Murray, Philip, 1886–1952, American labor leader, b. Blantyre, Scotland. He emigrated to the United States in 1902 and worked in the Pennsylvania coal mines. After he was discharged for fighting with a foreman, 600 miners struck, formed a local of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW), and elected (1904) Murray local president. A skillful negotiator, he rose to the vice presidency of the union by 1920. When the CIO was formed (see American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), a federation of autonomous labor unions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, and U.S.
..... Click the link for more information. ), he became a CIO vice president and headed (1936) its successful steel workers' organizing campaign. He broke with John L. Lewis Lewis, John Llewellyn, 1880–1969, American labor leader, b. Lucas co., Iowa; son of a Welsh immigrant coal miner. He became a miner and after 1906 rose through the union ranks to become president (1920) of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW).
..... Click the link for more information. , whom he succeeded as CIO president (1940). For supporting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's reelection in 1940, Lewis forced Murray out of the UMW. (Lewis supported the Republican Wendell Willkie). However, Murray was elected president of the United Steel Workers of America in 1942 when that union was formed. Retaining the presidency of both the CIO and the United Steel Workers of America until his death, Murray was active in expelling (1949–50) Communist-dominated unions from the CIO.

Murray, Philip

(born , May 25, 1886, Blantyre, Lanark, Scot.—died Nov. 9, 1952, San Francisco, Calif., U.S.) Scottish-born U.S. labour leader. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1902, he became a coal miner in Pennsylvania. He joined the United Mine Workers of America and rose through the ranks to serve as vice president (1920–42) under John L. Lewis. When Lewis became president of the newly formed Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1936, he delegated Murray to create an industry-wide steelworkers' union (see United Steelworkers of America). Murray succeeded Lewis as CIO president in 1940 and held the post until his death. See also AFL-CIO.

Murray, Philip (1886–1952) labor leader; born in New Glasgow, Scotland. A coal miner from age 10, he emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1902. He held numerous offices within the United Mine Workers Union, climaxing with that of vice-president (1920–42). He and John L. Lewis founded the Committee of Industrial Organizations (1935). He was president of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (1936) and succeeded Lewis as president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) (1940–52). Although he was a strong proponent of labor's cooperation with the government during World War II and the Korean War, he never abandoned the struggle to improve the situation of laborers. His tact and personal skills kept the CIO together during the difficult war years.