John Fitzpatrick (unionist)
Encyclopedia
John Fitzpatrick was an Irish
-born American trade union
leader. He is best remembered as the longtime head of the powerful Chicago Federation of Labor
from 1906 until his death in 1946.
. Following completion of his formal education, Fitzpatrick went to work as a horseshoer, becoming involved in the International Journeyman Horseshoers' Union (IJHU), with which he remained affiliated for the next three decades.
(AF of L). This connection was instrumental in Fitzpatrick's appointment as the organizer of the Chicago Federation of Labor, city affiliate of the AF of L, in 1902. Fitzpatrick was additionally elected President of that organization in 1906 and remained in the capacity of President and Organizer throughout the ensuing half century.
Fitzpatrick was widely regarded as a progressive voice in the trade union movement, active in political fights beyond the ordinary hours-and-wages concerns which has traditionally dominated the union movement. He was active in the defense campaign on behalf of accused bomber Tom Mooney
, and was active in helping to organize packing house
workers and steel workers in 1919.
During these campaigns, Fitzpatrick came into close contact with radical trade union organizer William Z. Foster
, founder of the Trade Union Educational League
and outspoken advocate of the amalgamation
of the hodge-podge of existing craft unions into unified (and thus more effective) industrial unions.
Fitzpatrick was also an advocate of independent labor politics and was one of the organizers of the Illinois Labor Party as well as its local affiliate, the Cook County Labor party. In November 1919, Fitzpatrick ran for mayor of Chicago
on the ticket of the Cook County Labor Party and received a substantial vote of 60,000 of the 580,000 ballots cast. Bolstered by the degree of support which the new organization received from voters, Fitzpatrick called a national convention of local Labor Party movements, which was held in Chicago on November 22, 1919.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born American trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader. He is best remembered as the longtime head of the powerful Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Federation of Labor
The Chicago Federation of Labor is an umbrella organization for unions in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is a subordinate body of the AFL-CIO, and as of 2011 has about 320 affiliated member unions representing half a million union members in Cook County....
from 1906 until his death in 1946.
Early years
John Fitzpatrick was born in Ireland on April 21, 1871. He attended grammar school in Ireland before coming to the United States in 1882, at the age of 11, settling in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Following completion of his formal education, Fitzpatrick went to work as a horseshoer, becoming involved in the International Journeyman Horseshoers' Union (IJHU), with which he remained affiliated for the next three decades.
Union career
Fitzpatrick served variously as the President, Treasurer, and business agent for the Chicago local of the IJHU, being selected as a delegate to conventions of the union as well as its representative to the American Federation of LaborAmerican Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
(AF of L). This connection was instrumental in Fitzpatrick's appointment as the organizer of the Chicago Federation of Labor, city affiliate of the AF of L, in 1902. Fitzpatrick was additionally elected President of that organization in 1906 and remained in the capacity of President and Organizer throughout the ensuing half century.
Fitzpatrick was widely regarded as a progressive voice in the trade union movement, active in political fights beyond the ordinary hours-and-wages concerns which has traditionally dominated the union movement. He was active in the defense campaign on behalf of accused bomber Tom Mooney
Tom Mooney
Thomas, Tom or Tommy Mooney may refer to:*Thomas Mooney , American labor leader in San Francisco*Thomas Mooney , Northern Irish footballer...
, and was active in helping to organize packing house
Packing house
A packing house is a facility where fruit is received and processed prior to distribution to market.Bulk fruit is delivered to the plant via trucks or wagons, where it is dumped into receiving bins and sorted for quality and size...
workers and steel workers in 1919.
During these campaigns, Fitzpatrick came into close contact with radical trade union organizer William Z. Foster
William Z. Foster
William Foster was a radical American labor organizer and Marxist politician, whose career included a lengthy stint as General Secretary of the Communist Party USA...
, founder of the Trade Union Educational League
Trade Union Educational League
The Trade Union Educational League was established by William Z. Foster in 1920 as a means of uniting radicals within various trade unions for a common plan of action. The group was subsidized by the Communist International via the Communist Party of America from 1922...
and outspoken advocate of the amalgamation
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
of the hodge-podge of existing craft unions into unified (and thus more effective) industrial unions.
Fitzpatrick was also an advocate of independent labor politics and was one of the organizers of the Illinois Labor Party as well as its local affiliate, the Cook County Labor party. In November 1919, Fitzpatrick ran for mayor of Chicago
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
on the ticket of the Cook County Labor Party and received a substantial vote of 60,000 of the 580,000 ballots cast. Bolstered by the degree of support which the new organization received from voters, Fitzpatrick called a national convention of local Labor Party movements, which was held in Chicago on November 22, 1919.
Death and legacy
Fitzpatrick remained as President of the Chicago Federation of Labor until his death in 1946, with the exception of a single year, 1908, when Charles M. Dold served as head of the organization.Further reading
- William Z. Foster, "An Open Letter to John Fitzpatrick," Labor Herald [Chicago], vol. 2, no. 11 (Jan. 1924), pp. 6-8, 26-27.