On this day in Labor History the year was 1852.
It was the last day of a three-day convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Printers who worked for newspapers and other publications from fourteen cities had converged to decide if they wanted to form a union.
The printers had first met on the question of starting a union two years before in New York City.
Now they were ready, and with a vote the National Typographical Union was born.
The very first action of the new union was to denounce Sunday work days.
Only one person cast his vote against the motion.
The printers would play a leadership role in US labor movement.
Printers were located in major cities across the US. Even more importantly, the union’s members often worked for newspapers and had a skill-set that could help get the word out about union news and actions.
Seventeen years later the organization changed its name to the International Typographical Union, in recognition of new Canadian locals that joined.
That same year, the union decided to let women into its ranks. This made it one of the earliest unions to do so.
In 1870 Augusta Lewis was elected as corresponding secretary. She became the first female officer of a nation-wide union.
The ITU was known to be a very democratic union, with strong locals.
As printing technology changed, the union faced many challenges.
Computers dramatically transformed the work of printing. These technology changes reduced the numbers and strength of the union.
In 1986 the ITU merged with the Communication Workers of America.
Author Mark Twain joined the typographical union as a young man, and proudly held his union card for the rest of his life.
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Labor History in 2:00 brought to you by the Illinois Labor History Society and The Rick Smith Show