Glassworker History

A Legacy of Fighting for Workers’ Rights in the Glass Industry

For generations, glass workers have stood together to fight for fair contracts and workers’ rights in some of the nation’s oldest unions. Owners come and go, but union power is forever.

Glass Worker Roots

  • 1842 Glass blowers in Philadelphia formed a union which became the Glass Blower’s League. The union had members in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and represented workers who made “green glass.” In 1895, they became the Glass Bottle Blowers’ Association of the United States and Canada (GBBA).
  • 1878: The United Flint Glass Workers was founded in Pittsburgh and later established its headquarters in Toledo, Ohio. They became the American Flint Glass Workers’ Union (AFGWU).

 Early Victories in Organizing and Bargaining

  • 1899: The GBBA led a lengthy strike in the glass blowing industry that was successful in ultimately unionizing nearly every glass facility in the nation.
  • 1900-1904: Owens Bottle Machine Company introduced new technology that threatened glass blowers’ jobs. GBBA President Denis Haynes negotiated an historic agreement to make glass blowers machine operators, protecting jobs and preserving the glass union.
  • 1903: The AFGWU negotiated the first grievance procedure in the glass industry as part of the Star Island Agreement. Prior to this agreement, workers only had the option of a strike when they had disputes with their employers. 
  • 1910’s: World War I and the passage of prohibition laws severely weakened the glass industry. The GBBA launched a campaign against Prohibition. In 1933 the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, and the return of alcoholic beverages opened up a vast new field of job opportunities in the glass container industry.
  • 1940 – 1970: Glass production boomed again and the GBBA organized 90 percent of the glass industry, raising its membership to 35,000. The union also began to organize in the fiberglass and plastic industries.
  • 1946: The concept of Protective Leagues was born and set the framework for union and management cooperative efforts through legislative and community actions.
  • 1965: 32,000 workers went on an 11-day strike at 64 facilities that comprise the majority of the nation’s glass container industry. Ultimately they won wage increases, retiree healthcare and the ability for senior workers to retain pension credits when moving to a new company.
  • 1968: 50,000 workers went on strike shutting down 90% of the nation’s glass container industry. This strike lasted 51 days and was settled with significant wage increases and a major increase in employer contribution to the pension plan.
  • 1977: Members of the AFGWU went on a nationwide strike at Owens-Illinois and other glass manufacturers. The workers won a new contract that included wage increases and improved working conditions.

Building for a Stronger Future

  • 2003: The AFGWU merged with the USW.
  • 2013: Global Glass Alliance was formed in recognition that glass container workers worldwide have a stake in the success of the industry. The GMP Council and its constituent unions came together to demonstrate their commitment to safe, stable and family-sustaining jobs with fair pay and good benefits for glass container employees worldwide.
  • 2016: GMP merged with the USW, creating the largest and strongest glassworkers union in the nation.
  • 2019: The USW GMP Council, in preparation for the 2019 glass container negotiations, marshalled the many resources of the USW. It also engaged with other unions throughout the world who negotiate with the same employers.
  • 2022: The USW GMP Council mobilized again with a coordinated program uniting locals across the nation to help to win stronger contracts with better benefits for USW members at Ardagh, O-I, Anchor, among others.  

In a global economy, solidarity, mobilization, and communications across our locals and with allies around the world, are the keys to achieving our goals at the bargaining table.

We are stronger when we stand together in solidarity!