Aluminum Workers' International Union Explained

The Aluminum Workers' International Union (AWIU) was a labor union representing metal workers in the United States.

The union's origins lay in Local 18356, established on August 1, 1933, by Alcoa workers in the Allegheny Valley. The local argued that the American Federation of Labor (AFL) should charter it as an industrial union for workers in the industry. The AFL was unwilling to do so, but compromised in May 1934 by founding the Aluminum Workers' Council. Local 18356 later transferred to the Congress of Industrial Organizations, becoming part of the rival Aluminum Workers of America, but the council remained in existence.^[1]

The council was chartered by the AFL on February 26, 1953, as the AWIU.^[2] In 1955, it affiliated to the new AFL–CIO, and in 1957, it had 24,000 members.^[3] By 1980, its membership had grown to 27,000.^[4] On August 5, 1981, it merged with the United Brick and Clay Workers of America, to form the Aluminum, Brick and Glass Workers' International Union.

Presidents

1953: Eddie Stahl^[5]

1967: Henry Olsen

1973: Vernon E. Kelly

1977: Lawrence Holley

References

1. Meyerhuber, Jr . Carl . ORGANIZING ALCOA: THE ALUMINUM WORKERS' UNION IN PENNSYLVANIA'S ALLEGHENY VALLEY, 1900–1971 . Pennsylvania History . 1981 . 48 . 3.
2. Web site: Inactive Organizations . UMD Labor Collections . University of Maryland . 18 April 2022.
3. Book: Directory of National and International Labor Unions in the United States . 1957 . United States Department of Labor . Washington, D.C. . 18 April 2022.
4. Book: Directory of National Unions and Employee Associations . 1980 . United States Department of Labor . Washington DC . 3 May 2022.
5. Book: Notable Names in American History . 1973 . James T. White & Company . Clifton, New Jersey . 0883710021 . 557.