Title: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Central Wisconsin District Council of Carpenters: Records
Inclusive Dates: 1894-1984

Creator:

• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Central Wisconsin District Council of Carpenters

Call Number: U.S. Mss 35A; Micro 2057

Quantity: 4.6 c.f. (11 archives boxes and 1 card box) and 2 reels of microfilm (35mm)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records of the Central Wisconsin District Council of Carpenters, a regional labor organization formed in 1948 that represented carpenters in Local 314 (Madison), Local 1344 (Portage), Local 1403 (Watertown), Local 2064 (Beaver Dam), Local 2246 (Fennimore), and Local 2334 (Baraboo), together with some early records of Local 314. The Madison local is documented by minutes, 1899-1944, post-World War II correspondence, signed labor agreements, and files on the Madison Housing Authority (1948-1950), the Madison Building and Construction Trades Council (1945-1950), and the People's Party of Dane County (1894-1896). The District Council records consist of signed agreements, most with Madison area employers; negotiation files; files on largely unsuccessful efforts to organize at area pre-fabricated housing firms (1975-1982); and other records.

Note:

There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us00035a

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

The Central Wisconsin District Labor Council was chartered on August 12, 1948 to represent unionized carpenters in Madison (Local 314), Portage (Local 1344), Watertown (Local 1403), Beaver Dam (Local 2064), and Baraboo (Local 2334). Fennimore, Local 2246, became affiliated with the district council around 1950. The geographic area represented by the council has varied somewhat over time but has generally included Dane, Dodge, Columbia, Sauk, Richland, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, and parts of Jefferson, Adams, and Juneau counties.

The District Council was formed to help establish uniform wage rates and working conditions throughout the jurisdiction, as well as to improve carpenters' bargaining position at the negotiating table. The main focus of the District Council has been negotiating agreements with the Madison Builders Association and the Madison Employers Council, two employer associations whose members make up a large part of the construction industry in central Wisconsin. The District Council has also been active in organizing and negotiating with companies in the pre-fabricated housing business.

Madison Local 314 was the oldest and largest local in the district. It is also one of the oldest trade union organizations in Madison, since its beginnings are believed to date to 1893. Although a carpenters local was chartered in that year, that union organization collapsed about 1897. On July 12, 1899 a local comprised of fifteen members was rechartered by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. During its early years, members of Local 314 were active in organizing other Madison labor organizations such as the Central Trades Council (now the Madison Federation of Labor) and the Madison Building and Construction Trades Council. Since 1905 the local has been affiliated with the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor, and in 1919 it was a leader in organizing the Wisconsin Council of Carpenters.

During its first half century much of the union's activity focused on obtaining agreements for wages, hours, working conditions, and apprenticeship programs. Wages in 1910 were 37 1/2 cents per hour; in 1914, 45 cents per hour, and in 1934, 90 cents per hour. In 1949 wages were $2.00 per hour. Membership grew to well over 100 members by 1905 and to 300 members in 1914.

In 1929 the membership stood at over 700. Because of the Landis Act, the post-World War I years were a period of upheaval and job actions on the part of the Madison carpenters. As a result, from the onset of the Depression to the beginning of World War II, membership dwindled. World War II brought two large government projects to the area, and by 1942 membership stood at over 2000. The post-war level was approximately 1000. This period is treated at greater length in the history filed in Box 4.

The collection consists of two series: records of the District Council and records of Madison Local 314. Neither part of the collection is complete. Local 314's records document the rise and establishment of the carpenters' trade union in Madison, while the Central District Council records pick up that coverage and take the carpenters to the late 20th century.

The LOCAL 314 RECORDS consist of minutes, correspondence, and wage agreements. The minutes, which date from the rechartering in 1899 through 1944, include some membership rolls and records of dues payments. The first volume also contains minutes of the People's Party of Dane County. The correspondence in the collection is entirely that of Robert Strenger, the local's business representative in the post-World War II years. In addition to general letters about union business, his files include important documentation of the Madison Housing Authority, on which he served, and the Building and Construction Trades Council.

The wage agreements file consists of an incomplete run of agreements negotiated by the local over a twenty-five year period. For 1948 the collection includes the signature page for each signed contract, a file that is thought to represent all of the signed contracts for that year. The collection also includes some zoning documents relating to the Wisconsin Telephone Company; it is not known why these documents are included in the records.

The records of the CENTRAL WISCONSIN DISTRICT COUNCIL are arranged as Administrative Records, Negotiations and Agreements, and Organizing Files. It is important to note that many important Council records such as minutes, administrative correspondence, membership records, and financial records are not included. There are also no strike files in the collection.

The Administrative Records are an alphabetical subject file constructed from material found misfiled in the Negotiations files. Included are bylaws, correspondence primarily dating from the 1950s, sample agreements of other Wisconsin locals, federal and state reports, and papers on negotiations with the office workers union that represented the District Council's employees. Some information on membership can be gleaned from the 1970 authorization cards and the monthly lists of new members generated by the CHOP project.

The Negotiations and Agreements files are arranged by type of contract, for example drywall installers, insulation installers, etc. Most files include not only the final contract, but also correspondence and notes. For most contract types, there is fairly complete representation over time, although the collection is strongest for the 1950s and the 1970s. Most extensive are the general carpenters agreements (filed here alphabetically under the heading “Union Agreements”) and the pre-fabricated industry contracts. Well-represented employers include Marshall Erdman, the Madison Employers Council, and the Madison Builders Association. For several years the Union Agreements file includes what is thought to be a complete file of all signed agreements. These signed agreements are available only on microfilm. Some files document negotiations that involved the National Labor Relations Board.

The Organizing Files primarily consist of documentation about participation in the UBCJA's national Coordinated Housing Organizing Project. This file consists of general files of the CHOP organizer hired by the Council, together with separate files on several companies such as Wick Homes and Windsor Homes where he concentrated his efforts.

The records of the Wisconsin State Council of Carpenters (Mss 286) provide some useful supplemental information about the Council's member locals.

A photograph of Local 314's 50th anniversary dinner has been filed in the Organization File in the Visual Materials Archive.

Use Restrictions

Any direct quotation from the minute books must be approved by Local 314.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Local 314, 1951, and by the Council via William Barreau, 1989. Accession Number: M89-294

Processing Information

Processed and portions prepared for microfilming by Greg Drexler (Intern), 1997.

	Series: Local 314 Records
U.S. Mss 35A	Minutes
Box   1 Folder   1	1899, May-September Note: Includes minutes of Peoples Party Club of Dane County, 1894-1896.
Box   1 Folder   2-6	1899, November-1916, October
Box   2 Folder   1-7	1916, November-1935, November
Box   3 Folder   1-3	1935, November-1944, June
	Correspondence and files of Robert Strenger, Business Representative
Box   3 Folder   4-6	1941-1946, June
Box   4 Folder   1-4	1947-1950
Box   4 Folder   5	Madison Building and Construction Trades Council, Minutes, 1945-1950
Box   4 Folder   6-7	Madison Housing Authority, Minutes, 1948-1950
	Wage agreements
Box   4 Folder   8	1924-1946
Box   5 Folder   1	1947
Micro 2057 Reel   1 Frame   1	1948, Signed agreements
U.S. Mss 35A Box   5 Folder   2	Wisconsin Telephone Co. zoning appeal, 1946
	Series: Central District Council Records	⇧
	Subseries: Administrative Records
Box   5 Folder   3	By-laws and historical material
Box   5 Folder   4-7	General correspondence, 1948, 1951-1970
Box   5 Folder   8-9	Agreements of Local 1143 and other locals, 1955-1971
Box   5 Folder   10	Arbitration notices, 1973
Box   12	Authorization cards, 1970
Box   5 Folder   11	Construction Industry Stabilization Committee, 1971-1974
Box   5 Folder   12	Jurisdictional disputes, 1950-1962
	Lists of contractors who signed agreements and related correspondence
Box   5 Folder   13-15	1966-1970
Box   6 Folder   1-4	1971-1977, undated
Box   6 Folder   5	Madison Building Construction Trades Council, 1954-1955
Box   6 Folder   6	Madison Construction Association, 1953
Box   6 Folder   7	Madison Labor Temple Association, 1957
Box   6 Folder   8	Membership lists (new members, by month), 1977-1981
	NLRB reports
Box   6 Folder   9	Local 314, 1953-1957
Box   6 Folder   10	Local 2246, 1953-1957
Box   6 Folder   11	Local 2334, 1955
Box   6 Folder   12	District Council, 1957
Box   6 Folder   13	Notifications of contract terminations, 1979
Box   6 Folder   14	Office Employees Union agreements and negotiations, 1951-1978
Box   6 Folder   15	Schensky Builders photographs, undated
Box   6 Folder   16	Training program, 1958-1973
Box   6 Folder   17	U.S. Department of Labor Welfare and Pension reports, 1958-1961
Box   6 Folder   18	Wisconsin Carpenters Pensions Trust Fund, 1967
Box   6 Folder   19	Wisconsin Industrial Commission, Reports, 1953-1958
	Subseries: Negotiations and Agreements	⇧
Box   6 Folder   20	Carpet Layers, 1964-1970
Box   6 Folder   21	Drywall Installers, 1973-1976
Box   6 Folder   22	Insulation, 1953-1958, 1967
Box   6 Folder   23	Mill and Mill Master, 1953-1970
	Multi-craft
Box   6 Folder   24	General, 1973
Micro 2057 Reel   1 Frame   96	Signed agreements, 1973-1975
U.S. Mss 35A	Pre-Fab
Box   7 Folder   1	General, 1956-1971
Box   7 Folder   2-3	Advanced Building Components, 1970-1980
Box   7 Folder   4	Custom Enterprise Homes, 1958-1960
Box   7 Folder   5-6	Duraform, 1959-1984
Box   7 Folder   7-9	Fish Building Supply, 1962-1982
	Marshall Erdman
Box   7 Folder   10-11	1957-1971
Box   8 Folder   1	1971-1979
Box   8 Folder   2	Modular Components, 1964
Box   8 Folder   3	Stainless Tank & Equipment, 1976-1982
Box   8 Folder   4	Triangle Homes, 1971-1984
	Union agreements
Box   8 Folder   5	General, 1953-1975
Micro 2057	Signed agreements
Reel   1 Frame   260	1956/1957
Reel   1 Frame   399	1957/1958
Reel   1 Frame   515	1970/1971
Reel   1 Frame   644	1970/1973, S-Z only
Reel   2	1973/1975
U.S. Mss 35A Box   8 Folder   6	ABG International, 1976
Box   8 Folder   7	Badger Swimpools, 1979
Box   8 Folder   8	Cove-Nu Topps, Inc., 1965-1973
Box   8 Folder   9	General Construction and Supply, 1974-1982
Box   8 Folder   10	Madison Employers Council, 1957-1972
Box   8 Folder   11	Building Systems, Inc., 1970-1975
Box   8 Folder   12	Capitol City Fixtures, 1982-1983
Box   8 Folder   13	Chase Lumber Co., 1968-1971
Box   8 Folder   14	Form Crafts of Madison, 1972-1975
Box   8 Folder   15	Hendrickson Fabricators, 1973-1975
Box   9 Folder   1	Industrial Construction Materials, 1970
Box   9 Folder   2	Madison Builders Association, 1970-1973
Box   9 Folder   3	Midwest Fabricators, 1975
Box   9 Folder   4	Millfab, 1964
Box   9 Folder   5	Modern Kitchen, 1965-1982
Box   9 Folder   6	Olin, 1968-1970
Box   9 Folder   7	Peavey Co., 1980
Box   9 Folder   8	Prentice Wood Products, 1961-1969
Box   9 Folder   9	G.F. Schmidt, 1975-1982
Box   9 Folder   10	Sergenians, 1967-1970
Box   9 Folder   11	F.E. Seybold, 1970-1979
	Subseries: Organizing Files Scope and Content Note: All from the CHOP Program.	⇧
Box   9 Folder   12	General documents, 1977-1981
Box   9 Folder   13	Research material on companies, 1976-1980
Box   9 Folder   14	Advance Concrete, 1980-1981
Box   10 Folder   1	Advance Concrete, continued
Box   10 Folder   2	Lamwood, Inc., 1974
	Norwood Custom Homes/Princeton Custom Homes
Box   10 Folder   3	General, 1980-1981
Box   10 Folder   4	Exhibits
Box   10 Folder   5	Steve Spilde Construction, 1980-1981
Box   10 Folder   6	T.S. Development, 1980-1981
Box   10 Folder   7	Tristate Homes, 1975-1980
Box   10 Folder   8-9	Wick Homes, 1977-1981
Box   10 Folder   10-11	Windsor Homes, 1976-1980
Box   11	Windsor Homes, continued