James Young

James Young (1941 - ) grew up in a blue-collar family in the Midwest and has remained a labor union member and activist throughout his adult life. His written and visual work -- mostly portions of larger entities -- has focused, then, chiefly on left-leaning and labor subjects, including Italy's unions and Socialists; also a primer, Labor's Story in the History of the United States (2019), several extensive bios in Advocates and Activists, 1919-1939 (ed. D. G. Izzo, 2003), and, in several others. His own first book, Union Power (2017), enjoyed extensive praise in labor and progressive circles.

Young won the John Brennan award in 2004 from the Pennsylvania Labor History Society for his contributions to labor education. Meanwhile, he taught at the high school, college and university levels, served as a union officer and staffer for many years, and lectured in Canada, the UK, Spain, and China.

James Young is now at work on a novel and on a history of public employee healthcare and human services unions in Pennsylvania.