Description: (Labour Leader)
Harry Bridges was a significant Australian-born American union leader known for co-founding the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in 1937. He served as the leader of the ILWU for 40 years and worked to expand its membership to include warehouse workers. Bridges encountered persecution from the U.S. government due to his labor organizing efforts, including being labeled as subversive and facing deportation attempts. Despite legal challenges, Bridges, a naturalized citizen, continued to lead the ILWU until his retirement in 1977 and maintained his influence among the union membership.