The International Brotherhood of Paper Makers (IBPM) 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 paper in the United States, Canada and Newfoundland. The union originated in 1884 as a social club, in

Holyoke, Massachusetts Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, that lies between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 38,238. Located north of Springfield ...

. On May 19, 1893, 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 ...

as an international union. Originally named the United Brotherhood of Papermakers, it added "of America" to its name in 1897. In 1898, machine tenders left the union, to form the International Paper Machine Tenders' Union. This rejoined in 1902, when the union renamed itself as the IBPM. Initially, the union also represented pulp and sulphite workers, but they split away in 1906, to form the

International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite, and Paper Mill Workers The International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite, and Paper Mill Workers (IBPSPMW) was a labor union representing workers involved in making paper in the United States and Canada. The union was founded on January 6, 1906, as a split from the Intern ...

. By 1926, the union had 7,000 members. This figure grew rapidly, and by 1953, it had 208,189 members. From 1955, it was affiliated to the

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 ...

, and in 1957, it merged with the

United Paperworkers of America The United Paperworkers of America (UPA) was a labor union representing workers involved in making paper in the United States. The union's origins lay in the United Paper, Novelty, and Toy Workers' International Union, which was affiliated to the ...

, to form the

United Papermakers and Paperworkers The United Papermakers and Paperworkers (UPP) was a labor union representing workers involved in manufacturing paper in the United States and Canada. The union was established on March 6, 1957, when the International Brotherhood of Paper Makers me ...

Presidents

:1902: George Mackey :1905: Jeremiah T. Carey :1924: Matthew H. Parker :1926: William R. Smith :1930: Matthew J. Burns :1940: Arthur Huggins :1944: Matthew J. Burns :1948:

Paul L. Phillips Paul L. Phillips (August 10, 1904 – February 6, 1975) was an American labor union leader. Born in Strong, Arkansas, Phillips studied at Arkansas A & M College and the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute. He qualified in business administration ...

{{cite news , title=Paul Phillips, led Papermakers Union , work=New York Times , date=13 February 1975

References

Trade unions established in 1884 Trade unions disestablished in 1957 Paper industry trade unions