American Flint Glass Workers' Union

The American Flint Glass Workers' Union (AFGWU) was a labor union representing workers involved in making glassware and related goods in the United States and Canada.

The union was founded in Pittsburgh on July 1, 1878, by locals which split away from the Knights of Labor. On July 27, 1887, it was chartered by the American Federation of Labor (AFL). In 1901, workers involved in making glass bottles split away to join the Glass Bottle Blowers' Association. The AFGWU left the AFL in 1903, but rejoined in 1912.^[1][2][3]

By 1925, the union had 6,900 members and was based in Toledo, Ohio.^[2] From 1955, it was affiliated to the new AFL–CIO, growing to 35,000 members by 1957,^[4] this figure falling slightly to 33,375 in 1980.^[5] By 2003, membership was down to 12,000, and on July 1, the union merged into the United Steelworkers.^[1][6]

Presidents

1878: Robert A. Steen

1880: John N. Branen

1883: Thomas J. Irwin

1884: William J. Smith

1900: John Kunzler

1902: Charles E. Voitle

1903: Thomas W. Rowe

1916: William P. Clarke

1932: Joseph M. Gillooly

1940: Harry H. Cook

1952: Charles M. Scheff

1961: George M. Parker

1989: Larry Bankowski

Tim Tuttle

References

1. "Inactive Organizations" (PDF). UMD Labor Collections. University of Maryland. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
2. Handbook of American Trade Unions (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Labor. 1926. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
3. Reynolds, Lloyd G.; Killingsworth, Charles C. (1944). Trade Union Publications: The Official Journals, Convention Proceedings, and Constitutions of International Unions and Federations, 1850-1941. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press.
4. Directory of National and International Labor Unions in the United States (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Labor. 1957. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
5. Directory of National Unions and Employee Associations (PDF). Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Labor. 1980. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
6. "American Flint Glass Workers to merge with United Steelworkers of America". Glass Online. 19 March 2003. Retrieved 28 May 2022.