Edward Frank Flore (December 5, 1877 – September 27, 1945[1]) was an American labor unionist.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Flore worked in the saloon owned by his father from his teenage years. In 1900, he joined the Hotel and Restaurant Employees' International Alliance, holding various positions in his local, before in 1905 becoming vice-president of the international union. In 1909, he contested the presidency of the union, but lost and became a bartender once more. However, in 1911, he again stood for the presidency, this time successfully.[2]

When Flore was elected president, he was only the second most powerful figure in the union, behind secretary-treasurer Jere L. Sullivan. However, Flore became increasingly unhappy with Sullivan's focus on organizing bartenders at the expense of other areas of the industry. In 1927, he formed a faction to challenge Sullivan. Sullivan died the following year, and Flore took the opportunity to reorganize the union, giving himself the greater share of power. To do so, he worked closely with West Coast locals, and focused on recruiting lower-paid workers in the industry, such as bellhops, maids and busboys. By 1940, the union's membership reached 200,000.[3]

Flore was elected as a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor in 1936. He died in 1945, still in office.[2]

References

  1. ^ Current Biography Yearbook. H. Wilson Company. 1946.
  2. ^ a b The Samuel Gompers Papers. University of Illinois Press. 1986. ISBN 9780252033896.
  3. ^ Arnesen, Eric (2007). Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working-class History. Routledge. ISBN 9780415968263.
Trade union offices Preceded byT. J. Sullivan President of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees' International Alliance 1911–1945 Succeeded byHugo Ernst Preceded byThomas E. BurkeChristian Madsen American Federation of Labor delegate to the Trades Union Congress 1934 With: Michael J. Colleran Succeeded byDennis LaneHenry F. Schmal Preceded byWilliam D. Mahon Fifteenth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor 1936–1941 Succeeded byWilliam C. Birthright Preceded byFelix H. Knight Thirteenth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor 1941–1942 Succeeded byWilliam C. Birthright Preceded byFelix H. Knight Eleventh Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor 1942–1943 Succeeded byHarvey W. Brown Preceded byFelix H. Knight Tenth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor 1943–1945 Succeeded byWilliam C. Birthright
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