User:Maresenio/Max Amdur 2

Born May 2nd 1882 in Dwink, Russia. He came to the United States in 1901. Once he came to America he decided to settle down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As an immigrant he found work in the garment industry, as a cloak maker from 1903-1905.

In America during the early late 19th early 20th century industry in America was on the rise. However, working conditions were terrible. It was not uncommon for the average garment worker to experience 6-day workweek at 14-hours days. Yet, this still left many workers below the poverty line. The city streets became slums where Immigrant workers were forced to live in horrible conditions. These were the conditions facing Max Amdur and many other garment workers in Philadelphia during this period.

The poverty and injustice of the business owners drove many people to join unions and fight for better hours, wages, and working conditions. One of these people who were driven to the unions cause was Max Amdur. He became very active in garment unions later in his life. For example, he was the Vice-President of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) from 1907-1920. He was the President of the Cloak and Skirt Makers Union of Philadelphia. He also became a delegate for the American Federation of Labor in 1922. His involvement in the ILGWU was significant as he a monumental figure in the strikes of Philadelphia for better hours, wages, and working conditions. He also was involved in strikes in Chicago in 1915 and the 1909 New York shirtwaist strike.

Max Amdur was involved in a multiple strikes throughout his life, many taking place in Philadelphia. He used his leadership at the helm of International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union in order to achieve a 50-hour workweek, legal holidays off, recognition of the union, and an increase for better pay. He was a very active member within labor unions. His presence was felt mostly in Philadelphia. However, the ILGWU had spread their influence from Philadelphia to Baltimore at this time. Max Amdur was an example of male union leadership that was monopolizing unions at the time. For example, the Garment industry consisted of 90% women workers. Yet, almost all men were leaders of the unions that represented them. Max Amdur was one of the few men representing mostly a female work force.

Max Amdur’s leadership of the ILGWU makes him a suspect of being socialist. The ILGWU had a significant amount of jewish immigrants from Russia, but also a lot of socialists as well. The union actually falls under the leadership after Amdur’s membership. However, the union eventually eradicates all socialist membership before World War I. This man’s life typified the struggles of an immigrant coming to America. His life gives insight into the struggles of the garment industry and draws attention to the struggle between unions and business owners at this time. The Industrial boom during this period was a period of great wealth for some. However, there was a great wealth disparity in this country between classes. Max Amdur’s union leadership drew attention to this disparity as he fought for better working conditions, hours, and wages for the common man.

Works Cited Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition; 11/1/2011, p1-1, 1p Evening public ledger., February 01, 1916, Night Extra, Page 5, Image 5. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045211/1916-02-01/ed-1/seq-5/;words=Max+Amdur?date1=1836&rows=20&searchType=basic&state=&	date2=1922 &proxtext=MAx+Amdur&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=4 Louis Levine. The Women's Garment Workers: A History of the International Ladies' 	Garment Workers' Union. P.474 	http://www.jstor.org/stable/2142220?seq=3&Search=yes&searchText=ladies&se Solon De Leon. The American Labor Who’s Who. New York: Hanford Press, 1925. P.4 The Day book., May 04, 1915, NOON EDITION, Image 10&11. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1915-05-04/ed-1/seq-10.jp2 Wilma Pearl Mankiller. The Readers Companion To U.S. Women’s History. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York. 1998. p.308-309