The Metal Polishers', Buffers', Platers' and Allied Workers' International Union (MPBP) 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 metal workers in the United States and Canada. The union was founded in 1892, as the Metal Polishers', Buffers' and Platers' International Union of North America, a split from the International Brotherhood of Brass Workers. 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 ...

, but the Brass Workers remained a significant force in the industry, particularly after 1895, when it was joined by many metal polishers formerly organized in 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 ...

Trades Assembly 252. On July 2, 1896, the union absorbed the Brass Workers, renaming itself as the Metal Polishers', Buffers', Platers' and Brass Workers' Union of North America, adding "International" to its name in 1899. In 1902, the silver workers' union merged in, and the union's name was again lengthened, to become the Metal Polishers', Buffers', Platers', Brass Molders', and Brass and Silver Workers' International Union of North America. However, brass molders were transferred to the International Molders' Union of North America in 1907, and brass workers who used lathes were then transferred to the

International Association of Machinists The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is an AFL–CIO/ CLC trade union representing approx. 646,933 workers as of 2006 in more than 200 industries with most of its membership in the United States and Canada. Or ...

. In 1917, the union transferred its silver workers to the

International Jewelry Workers' Union The International Jewelry Workers' Union (IJWU) was a labor union representing workers involved in making jewelry in the United States and Canada. An International Jewelry Workers' Union of America was founded in 1900 with the merger of several loc ...

, but gained relevant members of the Pocket Knife Blade Grinders' and Finishers' National Union. Having narrowed its focus, it renamed itself as the Metal Polishers' International Union. The union had 9,000 members in 1925. In 1935, it became the Metal Polishers', Buffers', Platers' and Helpers' International Union, and in 1955, it transferred to the new AFL-CIO. By 1957, its membership had grown to 25,000, but by 1980 it had fallen back to 10,000. It adopted its final name in 1971. On December 10, 1996, the union merged into the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.{{cite web , title=Inactive Organizations , url=https://umdlabor.weebly.com/uploads/2/9/3/9/29397087/inactive_organizations.pdf , website=UMD Labor Collections , publisher=University of Maryland , access-date=18 April 2022

Presidents

:1892: Timothy M. Daly :1893: :1894: Henry J. Eikhoff :1895: Timothy M. Daly :1896: Edward J. Lynch :1902: :1903: Edward J. Lynch :1905: Adelbert Grout :1909: Timothy M. Daly :1915: Walter W. Britton :1943: Ray Kelsay :c.1950: Ray Muehlhoffer :c.1960: Jim Siebert :1984: Glenn Holt

References

Trade unions established in 1892 Trade unions disestablished in 1996 Metal trade unions