Western Federation of Miners

The Western Federation of Miners (WFM) was a radical labor union that gained a reputation for militancy in the mine fields of the western United States. Its efforts to organize both hard rock miners and smelter workers in the Western Rocky Mountains states brought it into sharp conflicts – and often pitched battles – with both employers and governmental authorities. It also played a key role in the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905, but left the group several years later.

Related Topics:
Labor union - Mine - United States - Rocky Mountains - Industrial Workers of the World

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It changed its name to the International Union of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers in 1916. After a period of decline it revived in the early days of the New Deal and helped found the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1935. It was later expelled from the CIO during the post-war red scare in 1950 for refusing to shed its communist leadership. After fighting off efforts by the United Steelworkers of America to raid its membership for years it eventually merged with it in 1967.

Related Topics:
1916 - New Deal - Congress of Industrial Organizations - 1935 - Red scare - 1950 - United Steelworkers of America - 1967

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