The International Union of District 50, Allied and Technical Workers of the United States and Canada, 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 in the energy and chemical industries, and in uranium mining. The union's origins lay in the foundation of the Massachusetts Council of Utility Workers by workers at the Everett Coke-Oven Plant in 1933. The union began representing workers in a variety of utilities, and in neighboring states, becoming the New England Council of Utility Workers in 1934, and the National Council of Gas and By-Product Coke Workers in 1935. In 1936, it affiliated to the

United Mine Workers of America The United Mine Workers of America (UMW or UMWA) is a North American Labor history of the United States, labor union best known for representing coal miners. Today, the Union also represents health care workers, truck drivers, manufacturing worke ...

(UMW), which designated it as its District 50, lower numbers being reserved for geographical districts of coal miners. After several name changes, in 1941, it became District 50, United Mine Workers of America. The district grew rapidly, and soon became larger than the remaining districts of the UMW put together. In 1961, it received organizational but not financial independence. This led it into disputes with the remainder of the UMW, particularly when it advocated for

nuclear power plants A nuclear power plant (NPP) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a generator that produces elec ...

. In March 1968, it was expelled from the UMW, adopting its final name in 1970. At this time, it had around 200,000 members, and was led by president Ellwood Moffett.{{cite journal , title=UNIONS: District 50 seeks merger , journal=Chemical & Engineering News , date=1971 , volume=49 , issue=17 On August 9, 1972, it merged into the

United Steelworkers of America 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 ...

References

Chemical industry trade unions Energy industry trade unions Trade unions established in 1968 Trade unions disestablished in 1972