This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
William J. Spencer
Born1867
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Died1933 (aged 65–66)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationLabour leader

William J. Spencer (1867–1933) was an American labor leader who was secretary-treasurer of the Building Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor from its founding nearly continuously until his death in 1933.

Spencer was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1867. He became a plumber and emigrated to Buffalo, New York, in 1894, where he joined Local 36 of the Journeymen Plumbers.

Spencer was elected secretary-treasurer of the international Plumbers' union in 1897. In 1900, he was appointed "general organizer" of the union.

In 1903, Spencer was elected secretary-treasurer of the Structural Building Trades Alliance (SBTA). He served until 1908, when the SBTA affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and became the Building Trades Department (BTD). He was elected secretary-treasurer of the BTD, and served until 1924. He was elected to the same office again in 1927, and served until his death in 1933.

In 1904, Spencer was elected eighth vice-president of the AFL. He served one year.

Spencer lived in Dayton, Ohio, from 1903 to 1912, after which he lived in Washington, D.C.

References

Trade union offices Preceded byNew position Eighth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor 1903–1905 Succeeded byJoseph F. Valentine Preceded byDepartment founded Secretary-Treasurer of the Building Trades Department 1908–1924 Succeeded byWilliam J. Tracy Preceded bySara ConboyTimothy Healy American Federation of Labor delegate to the Trades Union Congress 1921 With: James J. Forrester Succeeded byEdward J. McGivernBenjamin Schlesinger Preceded byWilliam J. Tracy Secretary-Treasurer of the Building Trades Department 1927–1933 Succeeded byHerbert Rivers
Categories