Spotlight the Label
“After the Civil War, American labor unions began using individual logos, both as a means of group identification, and as printed seals or labels affixed to union made products, to assure the consumer of the quality of the products manufactured in union shops. The label movement was also a non-violent means of garnering public support for the labor movement, by encouraging boycotts of products made by companies that did not support labor’s goals,” says Kim Munson, art historian.
Since late 2012 the Union Label Department has been featuring information on modern day union labels in our bimonthly newsletter, the Label Letter. As Ms. Munson explains in her research “the symbols and messages contained in these logos have changed due to union mergers, economic transformations, changes in the political climate, and cultural/societal trends in general.” Our goal is to educate the general population about the modern day labels they may see today.
Spotlight on the Label–SMART
The November 30, 2011, merger of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) and the United Transportation Union (UTU) created the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). The SMWIA, with close to 150,000...
Spotlight the Label: Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
Founded in 1913, Actors’ Equity became a force to be reckoned with in an historic 1919 strike. Since then, Equity has gone beyond securing the safety, health, and rights of stage actors to become a progressive force in theater. Actors’ Equity Association (AEA or...
Spotlight the Label–AFGE
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union representing 650,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas. Workers in virtually all functions of government at every federal agency depend upon AFGE for...
Spotlight the Label: Amalgamated Transit Union
The Amalgamated Transit Union—the largest labor union representing transit and allied workers in the U.S. and Canada—fights for the interests of its hard-working members and promotes mass transit. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members,...
Spotlight the label–International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is a diverse union representing workers throughout the United States and Canada in industrial construction, repair, and maintenance; manufacturing; shipbuilding and marine repair; railroads; mining and quarrying; cement...
Spotlight the label–American Federation of Musicians
In the mid-1800s musicians in the United States began exploring ways to improve their professional lives. They formed Mutual Aid Societies to provide members with loans, financial assistance during illness or extended unemployment and death benefits. A number of these...
