🎖 WPA Workers Association: The Forgotten Labor Movement of the New Deal
💡 Discover the WPA Workers Association Membership Card and Union Pin from the 1930s. Explore how WPA workers organized for labor rights, the role of the Workers Alliance of America, and the impact of New Deal work programs on union movements. Ideal for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians!
WPA Workers Association Membership Card, Unused, nd circa 1937. The Card was certification that the WPA Worker was a member of the WPA Workers Association. Card measures 3 3/4" long by 2 1/8" wide and reads: "No., Date, 193_, Membership Card. This is to certify that _______, I.D., Address____________ Is a Member of The WPA Workers Association, Signed________ Secretary." Card has union bug in the bottom left corner. GGA Image ID # 15f57e4e2c
WPA Workers Association Membership Card & Union Pinback Button
📜 A Glimpse into the Labor Movement of WPA Workers 📜
The WPA Workers Association Membership Card and Union Pinback Button offer a fascinating look into the collective efforts of WPA workers during the Great Depression. These artifacts provide a rare glimpse into the grassroots labor movements that sought to represent and protect the interests of workers employed under the Works Progress Administration (WPA)—a cornerstone of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, these objects offer an invaluable connection to the daily lives, struggles, and aspirations of the working class during one of the most challenging economic periods in American history.
The "WPA Workers Association" was not a formal organization during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) era. However, the Workers Alliance of America (WAA) was a significant national organization representing unemployed individuals, including those employed through WPA jobs.
Established in March 1935, the WAA united various efforts to mobilize unemployed workers under a single banner. The Socialist Party of America founded it and later included the Unemployed Councils of the USA and the National Unemployed Leagues.
The WAA, with its significant role during the Great Depression, bore the weight of its impact, playing a crucial role in advocating for the rights and welfare of unemployed and underemployed workers.
The Card and the Button Shown Below are for the same organization that was apparently never formalized.
WPA Workers Association Union Pinback Button Worn by Member WPA Workers During the 1930s. Button measures 7/8" and reads: "St. Louis Button Co." on the curl and back paper. GGA Image ID # 1e894aa7f4
📖 Historical Context: The WPA and Labor Movements
The WPA Workers Association was likely an informal or localized attempt to organize laborers within WPA projects. While no widespread documentation of this association exists, the Workers Alliance of America (WAA) played a well-documented role in advocating for WPA workers and unemployed individuals.
The WAA, founded in 1935, was backed by the Socialist Party of America and included other unemployed labor groups, such as the Unemployed Councils of the USA and the National Unemployed Leagues. This organization fought for better wages, improved working conditions, and fair treatment for WPA employees, many of whom were temporary workers employed in federally funded projects.
📌 While the WPA Workers Association did not seem to become a fully formalized or nationally recognized labor union, the artifacts featured in this article suggest that workers sought collective representation to advocate for their rights.
📌 Most Engaging Content & Artifacts
🪪 WPA Workers Association Membership Card (c. 1937)
📜 Artifact Description:
🔹 The membership card is a simple yet symbolic document that recognizes a WPA worker’s participation in the WPA Workers Association.
🔹 It includes blank spaces for the worker’s name, ID, address, and membership date, along with a union bug in the bottom left corner, indicating affiliation with a printing union.
🔹 The card affirms the worker’s membership with the statement: "This is to certify that ________ is a Member of The WPA Workers Association."
📌 Why is it Interesting?
🔹 A tangible connection to the labor movement of the 1930s.
🔹 The union bug indicates official union support or affiliation, suggesting that the WPA Workers Association had ties to organized labor.
🔹 Highlights WPA workers’ attempts at collective organization, even if the association did not gain national recognition.
🎖 WPA Workers Association Union Pinback Button
📜 Artifact Description:
🔹 A 7/8-inch pinback button, worn by WPA workers during the 1930s.
🔹 The button is marked with "St. Louis Button Co.", indicating its place of manufacture.
🔹 Likely used as a symbol of solidarity among WPA workers advocating for better conditions.
📌 Why is it Interesting?
🔹 Union buttons were powerful symbols of labor activism, often worn on lapels, hats, or work uniforms.
🔹 The small size and simple design reflect the widespread use of union buttons as discrete but powerful statements of solidarity.
🔹 Suggests WPA workers sought to form a larger collective identity to influence labor policies and federal employment protections.
🔎 Relevance to WPA and New Deal History
📌 For Teachers & Students:
🔹 These artifacts serve as primary sources for studying the impact of New Deal policies on American workers.
🔹 Illustrates the relationship between government relief programs and labor movements.
🔹 Helps students understand how economic crises lead to labor organization and collective bargaining efforts.
📌 For Genealogists:
🔹 The membership card could be a valuable find in family records, indicating that an ancestor was part of the WPA and possibly involved in labor activism.
🔹 The pinback button might have been worn by ancestors who participated in WPA programs.
🔹 Searching local labor union archives or WPA project records might provide more details about a family member’s involvement.
📌 For Historians & Labor Scholars:
🔹 Sheds light on lesser-known labor movements within WPA projects.
🔹 Raises questions about whether WPA workers had official union representation or were left to advocate for themselves in informal associations.
📌 Offers a visual and tangible record of the intersection between federal work programs and labor activism.
⚖️ Discussion of Bias in the Content
While the article presents these artifacts as part of a larger WPA labor movement, there is no conclusive evidence that the WPA Workers Association was a nationally recognized union. Instead, it seems to have been a local or informal effort.
Additionally, the WPA itself was not designed to be a permanent employment program—it was a temporary federal relief measure. As such, the Roosevelt administration had mixed responses to unionizing efforts among WPA workers. The Workers Alliance of America (WAA) was active in advocating for better wages and conditions, but the WPA was careful to avoid full-scale unionization, as it was a government employment initiative rather than private industry.
📌 This means that while the membership card and pinback button are compelling artifacts, they should be interpreted within the broader history of WPA labor movements, rather than assumed to represent a fully established union.
🏗️ Final Thoughts: Why These Artifacts Matter
The WPA Workers Association Membership Card and Union Pinback Button offer a rare and fascinating glimpse into how WPA workers sought representation and solidarity during the Great Depression. Whether formalized or not, these objects prove that workers in government relief programs understood the importance of labor organization and took steps toward advocating for their rights.
For educators, researchers, and genealogists, these artifacts open new avenues for exploring the social and economic dynamics of the 1930s, illustrating how government work programs and labor activism intersected during one of the most pivotal times in American history.
📌 Ultimately, these artifacts are reminders of the resilience, determination, and activism of workers who built the infrastructure, roads, and public works that transformed America. 💪🏽🏗️🚧
📣 Call to Action for Researchers:
🕵🏽 Do you have ancestors who worked under the WPA? Check local archives, labor union records, and historical newspapers for mentions of the WPA Workers Association or the Workers Alliance of America! 📜
