United Steelworkers Of America Dues Paid 1960

Black text on a green background with two star shapes on either side of the letters USA on a black band across the button.

 After six years of struggle, representatives from the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee established the United Steel Workers May 22, 1942. One of the most famous incidents that led to the formation of the USW was the Memorial Day incident in Chicago in 1937. Chicago police officers opened fire on workers outside of the Republic Steel mill, killing 10 men. The union continued to grow, eventually gaining 46,000 members in 1944 with a merger with the Aluminum Workers of America. The first president of the USW was Phillip Murray.