Industrial Union Party facts for kids
The Industrial Union Party (IUP) was a political party in the United States. It followed ideas from a thinker named Daniel De Leon, who believed workers should organize into powerful unions. The party officially started on July 7, 1933, in The Bronx, New York. This was at the main office of a group called the Industrial Union League (IUL), which was the IUP's earlier version.
Right away, the new IUP announced people who would run for important jobs in New York City. These candidates included Adolph Silver for Mayor, Irving Oring for Comptroller (who manages money), and Sam Brandon for President of Alderman (a city council leader).
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What Was the Industrial Union Party?
The Industrial Union Party was a group that wanted to change how society worked. They believed that workers should have more power. They thought that by forming large, strong unions, workers could control industries. This idea was called "industrial unionism."
The Industrial Unionist Newspaper
The party had its own newspaper called the Industrial Unionist. This paper first came out in May 1932. It was published regularly to share the party's ideas and news. The last issue of the Industrial Unionist was printed in 1950.
How the IUP Began
The Industrial Union Party had strong connections to an older group called the Socialist Labor Party (SLP). The IUP formed because many people felt the SLP wasn't changing fast enough. This was especially true during the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs and money.
A big reason for the IUP's start was when many members from the SLP's Bronx section left or were removed in the 1920s. These members then helped create the Industrial Union League, which later became the IUP.
Connecting with Workers
In November 1933, a group of furniture workers in Jamestown, New York, formed a union. This union was called the United Workers of America. They believed in the same "industrial unionist" ideas as the IUP.
Just one month later, in December, this furniture union joined with the IUP. Soon after, they helped create another local union in Erie, Pennsylvania. This new union included workers from many different trades. This showed how the IUP was trying to connect with workers across different industries.
What Happened to the IUP?
Over time, many members of the Industrial Union Party decided to reorganize. They formed a new group called the League for Socialist Reconstruction. This new group continued to work towards similar goals.
