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22 Facts About Abram Flaxer

1.

Abram Flaxer was an American union leader who founded the State, County, and Municipal Workers of America, which merged with the United Federal Workers of America to form the United Federal Workers of America, of which he became president.

2.

Abram Flaxer was born "Abraham Flaxer" on September 11,1904, in Vilnius, Russian Empire.

3.

Abram Flaxer studied at the Rand School of Social Science and then the City College of New York, where he received a BS.

4.

Abram Flaxer joined the "Pen and Hammer" club and supported the defense of professor Morris Schappes.

5.

Abram Flaxer taught in a Bronx vocational school, at which time he became an organizer for unemployed teachers.

6.

Abram Flaxer joined the New York City Emergency Relief Bureau and the Communist Party USA and became ERB executive secretary.

7.

Abram Flaxer helped form the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, an American Federation of Labor member.

8.

In 1937, Abram Flaxer broke with the AFSCME to form the New York-based State, County and Municipal Workers of America union as member of the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

9.

Abram Flaxer became SCMWA's SCMWA's national president as well as member of the CIO's Executive Board.

10.

Abram Flaxer became active in the National Municipal League and the Civil Service Assembly.

11.

Abram Flaxer became a leader in the American Peace Mobilization group as a member of its national council.

12.

In 1941 at a SCMWA convention, Abram Flaxer said and, again in 1942, wrote in Survey Magazine that government employees should reserved the right to strike during war.

13.

In 1944, Abram Flaxer was a four-page subject in a report by the United States House of Representatives.

14.

Abram Flaxer had headed the Association of Workers in Public Relief Agencies and joined with the "Communist-controlled" Workers Alliance.

15.

Hoffman refused to let Abram Flaxer read a statement and asked questions, including whether Abram Flaxer was a communist.

16.

On November 24,1948, Abram Flaxer sent a letter to Truman decrying the tendency to brand a person disloyal simply because they advocated for improvements in civil rights.

17.

At the hearing, Transport Workers Union of America President and communist Mike Quill, testified that Abram Flaxer had coordinated his organizing efforts and criticism of the CIO with CPUSA leaders.

18.

On October 5,1951, Abram Flaxer appeared with David Rein as counsel.

19.

Abram Flaxer debated US Representative Richard Nixon on the radio regarding the federal loyalty program under Executive Order 9835.

20.

On October 5,1951, Abram Flaxer appeared before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security but refused to name names on the UPWA membership list.

21.

Abram Flaxer had a bank account at the Emigrant Savings Bank, as well as the Corn Exchange Bank, East River Savings Bank, and Bankers Trust.

22.

Abram Flaxer wrote an unpublished memoir, A View from the Left Field Bleachers.