Exhibit Board Copy - Michelle

David Dubinsky: Reforming the ILGWU with a Cutter’s Knife

Thesis: David Dubinsky’s control over situations, and his devotion to unionism most impacted his success in reforming the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.

The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ was a prominent union in the 1900s.

The high labor density in New York City can be seen as a lasting effect of the ILGWU’s great presence in society during the 1900s.

Before his presidency, the ILGWU was suffering from internal conflict and debt.

David Dubinsky’s affiliations with the labor movement began during his youth in Poland where he was a member of the Bund, a Jewish labor union. Upon his immigration in 1911, Dubinsky embarked on what would become a lifelong journey through the labor politics of New York City.

David Dubinsky worked as a cutter for the ILGWU before moving on to higher positions.

During Dubinsky’s second year of presidency, this broadside was made to advertise an upcoming strike.

Sylvia Fine wrote this song as a bitter way express how necessary she believed a union card was. It demonstrates the significance that labor unions had in society.

This May Day Rally broadside shows what the union was for and against.

This picture of the May Day Parade of 1937 shows the following that the ILGWU had at the time.

Rose Pesotta expresses her concern for the condition of the union and its members as well as her distaste for the union’s involvement in politics in this letter to David Dubinsky.

Comparing the Labor Day Parade of 1937 to that of 1960, it is apparent that there were more union members in the later years of Dubinsky’s presidency.

These are pictures of other protesters and their causes.

David Dubinsky was affiliated with many influential people of the time, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller, and Leon Blum.

The film With These Hands was produced to show the qualms of a union member at the time.

The ILGWU supported a cooperative housing project in 1962.

David Dubinsky reflects on his presidency, the struggles and success, and discusses his hopes for the future of the union.

These photographs depict the ILGWU presence at the March on Washington in 1963 and a recent teachers’ strike in 2012. Despite the drop in labor density, there is still a large union following.

Antithesis: Dubinsky’s paranoia surrounding other methods of union leadership prevented the ILGWU from growing to its full potential.  

Bus drivers in New York City went on strike on Wednesday 16, 2013.                                          

Teachers in Chicago protested on Saturday, October 20.

Union members in Wisconsin went on strike in 2012.       

Union members in Staten Island protested for better jobs.

Despite opposition, unions have managed to survive in recent times.

David Dubinsky paid off debts that were preventing union growth and brought the union from 45,000 members to 200,000.

Dubinsky is pictured with Lyndon B. Johnson, accepting an award, and attending the AFL – CIO convention with Jacob Potofsky, president of the ACWA.