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Phil Penna

1857 – 1939

American labor leader

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About Phil Penna

Lived 1857 – 1939 (aged 81–82). Phil Penna was an American trade unionist.

Phil Penna (November 1857 – 5 January 1939) was an American labor leader, and president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) from 1895 to 1896.

John McBride, president of UMWA, had won election as president of the American Federation of Labor in 1895, unseating Samuel Gompers. McBride resigned to take the position, and Penna was elected his successor.

The continuing Long Depression severely depressed employment, wages and benefits for coal miners during his tenure. McBride had led the Bituminous Coal Miners' Strike—an unsuccessful eight-week national coal miners' strike—the year before Penna's presidency, which encouraged hundreds of non-union mines to flood the market for coal.

During Penna's presidency, membership in the Mine Workers fell from 13,000 to 9,700, and the union's treasury dropped from $2,600 to $600. Penna suspended union operations, stopped publishing the union newsletter and ceased paying per capita dues to the AFL. Penna did not run for re-election. His successor was Michael Ratchford.

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Important facts

People in Phil Penna's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Phil Penna's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Phil Penna?

American labor leader

When was Phil Penna born?

Phil Penna was born in 1857 in Rose.

When did Phil Penna die?

Phil Penna died on 5 January 1939 in Indiana, Terre Haute, Vigo County.

What was Phil Penna's occupation?

Phil Penna was a trade unionist.

What nationality was Phil Penna?

Phil Penna was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Phil Penna

· Wikidata: Q7182268

· DBpedia: Phil Penna

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Phil Penna. https://biography.guide/phil-penna/

MLA: "Phil Penna." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/phil-penna/.

Chicago: "Phil Penna." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/phil-penna/.

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