Fur Workers Industrial Union facts for kids

The Fur Workers Industrial Union was a special group, called a labor union, for people who worked with fur in the United States. A labor union is like a team that helps workers get fair pay, good working conditions, and a safe workplace. This union was connected to other worker groups, like the Needle Trades Workers Industrial Union and the Trade Union Unity League. A man named Ben Gold was the president of the Fur Workers Industrial Union.

How the Union Started and Grew

The Fur Workers Industrial Union began in 1927 in New York City. It was formed by some local groups of fur workers who had been asked to leave another big union called the International Fur Workers Union of the United States and Canada. That other union was part of an even larger group called the American Federation of Labor (AFL).

Why the Split Happened

Before the split, there was a big disagreement within the fur workers' unions in New York. A group of people, led by Ben Gold, had ideas that were sometimes called "communist." They believed that workers should have more control over their jobs and industries. This group became very strong in many local fur worker groups in New York. They almost took control of the main union in 1925.

After a big strike in 1926, led by Ben Gold, more fur worker groups in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Newark, and Boston also started to support Gold's group. In January 1927, the president of the AFL, William Green, told the International Fur Workers Union to remove Gold's group and their supporters. He thought they would win control at the union's meeting that year. So, Gold's group was expelled, meaning they were forced to leave.

Union Rivalry and Conflict

After the split, the Fur Workers Industrial Union and the International Fur Workers Union of the United States and Canada did not get along well at all. Sometimes, there were fights between members of the two unions during protests, at workplaces, or even on the streets. Besides New York, the Fur Workers Industrial Union also became very strong in Chicago.

Coming Back Together

In 1935, the Fur Workers Industrial Union decided to join back with the International Fur Workers Union of the United States and Canada. This reunion happened after a meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At this meeting, leaders from both sides of the fur workers' movement decided to put their differences aside and work together. They called this a "united front."

In June 1935, a huge meeting of 5,000 members of the International Fur Workers Union of the United States and Canada was held in New York. At this meeting, they voted to continue the plans to merge with the Fur Workers Industrial Union, even though AFL president William Green did not want them to. News reports said that when Ben Gold walked into the meeting hall, everyone stood up and clapped for 15 minutes!