(William Green - succeeded Samuel Gompers as head of the AFofL)
Following in the footsteps of his predecessor Samuel Gompers, William Green headed up the American Federation of Labor from 1924 to his death in 1952. He presided over the merger of the AFof L to the newly formed Congress of Industrial Ogranizations (CIO), becoming the most powerful trade union in American history.
During their annual convention in 1944, Green addressed the delegates on the Union's role during wartime and the outlook for the union movement in a postwar world.
William L.Green: “If there ever was a time when Labor in America should be united, it is now, and in the months to come. For that compelling reason, I publicly renew the appeal to the American Federation of Labor to those who left us to come back to the home of labor and reunite with us. But regardless of what course others may take, we in this convention will do everything in our power to strengthen and maintain the free and democratic principles upon which our trade union movement was founded.”
Like they say, if you're being paid to take a vacation today, thank a union member. And if you're a union member, thank this guy.
