Everett's Delegate Takes the National Stage on Labor Unity
E. P. Marsh reports back from the A.F. of L. convention on the heated struggle to bring the militant Western Federation of Miners into the national fold.
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E. P. Marsh, Everett’s delegate to the A.F. of L. convention, reported that the most important subject before the delegates was the application of the Western Federation of Miners (W.F.M.) for a charter of affiliation. The W.F.M., known for its 'stormy career' and militant history, sought to align with the national movement, leading to a bitter jurisdictional battle with the International Association of Machinists. Marsh detailed the debate over 'industrial unionism' versus 'craft autonomy,' noting that President Mover of the W.F.M. argued for the protection of all workers around mine sites, regardless of craft. Despite parliamentary tactics used by Machinists' President O'Connel to block the charter, the motion to refer the matter to the Executive Council passed, setting the stage for the W.F.M.’s eventual integration into the national labor movement. Marsh concluded his report by advocating for a flexible approach to unionism that adapts to the specific needs of different industries.
“The labor movement is not ready to recognize the fact that both forms of organization have a legitimate place... then the American Federation of Labor has reached the pinnacle of its greatness.”
Marsh's 1911 report captures the foundational tension in American labor: the struggle between rigid craft lines and the power of industrial solidarity. Today, as gig economy workers and warehouse employees attempt to organize across traditional sector boundaries, the same debate over how to define an 'appropriate unit' for collective bargaining remains at the heart of the labor movement in Washington.
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