The American Flint Glass Workers' Union (AFGWU) was a

labor union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing workers involved in making glassware and related goods in the United States and Canada. The union was founded in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

on July 1, 1878, by locals which split away from the

Knights of Labor Knights of Labor (K of L), officially Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, was an American labor federation active in the late 19th century, especially the 1880s. It operated in the United States as well in Canada, and had chapters also ...

. On July 27, 1887, it was chartered by the

American Federation of Labor The American Federation of Labor (A.F. of L.) was a national federation of labor unions in the United States that continues today as the AFL-CIO. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions eager to provide mutu ...

(AFL). In 1901, workers involved in making glass bottles split away to join the

Glass Bottle Blowers' Association The Glass Bottle Blowers' Association (GBBA) was a labor union representing workers involved in making blown glass in the United States and Canada. Origins Early glassmakers' unions In 1842, craftsmen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed a glass ...

. The AFGWU left the AFL in 1903, but rejoined in 1912. By 1925, the union had 6,900 members and was based in

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...

. From 1955, it was affiliated to the new

AFL–CIO The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) is the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 12 million ac ...

, growing to 35,000 members by 1957, this figure falling slightly to 33,375 in 1980. By 2003, membership was down to 12,000, and on July 1, the union merged into the

United Steelworkers The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, commonly known as the United Steelworkers (USW), is a general trade union with members across North America. Headquar ...

.{{cite news , title=American Flint Glass Workers to merge with United Steelworkers of America , url=https://www.glassonline.com/american-flint-glass-workers-to-merge-with-united-steelworkers-of-america/ , access-date=28 May 2022 , work=Glass Online , date=19 March 2003

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

Trade unions established in 1878 Trade unions disestablished in 2003 Glass trade unions