The Growth of Union Membership in the South, 1939-1953

Abstract

Organized labor has long regarded the South as a major source of potential members and in the past has made repeated attempts to extend unionization in this area of the country. The most recent and important attempt was undertaken after World War II. Although some workers were organized, the results fell far short of expectations. Upon the merger of the two rival labor federations in 1955, new plans were announced to bring unorganized southern workers within the union fold.1