Today in Wheeling History: March 6--Approximately 130 out of 500 employees of the Bloch Brothers Company gathered at the South Side Turner's Hall to organize a Union in the American Federation of Labor, during which they elected officers (1890).
On March 6, 1890, a pivotal event took place in Wheeling's labor history when around 130 out of the 500 employees of the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company assembled at the South Side Turner's Hall. The purpose of this gathering was to establish a union affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL). During the meeting, the workers elected officers to lead their newly formed organization, which adopted the name "Tobacco Workers' Union, No. 4087." Later that year, Local 4087 affiliated with the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly and the American Federation of Labor. In 1895, the union voted to join the National Tobacco Workers' Union of America, becoming Local No. 2. When the National Union became the Tobacco Workers' International Union in September 1899, Local No. 2 was granted a charter, making it the oldest active local in the Tobacco Workers' International Union today.
This union formation came at a time when the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, founded by brothers Aaron and Samuel Bloch in 1879, was experiencing rapid growth. The company had revolutionized the tobacco industry with their innovative "Mail Pouch" chewing tobacco, made from flavored stogie wrapper clippings. In 1890, the same year as the union's establishment, the Bloch Brothers incorporated their business as The Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company with a capital stock of $2 million. The company's success led to increased demand, requiring workers to put in long hours. For that year, the employees were required to forego their traditional week-long Christmas break, which was reduced to just Christmas Day. Throughout the 1890s, the Bloch Brothers expanded their facilities and workforce to keep pace with the growing business.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/263hzaac) (https://tinyurl.com/9npwt5yw) (https://tinyurl.com/b3d4jkrf) (https://tinyurl.com/y5drz344) (https://tinyurl.com/bd38vbds)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Library of Congress
On March 6, 1890, a pivotal event took place in Wheeling's labor history when around 130 out of the 500 employees of the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company assembled at the South Side Turner's Hall. The purpose of this gathering was to establish a union affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL). During the meeting, the workers elected officers to lead their newly formed organization, which adopted the name "Tobacco Workers' Union, No. 4087." Later that year, Local 4087 affiliated with the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly and the American Federation of Labor. In 1895, the union voted to join the National Tobacco Workers' Union of America, becoming Local No. 2. When the National Union became the Tobacco Workers' International Union in September 1899, Local No. 2 was granted a charter, making it the oldest active local in the Tobacco Workers' International Union today.
This union formation came at a time when the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, founded by brothers Aaron and Samuel Bloch in 1879, was experiencing rapid growth. The company had revolutionized the tobacco industry with their innovative "Mail Pouch" chewing tobacco, made from flavored stogie wrapper clippings. In 1890, the same year as the union's establishment, the Bloch Brothers incorporated their business as The Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company with a capital stock of $2 million. The company's success led to increased demand, requiring workers to put in long hours. For that year, the employees were required to forego their traditional week-long Christmas break, which was reduced to just Christmas Day. Throughout the 1890s, the Bloch Brothers expanded their facilities and workforce to keep pace with the growing business.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/263hzaac) (https://tinyurl.com/9npwt5yw) (https://tinyurl.com/b3d4jkrf) (https://tinyurl.com/y5drz344) (https://tinyurl.com/bd38vbds)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Library of Congress
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