Paul Weber (unionist) explained

Paul Weber was an American labor leader. He was the founder and president of the Detroit (Michigan) chapter of the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists (ACTU) from 1939 to 1947,^[1] best known for his development of an ACTU "Industrial Council Plan" (which Weber called "economic democracy"^{[2] [3]}) versus a CIO Industry Council Plan to foster union-management cooperation in US Labor disputes.^{[4] [5]}

Weber also belonged to the American Newspaper Guild (now NewsGuild-CWA),^[6] a CIO federation member, which made him "well-versed in union practices."^[7]

He also served as editor of Wage Earner, newspaper of the Michigan ACTU.^[8]

In 1946, Weber wrote to some Catholic leaders around the nation in defense of Walter Reuther, who he wrote "Walter Reuther is certainly not a Communist... he is their bete noir" even if "Walter and his brothers Victor and Roy started out to be radicals."^[9]

In 1947 during a conference of the Catholic Trl-State Congress in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Weber, "Detroit newspaperman and Association of Catholic Trade Unionists leader," joined other Catholics in opposing Communist influence on labor unions.^[10]

Works

• "ACTU," Christian Front (December, 1938)^[11]

External links

Websites

• The Association of Catholic Trade Unionists-Detroit papers
• Paul Weber to Father William J. Smith S.J. letter (1946.03.23)
• The Catholic Church, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and Labor in the United States, 1930-1950

Articles

• "The Industry Council Plan as an Instrument of Reconstruction" (1944)
• "Industry Council Plan Explained by Bishop F.J. Haas" (1949)
• "The Industry Council Plan as a Form of Social Organization" (1953)
• "Trade Unions and the Industry Council Plan" / "Les Conseils industriels" (1953)
  • "The Industry Council Plan as an Instrument of Reconstruction" (2006 reprint)
• Two American Concurrences in the 'Industry Council Plan'" (1954)

Books

• The Basic Principles of the Industry Council Plan of Pius XI and of the Policy of the Sherman Act (1951)
• Industrialism and the popes (1953)
• "The C.I.O. Industry Council plan : its background and implications" (1955 dissertation)

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Association of Catholic Trade Unionists-Detroit. Wayne State University. 1968. 4 March 2023.
2. Web site: Steven Rosswurm. The Catholic Church, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and Labor in the United States, 1930-1950 - Background. Catholic University of America. 4 March 2023.
3. Web site: Steven Rosswurm. The Catholic Church, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and Labor in the United States, 1930-1950 - "The Catholic Viewpoint on Industry Councils"; "Industrial Councils". Catholic University of America. 4 March 2023.
4. Book: The CIO's Left-led Unions. Steven Rosswurm. Rutgers University Press. 135–136. 1992. 9780813517698. 4 March 2023.
5. Dennis A. Deslippe. "A Revolution of ITS Own" the Social Doctrine of the Association of Catholic Trade Unionists in Detroit, 1939-50. American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia. Winter 1991. 102. 4. 25–32. 44210275. 4 March 2023.
6. Book: Walter Reuther: The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit. Nelson Lichtenstein. University of Illinois Press. 188. 1997. 9780252066269. 4 March 2023.
7. Book: The Making of Working-Class Religion. Matthew Pehl. University of Illinois Press. 124–125. 2016. 9780252066269. 4 March 2023.
8. Book: Working Detroit: The Making of a Union Town. Steve Babson. Wayne State University Press. 101. 1986. 0814318193. 4 March 2023.
9. Web site: Paul Weber to Father William J. Smith S.J.. Catholic University of America. 23 March 1946. 4 March 2023.
10. News: Clarence M. Zens. PLEA TO PUT TRI-STATE CONGRESS 9/22/ 7 ADVICE INTO ACTION MADE BY BISHOP AS CONVENTION CLOSES. Catholic News Service. 1. 22 September 1947. 4 March 2023.
11. American Catholics and Organized Labor in the 1930's. David O'Brien. The Catholic Historical Review. 345 (fn57). 1966. 52. 3. 25017823. 4 March 2023.