Julius Uehlein, former president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and a major figure of the labor movement, died Sunday of pneumonia in a Washington, D.C., nursing home. He was 88.

The longtime union official was one of the founding members of the United Steelworkers of America. He served two four-year terms as president of the state AFL-CIO, clashing with Gov. Dick Thornburgh on the issue of the state's unemployment compensation fund and leading a successful drive to raise the state minimum wage, before retiring at age 72.

"He will be deeply missed," said William George, current president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

Mr. Uehlein, born in Lorain, Ohio, experienced a rough workplace and the problems of the working class from an early age. His father worked for a tugboat on Lake Erie, and Mr. Uehlein grew up without much money, forcing him to drop out of high school at 17 and go to work in a Lorain steel mill. It was there where he witnessed the unfair working conditions that would inspire his later work.

Mr. Uehlein became a "self-made man," according to his daughter, Mary Uehlein McGill, rising to the top of his profession despite the lack of a formal education.

Moving to Camp Hill, Dauphin County, in 1967, he handled grievances on the shop floor, negotiated contracts and worked as a political action specialist for the steelworkers union before serving as the union's legislative director and then running successfully for the presidency of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. He also served on the Democratic National Committee and was a delegate at many Democratic national conventions.

"He truly believed in what the union movement teaches us, which is united we stand and divided we fall," said his daughter. "The only way the common man will gain any ground is to be united. That is the drive that moved him forward."

Mr. Uehlein's children were often exposed to his life's work.

Mrs. McGill walked her first picket line when she was 4 and has memories of gathering around 55-gallon drums filled with flames. She also remembers her father singing union songs and picking at his guitar, which he taught himself how to play.

"We all grew up with union music," she said.

"He was a very dynamic man."

Besides his daughter, who lives in Tacoma Park, Md., Mr. Uehlein is survived by three sons, Joseph, also of Tacoma Park, Md., John, of New York, William, of Portland, Ore; three children from a prior marriage, Timothy, Barbara and Kenneth, all of the Lorain, Ohio area; 20 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Jan. 24 at the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick, 212 State St., Harrisburg.

Donations can be made to the Labor Heritage Foundation, 888 16th Street N.W., Suite 680, Washington, DC 20006.