John Jordan was born in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1899. He first worked at the Morrell packing plant in Ottumwa in 1917 and belonged to the AMCBW local union at the plant. Jordan also worked in packing plants in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Waterloo, Iowa before going to work at Iowa Packing Company in Des Moines. Jordan joined the AMCBW local at Iowa Packing and then helped to organize Local 144 of the Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee at the plant in the early 1940s. PWOC Local 144 became United Packinghouse Workers of America Local 89 in 1943. Jordon served as Local 144 president, then as chief steward for Local 89 from 1943-1965. He was a delegate to UPWA conventions, and a member of the Des Moines Industrial Union Council, and the Iowa State Industrial Union Council. Jordan also served as Recording Secretary for UPWA District 3 and as a member of the regional War Labor Board during World War II.
From the description of Jordan, John papers, 1946-1976. (Iowa Sate Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 46401289
