The American Flint Glass Workers' Union (AFGWU) was a labor union representing workers involved in making glassware and related goods in the United States and Canada.
The union was founded in Pittsburgh on July 1, 1878, by locals which split away from the Knights of Labor. On July 27, 1887, it was chartered by the American Federation of Labor (AFL). In 1901, workers involved in making glass bottles split away to join the Glass Bottle Blowers' Association. The AFGWU left the AFL in 1903, but rejoined in 1912.
By 1925, the union had 6,900 members and was based in Toledo, Ohio. From 1955, it was affiliated to the new AFL–CIO, growing to 35,000 members by 1957, this figure falling slightly to 33,375 in 1980. By 2003, membership was down to 12,000, and on July 1, the union merged into the United Steelworkers.
Presidents 1878: Robert A. Steen 1880: John N. Branen 1883: Thomas J. Irwin 1884: William J. Smith 1900: John Kunzler 1902: Charles E. Voitle 1903: Thomas W. Rowe 1916: William P. Clarke 1932: Joseph M. Gillooly 1940: Harry H. Cook 1952: Charles M. Scheff 1961: George M. Parker 1989: Larry Bankowski 2002: Tim Tuttle
See also Corning Glass Works v. Brennan United States v. Throckmorton
References