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==Industrial unionism==

==Industrial unionism==

Hillman disagreed with the strategy of the AFL to concentrate on skilled workers.  He believed in "industrial unionism", which involved unionizing all he workers in an industry of all skill levels. He was quite successful with this approach to clothing workers; John L. Lewis was developing a similar approach at the same time regarding coal miners. Hillman and Lewis, however, had a deeper strategy.  They saw that industries like sewing and coal mining were dominated by hundreds of small firms, that engaged in ruinous competition. Wage comprised most of the cost of doing business in the needle trades and coal mining, so brutal competition meant lower wages.  The way to improve conditions, raise wages and raise profits was to have the union control the industry by setting high wages. In a competitive marketplace, other firms were helpless when a competitor cut prices--they had to follow.  But if the union policed the industry and prevented wage cuts and thus price cuts, then cutthroat competition with low wages and low  wages would be impossible. The solution only worked in a few industries (especially clothing and coal) where conditions were exactly right (many small companies, wages the biggest expense.)  These conditions did not apply in most industries. The problem in the 1920s was that unions were too weak to police their industries, so when the New Deal arrived in 1933, Hillman jumped at the chance to have the [[NRA]] police the industries and keep wages high. When NRA ended in 1935, Hillman helped Congress pass the [[Wagner Act]] which greatly facilitated union membership drives.

Hillman disagreed with the strategy of the AFL to concentrate on skilled workers.  He believed in "industrial unionism", which involved unionizing all he workers in an industry of all skill levels. He was quite successful with this approach to clothing workers; John L. Lewis was developing a similar approach at the same time regarding coal miners. Hillman and Lewis, however, had a deeper strategy.  They saw that industries like sewing and coal mining were dominated by hundreds of small firms, that engaged in ruinous competition. Wage comprised most of the cost of doing business in the needle trades and coal mining, so brutal competition meant lower wages.  The way to improve conditions, raise wages and raise profits was to have the union control the industry by setting high wages. In a competitive marketplace, other firms were helpless when a competitor cut prices—they had to follow.  But if the union policed the industry and prevented wage cuts and thus price cuts, then cutthroat competition with low wages and low  wages would be impossible. The solution only worked in a few industries (especially clothing and coal) where conditions were exactly right (many small companies, wages the biggest expense.)  These conditions did not apply in most industries. The problem in the 1920s was that unions were too weak to police their industries, so when the New Deal arrived in 1933, Hillman jumped at the chance to have the [[NRA]] police the industries and keep wages high. When NRA ended in 1935, Hillman helped Congress pass the [[Wagner Act]] which greatly facilitated union membership drives.

The AFL finally admitted Amalgamated in 1933, but by 1933 Hillman and Lewis threw their unions behind a new venture, the [[CIO]] (at first named the "Committee for Industrial Organization") with the dream of industrial unionization for all of America. Both the CIO and AFL unions strongly supported Roosevelt's landslide reelection in 1936, with Hillman heading the CIO campaign committee.  The AFL in 1937 expelled the CIO (now renamed the "Congress of Industrial Organizations") , and the two federations spent much of 1937-40 fighting each other for membership in industries such as meatpacking and electrical equipment.  Both grew rapidly.  The Amalgamated itself reached 300,000 memebers, and operated its own banks, housing developments, and unemployment insurance system.  

The AFL finally admitted Amalgamated in 1933, but by 1933 Hillman and Lewis threw their unions behind a new venture, the [[CIO]] (at first named the "Committee for Industrial Organization") with the dream of industrial unionization for all of America. Both the CIO and AFL unions strongly supported Roosevelt's landslide reelection in 1936, with Hillman heading the CIO campaign committee.  The AFL in 1937 expelled the CIO (now renamed the "Congress of Industrial Organizations") , and the two federations spent much of 1937-40 fighting each other for membership in industries such as meatpacking and electrical equipment.  Both grew rapidly.  The Amalgamated itself reached 300,000 memebers, and operated its own banks, housing developments, and unemployment insurance system.  

Hillman in 1943 set up 1943 the CIO Political Action Committee ('''PAC''') to mobilize voters in the 1944 elections.  At the 1944 Democratic National Convention, Hillman and the CIO supported leftist [[Henry A. Wallace]] for renomination as Vice President; Senator [[Harry Truman]] was their second choice.  Roosevelt, however, had given up on Wallace, who had failed in his wartime roles, and told the Democratic Chairman Bob Hannegan, "Go on down there and nominate Truman before there's any more trouble. And clear it everything with Sidney." <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791619,00.html "Clear everything with Sidney"], ''Time'', Sep. 25, 1944.</ref>  Republicans used the slogan "Clear it with Sidney" to hammer away at the allegation that the president was a pawn in union control.

Hillman in 1943 set up 1943 the CIO Political Action Committee ('''PAC''') to mobilize voters in the 1944 elections.  At the 1944 Democratic National Convention, Hillman and the CIO supported leftist [[Henry A. Wallace]] for renomination as Vice President; Senator [[Harry Truman]] was their second choice.  Roosevelt, however, had given up on Wallace, who had failed in his wartime roles, and told the Democratic Chairman Bob Hannegan, "Go on down there and nominate Truman before there's any more trouble. And clear it everything with Sidney." <ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791619,00.html "Clear everything with Sidney"], ''Time'', Sep. 25, 1944.</ref>  Republicans used the slogan "Clear it with Sidney" to hammer away at the allegation that the president was a pawn in union control.

    

    

The Democrats could win the [[Presidential election of 1944]] if they could carry the Southern states and in addition New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey. These states were strongholds of the CIO, which had 5 million members.  Hillman's  Political Action Committee (PAC) put the manpower on the sidewalks of industrial America and turned out the voters, as Roosevelt narrowly won a fourth term<ref> See [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791539,00.html "The New Force"], ''Time'', Jul. 24, 1944.</ref>

The Democrats could win the [[Presidential election of 1944]] if they could carry the Southern states and in addition New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey. These states were strongholds of the CIO, which had 5 million members.  Hillman's  Political Action Committee (PAC) put the manpower on the sidewalks of industrial America and turned out the voters, as Roosevelt narrowly won a fourth term<ref>See [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,791539,00.html "The New Force"], ''Time'', Jul. 24, 1944.</ref>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillman, Sidney}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillman, Sidney}}

[[category:Labor Union Leaders]]

[[Category:Labor Union Leaders]]

[[category:New Deal]]

[[Category:New Deal]]

[[category:Labor Unions]]

[[Category:Labor Unions]]