In the ninth of our series on meetings with figures from labour history, Mick Moreton encounters the Wobblies trade union organiser Joseph Ettor

Although not a figure from British labour history, my wish would be to meet Joseph Ettor (1885-1948), an American organiser for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) during the Lawrence ‘Bread and Roses’ strike of 1912. I would ask him about the organisation of migrant workers at the textile mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and in other campaigns he participated in. I am employed as a union organiser supporting social care workers, many of whom are migrants. Their experience is all too often one of abuse and discrimination, carried out in an environment of anti-immigration. I would tell Joseph about the barriers faced by unions and campaigners in organising today. Joseph was known for his sartorial elegance. I would ask for his advice on dress style!

Mick Moreton is a trade union organiser

You can read all the Class Encounters in this series here.