National Maritime Union (NMU)

The National Maritime Union (NMU) was a significant labor union in the United States, formed in 1938 to represent maritime workers, including sailors and dockworkers. It aimed to secure better pay, working conditions, and job security for its members. The NMU played a crucial role in advocating for labor rights within the shipping industry, especially during World War II when maritime labor demand increased. The union formed affiliations with larger labor organizations and contributed to broader labor movements, ultimately helping to shape labor laws and protections in the maritime sector until its decline in the 1990s.