Woodruff Randolph
Woodruff Randolph (January 31, 1892 – October 24, 1966) was an American labor union leader.
Born in Warrenton, Missouri, Randolph became a typesetter in 1912, also joining the International Typographical Union (ITU). In his spare time, he studied at the Webster College of Law, and was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1921. He remained active in the ITU, and in 1927/1928 served as president of the Chicago Typographical Union local. In 1928, he was elected as secretary-treasurer of the ITU, also becoming secretary-treasurer of the Union Printers Home Corporation and of the International Allied Printing Trades Association, as well as editor of the Typographical Journal, the union's regular publication.[1]
In 1936, Randolph was a delegate to the International Labor Office Conference in Geneva. Over time, he raised his profile in the union sufficiently that in the union's 1944 presidential election, he defeated the incumbent, Claude M. Baker.[1] As leader, he opposed the Taft–Hartley Act, which meant unions could not enforce the closed shop. Under his leadership, there was a major ITU strike in Chicago, which succeeded in retaining the closed shop there. Randolph subsequently created Unitypo, a union newspaper for distribution in cities where the ITU was on strike.[2]
Randolph retired at the end of 1957, on health grounds.[3] He died nine years later.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Current Biography. H.W. Wilson Company. 1948. pp. 512–513.
- ^ Paschell, William (May 1952). "The International Typographical Union". Monthly Labor Review. 74 (5).
- ^ "RANDOLPH OF I.T.U. TO RETIRE IN 1958; Head of Printers' Union for 13 Years Is 65--Cites His Health at Convention Born in Missouri". New York Times. August 22, 1957. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Woodruff Randolph Dies at 74; Ex-President of Printers Union". New York Times. October 26, 1966. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
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