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

labor union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

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 Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

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

Knights of Labor The Knights of Labor (K of L), officially the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, was the largest American labor movement of the 19th century, claiming for a time nearly one million members. It operated in the United States as well in ...

. 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 mutual ...

(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. By 1925, the union had 6,900 members and was based in

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the western end of Lake Erie along the Maumee River. Toledo is the List of cities in Ohio, fourth-most populous city in Ohio and List of United Sta ...

. From 1955, it was affiliated to the new

AFL–CIO The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a national trade union center that is the largest federation of unions in the United States. It is made up of 61 national and international unions, together r ...

, 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. Headqua ...

.{{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 absorbed by the United Steelworkers Trade unions established in 1878 Trade unions disestablished in 2003 Glass trade unions