Given the renewed interest in "Strike Strategy," what is regarded as one of the most useful guides for those working in the field of industrial action; it has been described as the first manual on how to run and win a strike. I believe it would be of value to individuals working in that calling to learn more about John Steuben, labor leader and the author of the book, as well as other relevant publications, including his book, Labor in Wartime, which is not as well known.
He may have been gone for 63 years, but his advice is as timely now as it was when he worked the Little Steel Strike of 1937, especially since the pendulum seems to have swung back in favor of management, and away from labor, to the detriment of today's American working class, many of whom now toil in service, and not production, industries. Readers of his work should have a basic understanding of his life and background, most of which is not publicly available. Also, due to the passage of time, it is hard to find any individuals still living that can attest to the dynamic American labor movement in the 1930s and 1940s, or family members who can provide anecdotes that will provide a better understanding of the man, and his dedication to the labor movement. I am one of the last of the latter group.
John Steuben was one of my father's two older brothers. If you are wondering why we have different last names, understand that John, known around the family as "Shorty," (due to his height of only five feet one inch tall) changed his name to protect his family from the real physical dangers that he faced daily due to his groundbreaking labor organizing activities, which threatened the status quo in our nation's factories and other workplaces.
I promise you fresh material never before seen, as well as personal family memories and documents. He lived a relatively short, but intense, life, among some of the period's most controversial characters, and they provide additional insight into the man and his work, and his lasting impact upon modern labor relations. His efforts helped bring about social justice in America's toughest workplaces.
He may have been gone for 63 years, but his advice is as timely now as it was when he worked the Little Steel Strike of 1937, especially since the pendulum seems to have swung back in favor of management, and away from labor, to the detriment of today's American working class, many of whom now toil in service, and not production, industries. Readers of his work should have a basic understanding of his life and background, most of which is not publicly available. Also, due to the passage of time, it is hard to find any individuals still living that can attest to the dynamic American labor movement in the 1930s and 1940s, or family members who can provide anecdotes that will provide a better understanding of the man, and his dedication to the labor movement. I am one of the last of the latter group.
John Steuben was one of my father's two older brothers. If you are wondering why we have different last names, understand that John, known around the family as "Shorty," (due to his height of only five feet one inch tall) changed his name to protect his family from the real physical dangers that he faced daily due to his groundbreaking labor organizing activities, which threatened the status quo in our nation's factories and other workplaces.
I promise you fresh material never before seen, as well as personal family memories and documents. He lived a relatively short, but intense, life, among some of the period's most controversial characters, and they provide additional insight into the man and his work, and his lasting impact upon modern labor relations. His efforts helped bring about social justice in America's toughest workplaces.
