER, 63, president of the Machin- ists, is one of the prickliest labor leaders around. As a national magazine said in January, “he infuriates everyone in sight except a million fellow machin- ists.”

Siemiller’s union, after a 43-day strike against five major airlines in 1966, won wage increases that ran almost twice as high as the 3.2 percent guidelines that President Johnson proposed as equitable and non-inflationary. “An increase of 3.2 percent,” snort- ed grammar-school dropout Siemiller, “wasn’t never good enough, even for a beer. W e broke those guide- lines to smithereens.” So have most other unions which have negotiated contracts since the signing of the IAM-airlines contracts.

Participants in the Michigan study who voted for Siemiller said that he “is completely honest and dedicated to his membership” and “is bringing a new growth and revitalization to the labor move- men t .”

JAMES R. HOFFA, 55, although serving an eight-year prison sentence for jury tampering, was rated the 10th “greatest living labor leader.” In the survey, the Teamsters’ president received one first, one second, one third, and three fourth place votes. Why did half a dozen labor editors rate Hoffa as one of the top American labor leaders? “Because,” typically observed a California newsman, “overlooking his ob- vious disregard for the law, he built up a union organization which effectively made the trucking industry workers one of the best paid and protected groups of employees in the world.”

William Haywood

Harry Bridges

Cesar Chavez

James Hoffa

David L. Lewis

is associate professor of Business History in the Graduate School of Business Administration, Uni- versity of Michigan. His Ph.D. was earned in history. In previous positions, Dr. Lewis was a public rela- tions executive with Ford Motor Company, Borden’s, and General Motors. He is a frequent contributor to public relations and historical journals and previously has published in Management of Personnel QUQT- terly.

Nancy Brown

earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at the LIni- versity of Michigan in 1968. She worked as a re- search associate in the School of Business Adminis- tration during her term of study. She is now employed on the industrial relations staff of the Proctor Gamble Company in Cincinnati. P. 1. Siemiller Daniel Tobin

h’fanngemeizt of PCJ-SO~ZJ~P! Qzirrrtcrly, Fall, 1968 39