Labor unions--Records and correspondence

SEIU Administrative Services Department Records

aorchard — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:39:20 -0400

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. During the early 1980s SEIU sought new office space and constructed a new building at 1313 L Street, Washington, D.C. The materials within the SEIU Administrative Services Department Records are primarily from Eileen McCormick, the SEIU supervisor of the new construction project, and detail the process of building this new space. Record formats include requisitions, correspondence, floor plans and blueprints, and photographs of construction and building artwork. Additionally included in the collection are some administrative records from Carole Pooling during her time as Special Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer. These records primarily include requests from SEIU International leaders John Sweeney, Richard Cordtz, and Bob Welsh, as well as Canadian financial records (receipts and expenses).

SEIU Education and Support Fund Records

aorchard — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:12:37 -0500

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat
janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions:
healthcare, property services, and public services. The Education and Support Fund Records
detail a variety of health care occupation apprenticeship programs and their national standards. Document formats found within the records primarily include descriptive reports and standards as well as correspondence.

SEIU Education Department Records

aorchard — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:51:59 -0400

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. SEIU’s Department of Education generates training materials for its members on topics including workplace training (for all three divisions), internal staff professional development, collective bargaining, organizing, and political campaigns. Document formats found within the records are primarily training guides and manuals (including facilitator training materials), as well as materials such as publications and reports utilized by the Education Department.

SEIU Executive Office Records

aorchard — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 11:55:33 -0500

In 1996 Andy Stern was elected President of SEIU and the members of Stern’s New Voices slate took office (Betty Bednarczyk, Patricia (Pat) Ford, Eliseo Medina, and Paul Policicchio). Most of the records in this collection document aspects of this group’s leadership, with the majority of records from the New Voices campaign, the Secretary-Treasurer’s Office (primarily materials relating to AFL-CIO and other organization’s conventions), the Executive Vice President’s office (predominately Pat Ford’s speeches and talking points), subject files and convention records, and audiovisual materials. Records include correspondence, reports, resolutions and amendments, speeches and talking points, photographs, posters, T-shirts, pins, VHS and audio cassettes, CDs, and DVDs.

SEIU Healthcare Division Records

aorchard — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:43:46 -0500

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat
janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions:
healthcare, property services, and public services. The Healthcare Division Records primarily
detail various aspects of Hospital and Healthcare Workers Union Local 250’s trusteeship and
transition back to self-governance from 1986 through 1989. Additional subjects covered are the 1986 Healthcare Division Conference, and the 1986 Kaiser Strike. Document formats found within the records include correspondence, speeches, briefings, agenda, and clippings.

SEIU Local 1 Records

aorchard — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 12:44:36 -0400

As its name implies, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 of Chicago, Illinois is SEIU’s first local. Local 1 signed its initial agreement with the Chicago Real Estate Board in 1916, seven years before William Quesse officially founded SEIU in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. For much of its history, Local 1 focused its efforts on organizing and representing building employees, particularly janitors.

The SEIU Local 1 Records document the history of Local 1 as well as three locals that were directly amalgamated into Local 1 beginning in 1989 through 1998: Local 11, Local 106, and Local 25. Also included are materials from locals that merged into those locals prior to their mergers into Local 1, the most prominent of which is Local 4 (which merged into Local 106 in 1987). Although the records span from 1913-1999, the first 30 or so years of Local 1’s history is scant. The majority of the material within the collection documents 1950-1989, covering the operations of these locals, particularly their contracts with various companies, correspondence, discussions during internal meetings, and photographs documenting a variety of events.

Specific records documenting the history of each local include governance materials such as correspondence, meeting minutes, constitutions and by-laws; agreements; subject files including leases, arbitrations, building surveys, mergers, and audits; communications and publications including form and quarterly letters sent to union members, flyers, and serials; historical documents such as clippings and local histories; and audiovisual materials, primarily encompassing photographs, negatives, and contact sheets, as well as several scrapbooks and an original charter.

SEIU Local 31-M Records

aorchard — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 14:03:27 -0400

Local 31-M’s earliest manifestation, Local 191, began in 1938 with the organization of the Michigan Unemployment Compensation Commission (MUCC), the precursor to Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC). MUCC was the first civil service agency within Michigan to become unionized. Initially an independent local, Local 191 eventually affiliated with the State, County and Municipal Workers of America. After facing several years of difficulty, Local 191 disbanded.

Despite the dissolution of Local 191, in 1941 MUCC was again unionized, this time by AFSCME affiliate Local 31. However, in 1960, Local 31’s lack of representation within its national affiliate led to its separation from AFSCME and subsequent affiliation with SEIU. SEIU Local 31-M was officially chartered on September 8, 1960 as a public sector labor union, representing Michigan employees, particularly those in the Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC). Local 31-M was a member of Council 35, the coalition of all SEIU locals within Michigan, as well as a member of the Central States Conference. Local 31-M continued in this fashion until its merger with Local 517-M in the 2002.

The Local 31-M Records document former (from 1984-2001) President Victoria (Vicki) Cook’s (Vicki Cook Bumbaugh) and the Local’s involvement in politics at the local, state, and national levels, member affairs, and interaction with management and Michigan state offices and departments, primarily from the mid-1970s through the Local’s amalgamation into Local 517-M in 2002. The materials include correspondence, minutes, legal documents, requests for proposals, clippings, notes, and photographic materials.

SEIU Local 32B-32J Records

ljones — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:15:25 -0500

Local 32B, located in New York, NY, was founded on April 19, 1934 and within months the young union was on strike in the garment district; within days the union won rights to a closed shop and gained a substantial number of new members. Local 32J had been charted in 1936 and was composed largely of women building service workers. The two unions merged in 1977, and the new 32B-32J had over 46,000 members. Part I of this collection is comprised entirely of correspondence from the members of the Local to Union officers, and the Union reply. The subjects include benefits, grievance and arbitration matters, requests for employment, and a large number of letters from retired members on a variety of issues.

Former Local 32B-32J President John J. Sweeney was elected SEIU International President in 1980, and was thus succeeded as President of Local 32B-32J in 1981 by Gus Bevona. It was the Bevona administration that generated the majority of the records in Part II. Part II primarily consists of video recordings (both U-matic and VHS) of union meetings, interviews, and events. Additionally included are materials on 32B-32J’s history and administrative publications, as well as a bound volume of materials related to the 1976 Apartment Building Agreement and proceedings between the union and Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Inc.

SEIU Local 517M Records

aorchard — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 15:24:25 -0500

Two SEIU Michigan locals, Local 517M and Local 591, created the materials found within this collection. Local 591 represented multiple school districts within the state of Michigan and in January 2005, Local 591 merged into Local 517M. Local 517M primarily represented public employees working for the state of Michigan and previously merged with Local 31M in 2002. Local 517M is still active today, and as such, this collection will likely continue to grow.

Materials in this collection include publications, constitutions and bylaws, agreements and contracts, and audiovisual materials including photographs, videocassettes, and DVDs.

SEIU Local 535 Records

aorchard — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:20:21 -0400

The formation of SEIU Local 535 began when members of the Social Workers Action Committee of #434, SEIU united with the Social Workers Standards Committee in Los Angeles, California. In 1964, these Los Angeles County social workers led a successful strike against the county, the result of which was SEIU chartering Local 535 as the social workers union. As more California public employees continued to strike and join Local 535, the union grew. Eventually Local 535 helped pass the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, the first Californian legislation on public sector collective bargaining. In 1970, Local 535 ventured into private sector organizing, representing members at non-profit organizations, with a continued focus on hospital employees, particularly nurses. In addition to representing public and hospital employees, Local 535 also represented jewelry workers after the 1981 merger of the International Jewelry Workers Union into SEIU. In the mid-2000s, Local 535 dissolved and its members amalgamated into other SEIU locals including 521, 620, 721, 1000, and 1021.

The records generated by Local 535 that comprise this collection primarily include State Executive Board minutes, Executive Director reports, committee and caucus documents, publications and newsletters, and photographs.

SEIU Public Relations Records

aorchard — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:26:31 -0400

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, SEIU utilized the services of media consultants Abernathy and Associates for public relations and communication work. The collection consists of materials generated by Abernathy and Associates for SEIU, as well as source materials created by other entities (e.g., clippings) used for research and reference. The manuscript and audiovisual materials cover subjects including SEIU’s history and former SEIU President John Sweeney (speeches and the New Voices Slate), healthcare (including the Beverly and Kaiser campaigns), Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, organizing, Justice for Janitors, and asbestos. Document types consist of correspondence, speeches, scholarly articles and book chapters, pamphlets, flyers, reports, and clippings. Audiovisual formats found within the collection include photographs, slides, negatives, cassettes, and DVDs, the contents of which document campaigns (including publicity spots), conventions, events, and speeches.

SEIU Retired Members Department Records

aorchard — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:56:48 -0500

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat
janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions:
healthcare, property services, and public services. With the number of retired SEIU members
growing, SEIU developed a series of four workshops to address the needs of this population. The creation of the Retired Members Department soon followed. The Retired Members Department Records provide insight into these initial workshops, as well as the overall department. Document formats within the records primarily include transcripts, correspondence, agenda, and handouts.

SEIU Secretary-Treasurer's Office: Richard Cordtz Records

aorchard — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:48:40 -0500

Richard Cordtz’s affiliation with SEIU spanned nearly 50 years, beginning in the late 1940s as a member of Local 102 while he worked at the Del Mar Racetrack, and ending in 1996 as President of the International. During his journey from member to president, Cordtz held a variety of positions within SEIU including union organizer, Local 79 President, Joint Council 35 President, Central States Conference President, and Secretary-Treasurer of the International. Cordtz was also active in the AFL-CIO serving as Vice-President of Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan AFL-CIO. Cordtz was elected to Secretary-Treasurer in 1980 and remained in this position until President John J. Sweeney resigned to assume presidency of the AFL-CIO in October 1995. Cordtz was immediately elected president to finish Sweeney’s term (through April 1996). Cordtz initially planned to run for reelection, but ceased his bid when it became clear that opponent Andy Stern held more support.

The majority of the records in this collection are from Cordtz’s time as International Secretary-Treasurer. The collection is divided into four series. Series I: Meetings, Speeches, and Conferences, contains meeting minutes and agenda, speeches, conference ephemera, and correspondence related to Cordtz’ positions as International Secretary-Treasurer and President of Local 79. Series II: Revoked Locals, contains charters, correspondence, and bonding documents from revoked, amalgamated, and disbanded locals over the course of 1940-1992. Series III: Topical Files, contains subject files mostly created during Cordtz’s tenure, relating to both his SEIU positions and his external interests. Series IV Historical Files, contains historical materials that Cordtz appears to have inherited from his predecessors. These historical SEIU records include booklets and pamphlets, but most significantly, include correspondence from the 1920s to SEIU’s first president, William Quesse, as well as correspondence related to George Hardy’s 1974 White House testimony at the Conference on Inflation, such as signed letters from President Gerald Ford.

SEIU Secretary-Treasurer's Office: Subject File Records

aorchard — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:48:28 -0500

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. SEIU’s Secretary-Treasurer’s Office: Subject File Records document the everyday dealings of the Secretary Treasurer’s Office, including interactions with the United States and Canadian governments, unions, federations (particularly the AFL-CIO), and internal SEIU regional offices and members. Document formats found within the records primarily include correspondence, reports, and forms.

Book Announcement: How to Keep Union Records

ljones — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:11:32 -0400

Like other organizations, labor unions and the archives that house their material operate in and are shaped by history. That history is largely informed by the records that labor archives receive from labor unions, the “symbiotic relationship” between the two, as Michael Nash reminds us, and the extent to which they are made available to and used by researchers. This is the message found within How to Keep Union Records. Edited by Michael Nash with selections by a cadre of labor archivists, the book is intended as much for labor archivists requiring guidance as it is for unions seeking ways to manage their records and ensure that their legacy lives into the future. read more »

Reuther Library Hosts Wikipedia Edit-a-thon

mcourtney — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 10:53:19 -0400

On May 1, 2015, the Reuther Library hosted a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon to increase online visibility of our collections related to the labor movement. Editors spent the afternoon developing new skills, collaborating on ways describe collections to the general public, and brainstorming ideas to expand the Wikipedia editing group for future events. The group edited over 20 articles during the May Day event and identified several more to create, such as entries for Mary Van Kleeck, Sam Fishman, and the Association for Union Democracy.

The Reuther joined labor archives across the country in this effort read more »

Subject Focus: WDET in the UAW Years

teller — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Metro Detroiters recognize radio station WDET 101.9 FM as Wayne State University’s local voice for National Public Radio. Prior to 1952, however, WDET served as the local voice for labor. Unhappy with the critical representation of the labor movement in newspapers and on the radio, in 1944 the United Automobile Workers filed applications with the Federal Communications Commission to run independent radio stations in six markets with strong labor ties: the UAW’s hometown of Detroit; Flint, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Los Angeles; Chicago; and Newark, New Jersey. read more »

(24808) Glen Hallam of Montana AFSCME

jruss — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:10:13 -0400

Glen Hallam (left) shows part of his contribution to the Eastern Montana College (now Montana State University Billings) regional archival depository to Dr. Robert Smith, then associate professor of history. Hallam, active in Montana’s labor movement for forty years, organized the Montana AFSCME council and was its first president.