The Headquarters: Media, PA
Founded: 1842, Philadelphia, PA
International Officers:
John P. Ryan, International President
Bruce R. Smith, International Secretary-Treasurer
Fred Neibauer, CPA, Controller
Ignacio De La Fuente, International Vice President
David Doyle, International Vice President
Walter Thorn, International Vice President
Frank J. Brandao, Sr. International Vice President
Richard Kline, Director of Communications
Brenda Scotland, Director of Organizing
Frank Grotti, Director of Research and Education
Executive Board: 15
Members: 51,000 in the U.S. and Canada
Structure: Local Unions
Basic Industries: Glass, Metals, Pottery,
Plastics and the Public Sector

The GMP is one of the nation's most historic unions. We trace our origins to 1842 as the old Glass Bottle Blowers Association. Other organizations now merged into the present GMP traced their origins to the 19th century.

As noted, the GMP is the product of several mergers. In 1975, the former Glass Bottle Blowers Association merged with the Window Glass Cutters League. In 1982, the GBBA merged with the former International Brotherhood of Pottery and Allied Workers. This merger produced the Glass, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union. Then in 1988, the former International Molders and Allied Workers Union merged with the GPPAW and thus created the present Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union. In 1992, the former Cooper Union merged with the GMP.

Our membership stands at 51,000 men and women in many lines of work. The broad scope of industries (fine china, glass and plastic containers, insulation, sanitary ware and a broad range of other products and services) represented among the employers with whom we have contracts enables us to ride out adverse business cycles.

The GMP participates fully in the life of the labor movement. We belong to the AFL-CIO and are active in the ULSTD, Maritime Trades and FAST departments.