Guide to the UE Organizers Records, 1937-2003 UE.7.3

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
UE Organizers Records
Creator
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America
Collection Number
UE.7.3
Extent
64.17 Linear Feet (52 boxes)
Date
1937-2003
Abstract
The United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) formed in 1936 and was one of the first labor unions to affiliate with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). The UE hires men and women with union organizing experience to form new locals across the United States. They also inform, update, and advise existing locals on UE policy. This collection contains applications completed by those who wanted to become union organizers for the UE, as well as reports and correspondence regarding their organizing efforts.
Language
English .
Author
Jaimie George and Zachary Brodt.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

History

The United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) formed in 1936 and was one of the first labor unions to affiliate with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). Between 1937 and 1962, James J. Matles, the national Director of Organization, hired men and women with union organizing experience to form new locals across the United States and Canada with the charge to increase union membership. Organizers also made locals aware of UE policies so that they would become productive members of the union. During this time, the UE sought to establish itself as an influential labor union by fighting for the rights of workers in plants owned by Westinghouse, General Electric, Philco, and others. Membership numbers reached a half million workers by the end of World War II when new legislation led to many locals being replaced by other unions whose leaders signed non-communist agreements. In 1949 the UE resigned its affiliation with the CIO and, in response, the CIO formed the competing International Union of Electrical Workers (IUE). The two unions battled into the 1950s before eventually cooperating in negotiations after a disastrous strike led by the IUE in 1960. As the McCarthy era came to a close, the UE's membership began to flourish again.

The UE's Organizing Department is divided into three levels. Stationed in the union's headquarters, the Director of Organization coordinates the activities of the International Representatives and Field Organizers. The International Representatives and Field Organizers are assigned to different geographical districts throughout the United States and Canada. While the International Representatives work on company-wide campaigns and in large geographical areas, the Field Organizers mobilize individual shops. Organizer duties include keeping current with company policies and facilities, worker habits, wages, worker issues, and key people, so that the organizer is able to enlist new members into the union. Organizers frequently design leaflets and distribute UE literature to arouse worker interest. In addition to enrolling new members, organizers are responsible for making shop workers knowledgeable of UE policies and enabling them to assume leadership at the local level. In order to keep the national office informed of all developments in organizing campaigns, organizers complete regular status reports.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection contains a variety of information regarding the UE's organizing efforts and provides background on the organizers who worked for the union. Included are applications completed by prospective organizers, as well as reports and correspondence which detail organizing activities at specific plants and companies.

Arrangement

Most of the files are arranged alphabetically by the organizer's last name.

This subgroup has been divided into two series as follows:

Series 7.3.1. Organizer Records

Series 7.3.2. Organizer Applications

Access Restrictions

The records of the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America are closed for a period of twenty-five years after their creation.

Acquisition Informaiton

Gift of the National Office of the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America on 1986, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Previous Citation

UE Organizers Records, 1937-2003, UE.7.3, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

UE Organizers Records, 1937-2003, UE.7.3, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jaimie George in 2004. The finding aid was revised by Zachary Brodt in March 2008.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Related Material

Additional collections at the Archives Service Center relating to UE organizers:

UE Campaign Materials, 1942-1990, UE.7.1, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

UE International Representatives, 1941-1972, UE.7.2, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Federal Bureau of Investigation on the UE Records, 1940-1985, UE.9.5, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

UE Organizer's Bulletins, 1937-1977, UE.7.4, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Subjects

    Personal Names

    • Sentner, William
    • Matles, James J.
    • Stasik, Margaret Darin
    • Young, Ruth
    • Barry, Walter
    • Davis, David
    • DeMaio, Ernest
    • Emspak, Julius
    • Gruber, Samuel
    • Markland, Lemuel
    • Quinn, Thomas J.
    • Riskin, Benjamin
    • Rivers, Charles

    Genres

    • Job applications
    • Correspondence

    Other Subjects

    • Labor unions -- United States -- Officials and employees
    • Labor unions -- Organizing -- United States
    • Labor unions -- United States -- History -- 20th century
    • Electric industry workers -- Labor unions -- United States -- History
    • Labor

Container List