“To me Louis Weinstock was an example of the true spirit of the US Labor Movement – his interest was never in power or money. Rather his work was always devoted to helping working men and women build their lives.”
~ Sander Feinberg
Rose and Louis c.1983 for Louis’s 80th Birthday.
Louis Weinstock Photographs Collection, Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University
About Louis Weinstock
When I was a teenager, I got to know one of my grandfather’s best friends, Louis Weinstock.
I had long talks with Louis. For some reason, Louis took an interest in me, likely because of my involvement in progressive politics in the 1960s, although we would always disagree about the role of the Soviet Union in world affairs!
The short biography on the NYU website will give you the highlights of the life of this remarkable individual. He was a Hungarian, like my grandfather, and had emigrated in 1923 to the US. In 1925, he joined the Painter’s Union in New York City where he was known as a leader for decades. He joined with other labor pioneers to create Social Security and unemployment insurance.
To me he was an example of the true spirit of the US Labor Movement – his interest was never in power or money. Rather his work was always devoted to helping working men and women build their lives, take care of their families and survive in a very difficult economic environment.
The US Labor Movement
With the lies and distortions of history perpetrated by right-wing forces, and alas, the real corruption within some of the larger unions, most people seem to have forgotten the bravery of those who fought for:
- child labor laws
- safe working conditions
- the eight-hour work day
- fair pay
- Social Security
- unemployment insurance
- minimum wages
- health and life insurance benefits.
Weinstock with painters on a job; Folder 4 – 1940s?
Louis Weinstock Photographs Collection, Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University
These are all things we now take for granted. Business owners from the 1900s to the 1950s used violence and intimidation to fight legal activities to organize workers and create legislation to protect us all. So we owe many thanks to these brave individuals including Louis Weinstock.
Louis Brief Bio
“Louis Weinstock was born in Hungary in 1903 and emigrated to the United States in 1923. He settled in New York City and in 1925 joined the Painters’ Union, Local 499. Weinstock became one of the leaders of the “Rank and File” movement in District Council 9 of the International Painters and Paperhangers. Weinstock fought for Social Security and initiated the drive for unemployment insurance. Weinstock also led the Rank-and-File painters caucus in a fight against corruption in the union. Weinstock defeated the corrupt leadership of the infamous Lepke-Gurrah racketeer gang and was elected to the office of Secretary-Treasurer. In 1951, Weinstock was charged with conspiring to violate the Smith Act while teaching a trade union class; he was found guilty and sentenced to three years in jail. Weinstock retired from the union in 1963 and died in 1994 from heart failure.” Source: NYU Abstract
Louis leads striking painters in his role as Secretary-Treasurer of District Council 9 of the Painters Union in NYC. 1940s.
Louis Weinstock Photographs Collection, Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University
Caption: “Weinstock, a popular leader in the Painter’s Union, fought corruption of both the bosses and corrupt union officials. “I was probably the only member in the history of the Brotherhood who was both expelled and elected at the same time,” said Weinstock.”
Louis and unidentified men in May Day Parade. 1930s
Louis Weinstock Photographs Collection, Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University
Louis was known as “Mr. May Day” for organizing parades for decades. Some of them had more than 50,000 in attendance.
Although Frances Perkins, United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, rightly gets credit for her work in spearheading the effort to create Unemployment Insurance and working for a federal minimum wage and Social Security, union leaders like Louis Weinstock had fought for years before her.
In my forthcoming book, I explain in detail how Louis and others in the rank-and-file labor movement went against organized labor policies to push for these federal benefits which helped millions of working families and senior citizens escape poverty.
Related Links from Sander’s Book
From Popular Front to Cold War: The Interracial Left and the International Workers Order, 1930-1954.
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Meet Some of the Readers of The Hungarian Resistance
Hani Lowinger
Sárospatak Orthodox Synagogue
The Hungarian Resistance
Tornado – Workers Theatre
My Remarkable Grandfather
Garment Industry Anecdote
1848 Hungarian Revolution
My Hollywood Connections
History of Support for Hollywood Unions
I Solved a Mystery of the Smithsonian
Book Update
Frankenstein Meets Wolfman
Versek – Kalman Marki Readings
Grandparents Dance the Csárdás
Henry Weinstock – Hidden Child of the Holocaust
Bela Lugosi Statue
