Summary Information
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Wisconsin State Council: Records
1901-1927, 1941-1964
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Wisconsin State Council
Micro 693
2 reels of microfilm (35mm)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of the Wisconsin state organization of affiliates of the International Association of Machinists, including minutes with related correspondence and reports, organizing literature, education committee files, minutes of local lodge financial secretaries, and contracts, 1901-1927, from locals in District 10, Milwaukee.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr0693 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Wisconsin State Council of Machinists was organized in August 1941 by representatives of twelve Wisconsin lodges of the International Association of Machinists (IAM). The founders sought to extend unionization to all Wisconsin workers within the jurisdiction of the IAM and give them a single voice at all American Federation of Labor (AFL) conventions and meetings of federated trade councils. Membership was open to any IAM lodges in the state and lodge donations provided original financing.
The State Council dealt with issues which affected all members, such as state and national legislation, housing, inflation, apprenticeship rules, peacetime military conscription, and wage levels. Direct lobbying was initiated in 1948 through organization of a political arm, the Wisconsin Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL). Several political education committees worked to register voters and publicize officeholders' records.
Jurisdictional disputes with other unions were a continuing problem for the Council and the IAM nationally, and led to a decision at the 1946 IAM convention to withdraw from the AFL. It remained independent until re-affiliation with the AFL in 1951.
Through the 1950's and early 1960's the State Council maintained its membership during a period of general decline for trade unions. The MNPL lobbied for establishment of national health insurance for the elderly (1962) and proposed instituting a 35-hour work week to curb unemployment. Activities of the State Council continue to reflect the opinions and concerns of its affiliated lodges and to stress expanding membership in all areas of manufacturing.
Scope and Content Note
The records primarily document the founding and activities of the Wisconsin State Council of Machinists from 1941 to 1964.
Minutes of quarterly Council meetings comprise the largest portion of the collection; however, several years in the 1950's are incomplete and minutes for a few conferences are totally absent. Though sketchy in documenting the reasons for action, minutes include attached delegate reports, bylaws, correspondence, and resolutions. Also filed here are minutes of meetings of the financial secretaries of member lodges, which contain information on individual lodge finances.
The Council's Education Committee file describes the activities of the MNPL legislative lobbyist, B. J. Parker, and contains the report on industrial anti-union espionage from Senator Robert M. La Follette's 1936 subcommittee.
A significant portion of the collection concerns organizing work and includes newspapers and other literature produced by local lodges. Also present is a 1946 manual compiled by the Council for the use of local stewards, several early contracts (1901-1927) between locals of IAM District 10, Milwaukee, and area employers, and one folder of miscellany.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Originals loaned for microfilming by the Wisconsin State Council of Machinists, 1976. Accession Number: M76-525
Processed by Mary Diezel and Max J. Evans, September 1976.
Contents List
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Minutes
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Reel
1
Frame
1
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1941-1945
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Reel
1
Frame
68
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1946-1947
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Reel
1
Frame
234
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1948-1950
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Reel
1
Frame
529
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1951-1954
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|
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Reel
1
Frame
569
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1955-1957
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Reel
1
Frame
680
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1958-1960
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Reel
1
Frame
854
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1961-1964
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Reel
2
Frame
42
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Education Committee Records, 1944-1948
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Organizing Literature
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Reel
2
Frame
203
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1944-1955
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Reel
2
Frame
447
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1958-1960
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Reel
2
Frame
510
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1961-1962
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Reel
2
Frame
584
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1963
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Organizing Newspapers
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Reel
2
Frame
620
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The K-T Miller, October 1944
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Reel
2
Frame
695
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X-Ray Lodge, July 1948
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Reel
2
Frame
722
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IAM Reporter, May 1949
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Reel
2
Frame
726
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IAM Hotpoint Reporter, June 1949
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Reel
2
Frame
754
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Mercury Examiner, December 1958
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Reel
2
Frame
881
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Manual for Committeemen, Stewards, and Delegates
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Reel
2
Frame
941
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Miscellany
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Reel
2
Frame
1040
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District 10-Milwaukee, Contracts, 1901-1927
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