United_Mine_Workers_Of_America

United Mine Workers Of America The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) has occupied an unquestioned position of leadership in the history of American labor. The UMWA officially got its start in Columbus, Ohio in 1890. The Knights of Labor Trade Assembly No. 135 and the National Progressive Union of Miners and Mine Laborers merged to form the UMWA. This merger adopted by the delegates of the first UMWA convention board barred discrimination of race, religion or national origin. At a time when racism and ethnic discrimination were rampant, the founding fathers of the UMWA recognized the need to help stop such discrimination. The founding fathers also encouraged their fellow miners to obtain a fair share of the wealth they created that was fully compatible with the dangers of their calling, starting the battle for increased pay and better working conditions. To have a successful union, the UMWA needed strong leadership. Among the great leaders of the UMWA were John L. Lewis, Phil Murray, Bill Green, William B. Wilson, John Mitchell and Mother Jones. It is these exceptional leaders that struggled to achieve what now may seem common-place to most work environments. An eight hour work day, health umwa, miners, coal, union, health, president, boyle, time, lewis, work, later, helped, fund, during, care, workers, operators, new, national, mining, miners’, mine, massacre, leaders, law, labor, founding, elected, day, davis, conditions, been, became, american, years