Murray, Philip (1886-1952), succeeded John L. Lewis as president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1940, and held that post until his death on Nov. 9, 1952. He helped establish World War II government labor policies. He saw to it that the CIO unions kept their “no-strike” pledge during the war. He also served on the National Defense Mediation Board.
Murray rose to his CIO position after 36 years as a labor union organizer and leader. He advanced in the United Mine Workers to the post of vice president, which he held from 1920 to 1942. Murray ended a long friendship with John L. Lewis soon after he succeeded him as president of the CIO.
When the CIO began organizing the steel industry in 1935, Murray became chairman of the organizing committee. He served as the first president of the United Steelworkers of America from 1942 to 1952. In the late 1940’s, Murray led a successful fight to oust Communist-dominated unions from the CIO. He led the steelworkers in three national strikes after World War II. Pensions and union security were two of the major issues of these strikes.
Murray was born on May 25, 1886, in Blantyre, Scotland, the son of a coal miner. In 1902, he moved to the United States with his family, and began working in the mines at the age of 16. Murray argued with a foreman from the mine soon after he began working, and lost his job. The other miners went on strike in sympathy with him. Murray served on Woodrow Wilson’s War Labor Board and on the National Bituminous Coal Production Committee during World War I (1914-1918). He was the coauthor, with Morris L. Cooke, of Organized Labor and Production (1940).
