Labor Leader. Born in Zagare, Lithuania, he was a key figure in founding America's labor unions and marshaling labor's support from Congress and industrial organizations. In Chicago and New York in 1913, when 45,000 garment workers stated a citywide strike, Hillman was the leader of the movement. Under his leadership in the following years, he formed and headed the national organization, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA). In 1937, he pulled ACWA out of the AFL, joining John L. Lewis and others to found the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). He was elected first vice president of the CIO and was the first chair of the CIO's Political Action Committee founded in 1942. He died at age 59 in Long Island, New York.
Labor Leader. Born in Zagare, Lithuania, he was a key figure in founding America's labor unions and marshaling labor's support from Congress and industrial organizations. In Chicago and New York in 1913, when 45,000 garment workers stated a citywide strike, Hillman was the leader of the movement. Under his leadership in the following years, he formed and headed the national organization, the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA). In 1937, he pulled ACWA out of the AFL, joining John L. Lewis and others to found the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). He was elected first vice president of the CIO and was the first chair of the CIO's Political Action Committee founded in 1942. He died at age 59 in Long Island, New York.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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