John Llewellyn Lewis stands as a towering figure in the history of the American labor movement. As president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) for four decades and the driving force behind the creation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), John L. Lewis indelibly shaped the landscape of workers’ rights and industrial relations in the 20th century. His unwavering commitment to industrial unionism and his relentless pursuit of government support for organized labor cemented his legacy as one of the most influential labor leaders in American history.
Early Life and Entry into Labor
Born on February 12, 1880, in Lucas, Iowa, John L. Lewis inherited a strong connection to the mining industry. His father, Tom Lewis, was a Welsh coal miner, and his mother, Ann Watkins, was from a family with roots in the local Mormon community. Growing up in a large family as the eldest of seven children, John L. Lewis received nearly a decade of formal education before following his father into the coal mines at the young age of 16.
His early experiences in the mines quickly immersed him in the world of labor activism. John L. Lewis became the recording secretary for UMWA Local 1933, demonstrating his early commitment to union principles. Seeking broader experiences, in 1901, he embarked on a four-year journey westward, traveling as a “rail rider.” This period exposed John L. Lewis firsthand to the struggles and hardships faced by workers across the nation, further solidifying his resolve to fight for their rights.
Returning to Lucas in 1905 marked a turning point in John L. Lewis’s personal life. He married Myrta Edith Bell in 1907, and he often acknowledged her profound influence throughout his life. The couple eventually settled in Panama, Illinois, where John L. Lewis continued his ascent in the UMWA, being elected president of UMWA Local 1475.
Rise within the UMWA and National Labor Scene
John L. Lewis’s effectiveness as a local union leader soon garnered attention at higher levels. His lobbying efforts in the Illinois legislature, advocating for workers’ compensation and mine safety legislation, brought him to the attention of Samuel Gompers, the influential president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).
In 1910, Gompers hired John L. Lewis as a national organizer and field representative for the AFL. During his six years with the federation, John L. Lewis worked closely with UMWA President John P. White, playing a crucial role in countering socialist and radical movements that sought to gain control of the union.
By 1917, John L. Lewis’s organizational and analytical skills led to his appointment as UMWA international statistician by White. His abilities as a negotiator and analyst quickly propelled him to the forefront of the union’s leadership. During World War I, John L. Lewis collaborated with federal authorities to regulate mining production and labor relations, successfully securing significant wage increases for miners in the central bituminous coalfields.
His rise continued when the UMWA president was appointed to the Federal Fuel Board in the fall of 1917. John L. Lewis became the union’s vice president, stepping into the role of acting president in 1919. In 1920, he officially assumed the presidency of the UMWA, inheriting leadership of the largest and most powerful union in the United States at the age of 40.
Leading the UMWA Through Turbulent Times
John L. Lewis’s early presidency of the UMWA in the 1920s was marked by economic challenges and industry instability. Despite severe economic downturns in the coal industry, he leveraged the nation’s reliance on coal to maintain union membership. He led miners through a successful five-month strike to protect wartime wage gains.
However, the unionized mines faced increasing pressure from non-union operators, and the entire coal industry suffered from volatile boom-and-bust cycles. UMWA membership plummeted from 500,000 in 1922 to a mere 75,000 by 1933. In response, John L. Lewis became a strong advocate for federal legislation to stabilize the industry, ensure workers’ right to organize, and “take wages out of competition.”
Initially aligned with the Republican Party, John L. Lewis shifted his focus to the Democrats after the 1932 election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Roosevelt administration proved more receptive to his proposals, leading to the passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act in 1933. This landmark legislation aimed to regulate production, stabilize employment, and guarantee workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.
The Rise of the CIO and a New Era for Labor
John L. Lewis seized the opportunity presented by the National Industrial Recovery Act, famously declaring, “The President wants you to join the union!” He launched a massive organizing drive, and within three months, unionization rates in the coalfields soared to 92 percent.
Buoyed by this success, John L. Lewis turned his attention to organizing other mass-production industries. He sought support from the AFL to expand industrial unionism. While his initial proposals for greater representation within the AFL’s Executive Council were initially rejected, a similar motion passed in 1934, and John L. Lewis was appointed to the expanded council. The AFL also declared its support for industrial-based organizing.
However, John L. Lewis soon became disillusioned with the AFL’s commitment to industrial unionism. At the 1935 AFL convention, he forcefully argued for the federation to actively organize and charter industrial unions. When his proposals were defeated, a physical altercation with Carpenters President William Hutcheson dramatically underscored the growing divide within the labor movement.
This pivotal moment marked the effective split between the AFL and what would become the CIO. John L. Lewis, using his newfound notoriety, committed significant UMWA resources to support organizing drives in key industries like rubber, auto, and steel. His leadership and financial backing were instrumental in the success of these campaigns. He personally assigned staff, maintained close communication, and negotiated landmark agreements with major corporations like General Motors and U.S. Steel.
In 1938, the CIO formally established itself at its founding convention, electing John L. Lewis as its first president. His powerful oratory and bold challenges to corporate power inspired millions of workers, who saw John L. Lewis as a champion of the working class and the embodiment of labor’s growing strength. His influence was so profound that some even considered John L. Lewis a potential presidential contender.
Later Years and Legacy
Despite his earlier collaboration with Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, John L. Lewis’s relationship with the president deteriorated over time. While he and Sidney Hillman had co-founded Labor’s Non-Partisan League to support Roosevelt’s re-election in 1936, by 1940, John L. Lewis, frustrated with Roosevelt’s war policies and perceived lack of support for labor, endorsed the Republican presidential candidate. When workers did not follow his lead, John L. Lewis resigned as president of the CIO. In 1942, he further distanced himself by withdrawing the UMWA from the CIO.
In his later years, John L. Lewis focused primarily on the UMWA. He remained a forceful and visionary leader, navigating the challenges of a declining coal industry and advocating fiercely for miners’ welfare. Despite facing criticism for bitter strikes in 1943 and 1946, John L. Lewis persisted in his efforts to protect miners’ income and job security.
In 1948, the UMWA achieved a landmark agreement establishing medical and pension benefits for miners, funded by a royalty on each ton of coal mined. The union also acknowledged management’s right to automate and close unprofitable mines in exchange for higher wages and expanded benefits in remaining operations. Throughout the 1950s, John L. Lewis continued to secure wage and benefit increases for miners and spearheaded the campaign for the first Federal Mine Safety Act in 1952.
John L. Lewis retired as president of the UMWA in 1960, concluding a remarkable four-decade tenure. He passed away at his home in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1969. John L. Lewis’s legacy endures as a transformative figure in American labor history. He was instrumental in building мощные industrial unions and securing significant gains for workers’ rights and economic security, leaving an indelible mark on the American labor movement and the 20th century.
