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Phillip Murray was an important American labor
leader born in Blantyre, Scotland, 25 May 1886, to Irish immigrants
William and Rose Ann (Layden) Murray. The family emigrated to Western
Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh in 1902 and Phillip became a naturalized
American citizen in 1911. He became a member of the international board of
the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)in 1912, President of UMWA
District 5 in 1916, and UMWA International Vice President in 1920. During
the First World War he served on Pennsylvania's Regional Labor Board and
in 1935 was named to the National Industrial Recovery Administration. He
was Chairman of the Steel Workers' Organizing Committee (SWOC), 1936-1942,
and its successor, the United Steelworkers of America, 1942-1952. Murray
succeeded John L. Lewis as President of the Congress of Industrial
Organizations (CIO) in 1940, a post he held until his death in 1952.
During the Second World War, Murray promoted the active cooperation of
labor in the war effort. After the war, he pledged full support in the
campaign to purge Communists out of the CIO ranks. Murray was married in
1910 to Elizabeth Lavery and they had one child, a son named Joseph
William Murray. It should also be noted that Murray was very proud of his
Scottish identity, retaining a Scottish brogue and often appearing in
public wearing a kilt.
Thanks to
William
J. Shepherd for sending this in |
