history & heritage of the labor movement

History & Heritage of the Labor Movement

United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting

Industry of the United States & Canada

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William English and the Rise of a Free People – Philadelphia July 4,1835

William English: Spokesman for Labor Philadelphia: 2nd Largest City Craft Union Awareness & Action Plumbers & 18 Other Trades Strike—June 1835 10 Hour Day Demand Labor and Political Action? Symbols and Images of Labor: English/American UA Symbols and Images

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Philadelphia ca. 1835 Labor Parade

George Meany Memorial Archives, Schnapper Collection Box 1, Folder 3

• Philadelphia Paradeat a later date

• Butchers Marching • No Photo or Painting of William English

• Notable Laborfeatures of Picture?

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William English’s Oration

Delivered at the Trades’ Union Celebration

Philadelphia

July 4, 1835

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• Wily Schemes

• Heartless Aristocrats

• Powerful Engine of Trade Unions

• Glorious Emancipation

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• We have suffered many wrongs

• None have made inroads upon our rights as those proceeding from legislative enactments

• Privileges granted to the wealthy

• We have become impoverished

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Once a year they call us men; one a year we receive the proud appellation of freemen; once a year we are the intelligent, virtuous, orderly, working men. But then they want our votes, and they flatter us; they want our interest, and the fawn upon us;

8Radical Reformer and Working Man’s Advocate: A Philadelphia Weekly Publication (1836) p.119, 122 & 128

• Beware of the bowing, cringing, sycophantic politician, his very touch is pollution. When you meet one who fears to offend the aristocracy and dares not offend the journeymen, beware of that man, there is no sincerity in him

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10 Hour Banner (front)

Philadelphia

June 1835

Work 6 to 6

2 hrs for Meals

Apprentice

University of Maryland Archives, United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ Collection

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10 Hour Banner (back)

Notable features of Image?

Compare to front side

University of Maryland Archives, United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ Collection

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“All Her Sons Join in One Social Band”: Visual

Images of New York Artisan Societies in the Early Republic

English Roots of Labor Symbols & Images Religious Fraternities & Patron Saint of a Craft Craft Quality, Wages, etc. by Crown or Municipal Recognition Coat of Arms for each craft or company Special Dress and other Regalia American Masters’ Societies and Journeymen Associations Artisan Banners, Mottos, Certificates, Dress, Insignia Journeymen’s growing struggle to defend wages, jobs, & standing