William A. Carney
William A. Carney (1860–1904) was a British-born American labor unionist.
Born in England, Carney emigrated to the United States in about 1884, settling in Pittsburgh. There, he worked in an iron mill as a rougher. He joined the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, and towards the end of the decade was corresponding secretary of his local union.[1]
In 1890, Carney was elected as a vice-president of the Iron and Steel Workers, covering the union's district 1. He was also elected as the second vice-president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL).[1] In 1891, he was re-elected by only a minority of delegates. Upon realizing that this was contrary to the federation's rules, he resigned, but was immediately re-elected, this time unanimously.[2]
He came to greater prominence in 1892, as a leader of the Homestead strike, giving speeches and chairing numerous meetings.[3] Part of the annual AFL convention was set aside to discussing the strike, at which Carney and William Weihe attracted the most attention.[4]
Carney stood down as a vice-president of the AFL in 1893. In 1895, he left his Iron and Steel Workers post, to become a full-time AFL organizer for Pennsylvania and West Virginia.[1] In 1898, he instead became a factory inspector.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c The Samuel Gompers Papers. University of Illinois Press. 1986. ISBN 9780252033896.
- ^ "The Federation adjourns". Macon Telegraph. December 20, 1891.
- ^ Burgoyne, Arthur Gordon (1893). Homestead : A Complete History of the Struggle of July, 1892. Rawsthorne.
- ^ "Opening of the twelfth annual session of the Federation". New York Times. December 13, 1892.
- ^ Annual Report. Pennsylvania. Department of Factory Inspectors. 1903.