Lewis, John L. (1880-1969), was a powerful American labor leader. He served as president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW) from 1920 to 1960.
Lewis’s career was marked by bitter strikes and sharp conflicts with union opponents. He challenged the craft organization of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) by forming the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO) in 1935. Unions that joined the CIO were suspended by the AFL Executive Council in 1936 and ousted in 1938. In 1938, the CIO formed its own federation, and changed its name to the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Under Lewis, the CIO organized strong industrial unions in the mass-production industries. Lewis took the UMW out of the CIO in 1942. The UMW rejoined the AFL in 1946, but withdrew again in 1947. Lewis’ last great achievement for the UMW was the adoption of the union’s health and retirement programs. John Llewellyn Lewis was born on Feb. 12, 1880, in Lucas, Iowa. He died on June 11, 1969.
