United Mine Workers of America. District 25 (Pa.)

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is a North American labor union best known for representing coal miners and coal technicians. The UMWA was founded in Columbus, Ohio, on January 22, 1890, by the merger of two earlier groups, the Knights of Labor Trade Assembly No. 135 and the National Progressive Miners Union. District 6 covers all of Ohio and is one of the original districts founded in 1890.

From the guide to the United Mine Workers of America, District 6 records, 1873-1971, 1890-1948, (Ohio University)

District 12 encompasses the coal fields of Illinois and, throughout the period covered by these records, was one of the largest and most powerful districts in the United Mine Workers (UMW). District 12 was noted for its violent history of labor-management confrontation and, in the 1920's and 1930's, as a hotbed of sentiment against UMW central leadership, notably that of John L. Lewis.

From the description of Series 1. Joint conventions and conference proceedings, 1899-1927. [microform] (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64755644

From the description of Series 2. Joint Grievance Board transcripts, 1915-1928. [microform] (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64755641

District 12 encompasses the coal fields of Illinois and, throughout the period covered by these records, was one of the largest and most powerful districts in the United Mine Workers (UMW). District 12 was noted for its violent history of labor-management confrontation and, in the 1920's and 1930's, as a hotbed of sentiment against UMW central leadership, notably that of John L. Lewis.

District 12, in an attempt to maintain its contracts, unilaterally, and against the will of the Lewis leadership, accepted a reduction in the day rates of its members, thus leveling the final blow to the uniform scale of the Central Competitive Fields (CCF). In the late 1920's, moreover, District 12 was the center of a movement to unseat Lewis. Led by District 12 President Frank Farrington, John H. Walker, and Alexander Howatt, the movement culminated in 1930 with District 12 declaring itself autonomous from the UMW. After two years of complicated legal battles, District 12 was forced back into the UMW and Farrington and Walker were unseated by pro-Lewis candidates. In the process, a dual miners' union was formed in Illinois, the Progressive Mine Workers of America, which struggled, with questionable success, to wrest the allegiances of Illinois coal miners from the Lewis-dominated UMW.

From the description of Files, 1899-1928. [microform] (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64755645