ABSTRACT
James Matles (1909-1975) was born Eichel Matlis Fridman in Rumania, of Jewish working-class parents, his name quickly becoming “Americanized” —as was the case with so many immigrants-upon his arrival in the United States in 1923. The young worker soon became involved in left-wing labor activity in the Metal Workers Industrial Union, affiliated with the Trade Union Unity League (TUUL). This had been organized to compete with the narrower and relatively ineffectual craft unions of the AFL.
