Beal, Fred Erwin, 1896-1954

State vs. Fred Erwin Beal, et al. N. C. 278, 154 S. E. 604 (1930).

In 1929, Fred Erwin Beal (1896-1954), a communist and National Textile Workers Union (NTWU) organizer, arrived at the Loray Mill in Gastonia, North Carolina. There, the young New Englander worked toward unionization of the mill workers. Many workers did join the NTWU as a result of Beal’s efforts. The company responded to the unionization by firing five union members in May 1929. After the firings, the union members voted to strike.

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