History & Heritage of the Labor Movement

History & Heritage of the Labor MovementUnited Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry of the United States & Canada12William English and the Rise of a Free People Philadelphia July 4,1835William English: Spokesman for LaborPhiladelphia: 2nd Largest CityCraft Union Awareness & ActionPlumbers & 18 Other Trades StrikeJune 183510 Hour Day DemandLabor and Political Action?Symbols and Images of Labor: English/AmericanUA Symbols and Images

23Philadelphia ca. 1835 Labor Parade

George Meany Memorial Archives, Schnapper Collection Box 1, Folder 3 Philadelphia Paradeat a later date

Butchers Marching No Photo or Painting of William English

Notable Laborfeatures of Picture?

3Philadelphia 18351820s prosperity gave rise to trade unionismFounding of the city central in Pennsylvania a few years prior1827 building trades workmen in Philadelphia fight for 10 hour dayFounding of Mechanics Union of Trade Associations, the first coordinated movement of different trades in the US.fifteen trade societies lacked a real program and disciplinePhiladelphia publication: Radical Reformer and Working Mans Advocate: a Philadelphia Weekly Publication (1835) only lasted for 19 issues,4William Englishs Oration

Delivered at the Trades Union Celebration

Philadelphia

July 4, 18355

Wily Schemes

Heartless Aristocrats

Powerful Engine of Trade Unions

Glorious Emancipation

6

We have suffered many wrongsNone have made inroads upon our rights as those proceeding from legislative enactmentsPrivileges granted to the wealthyWe have become impoverished7

Once a year they call us men; one a year we receive the proud appellation of freemen; once a year we are the intelligent, virtuous, orderly, working men. But then they want our votes, and they flatter us; they want our interest, and the fawn upon us; 8

Radical Reformer and Working Mans Advocate: A Philadelphia Weekly Publication (1836) p.119, 122 & 128Beware of the bowing, cringing, sycophantic politician, his very touch is pollution. When you meet one who fears to offend the aristocracy and dares not offend the journeymen, beware of that man, there is no sincerity in him 910 Hour Banner (front)Philadelphia

June 1835

Work 6 to 6

2 hrs for Meals

Apprentice

University of Maryland Archives, United Brotherhood of Carpenters Collection9Have the students look at both sides of the Carpenters Ten-Hour Banner and mention that it probably was present when English gave his speech.1) Why the phrase Union and Intelligence the Path to Independence?2) What are some of the labor symbols that are present on both sides of the banner?# Note that an apprentice is tapping a mechanic on the shoulder and pointing to the nearby clock showing six in the evening.1010 Hour Banner (back)Notable features of Image?Compare to front side

University of Maryland Archives, United Brotherhood of Carpenters Collection10Have the students look at both sides of the Carpenters Ten-Hour Banner and mention that it probably was present when English gave his speech.

11All Her Sons Join in One Social Band: Visual Images of New York Artisan Societies in the Early Republic English Roots of Labor Symbols & ImagesReligious Fraternities & Patron Saint of a CraftCraft Quality, Wages, etc. by Crown or Municipal RecognitionCoat of Arms for each craft or companySpecial Dress and other RegaliaAmerican Masters Societies and Journeymen AssociationsArtisan Banners, Mottos, Certificates, Dress, InsigniaJourneymens growing struggle to defend wages, jobs, & standing

11 Starting with (Figure 4) the Death notice of the Tin Plate Workers with the morbid Latin motto Memento Mori/Remember to Die, have the students comment on the various images from the US and British artisan societies in the post Revolutionary War period. What symbols do they recognize as still being active in the labor movement today? What themes and images do they see as not active today but still relevant? What does the author mean when he speaks of the artisan republicanism in some of the images?Note: The topic of symbols and images of labor will appear again when McGuire covers the Labor Day celebration, and Debs covers the Red Special train and political campaigning.