Summary Information
United Steelworkers of America. Local 1404: Records
1936-1973
- United Steelworkers of America. Local 1404 (Madison, Wis.)
U.S. Mss 79A; PH 4415
9.8 c.f. (19 archives boxes and 2 flat boxes), 15 photographs, and 7 negatives
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of United Steelworkers Local 1404, the steelworkers' local at the Gisholt Machine Company, Madison, Wisconsin. Included are correspondence, 1944-1951; minutes of general meetings and of the executive board, 1937-1948; financial records consisting of audits, cash books, statements, and tax returns, 1946-1970; convention materials, 1946, 1968; policy statements; membership rosters; arbitration records consisting of grievance reports and replies, proposals, notes, briefs, agreements, and stipulations; papers on employment standards and benefits; newsletters and internal circulars; photographs; and press releases.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us00079a ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The United Steelworkers of America was one of the new industrial unions to affiliate with the CIO at their emergence on the national scene in 1935. The goal of the CIO was to organize industrial workers who were mostly unskilled or semi-skilled and had little bargaining power at the time. Local 1404 of the United Steelworkers was established in 1937 and served as the bargaining agent for the workers at the Gisholt Machine Company of Madison, Wisconsin.
Following World War II, the postwar strike wave for better wages clearly had an effect upon the steelworkers. The CIO had agreed to a no-strike clause in support of the war effort, but soon after the war ended, CIO focus immediately shifted to the wage issues of its workers. The steelworkers went on strike in February 1946, and Local 1404 acted in full support of the national organization. The strike was successful, but shortly after, with internal conflict and the redbaiting of the McCarthy era, CIO strength waned. This disintegration led to the AFL-CIO merger in 1955, and United Steelworkers of America affiliated with the new organization.
Local 1404 went on strike independently in September 1968 over contract disputes with the Gisholt Machine Company. This dispute was settled by arbitration after only ten days. In 1973, the Gisholt Machine Company ceased operations in Madison. After that time Giddings and Lewis, Inc. has operated the plant as Giddings and Lewis Foundries, and Local 1404 continued to represent the workers at the foundry.
Scope and Content Note
The United Steelworkers of America (U.S.W.A.), Local 1404 records, 1936-1973, are arranged in nine series: Organizational Records; Administrative Records; Membership Records; Arbitration Records; Employment Standards and Benefits; Correspondence and Memoranda; Newsletters and Internal Circulars; News and Public Relations Items; and Miscellaneous. These series are further subdivided according to subject, with the materials in each sub-category arranged chronologically. Although some of the categories provide a continuous account of the periods specified, there are significant gaps throughout most of the collection.
ORGANIZATIONAL RECORDS consist of by-laws for Local 1404 and constitutions (with amendments) for the Greater New York CIO, the U.S.W.A. International Union, and the Dane County Industrial Union Council.
In the ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS series, 1937-1970, minutes, financial records, and committee papers, convention materials, and policy statements are assembled. The Minutes and Reports, 1937-1968, range in importance from those generated by minor internal committees of the local union to those from the executive boards for both Local 1404 of Madison and the Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council, headquartered in Milwaukee. Local 1404 executive board minutes from 1937 to 1948 are in bound form, but since these bound volumes are not entirely complete, they have been supplemented by loose mimeographed pages for the years 1945 through 1947. Also, because most of the minutes were originally separate from other committee materials, this pattern has been continued and all minutes have been separated from the general committee records, which are filed under Regular and Ad Hoc Committee Materials. Except for a succession of financial reports that remain appended to mimeographed minutes of the Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council Executive Board, all financial statements, annual reports, summary audits, and tax returns pertain exclusively to Local 1404 and the Gisholt Machine Company and are filed as Financial Records. A fragmentary collection of notices, agendas, delegate listings, and summary proceedings from conventions and conferences of the Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council, the United Steelworkers of America (national and international), the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, and the U.S.W.A. District 32 in Milwaukee are all located under Convention Materials. However, resolutions drafted at such gatherings are under Policy Statements. Additional position statements can be found among the many circular letters in the NEWSLETTERS AND INTERNAL CIRCULARS series.
The MEMBERSHIP RECORDS series provides an ongoing account of the changing employment and union status of individual members from 1946 to 1971. Included are rosters, computer printouts, retirement notices, and other routine registry in addition to voting and eligibility records.
Legal and quasi-legal documents--briefs, transcripts, exhibits, awards--concerning all manner of litigation, mediation, and negotiation make up the ARBITRATION RECORDS series. Beginning with grievance reports and ending with agreements and stipulations, this series is organized according to the order in which such disputes are typically resolved. As a result, the strict temporal chronology within some of the categories has been disrupted slightly in order to keep documents dealing with each case history intact. Records of this series cover the years 1947 to 1971 with very few gaps.
The EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS AND BENEFITS series, 1943-1971, reflects the ultimate results of continuing company/union negotiations. The standards were mainly those established by management of the Gisholt Machine Company. The benefits--unemployment, health, retirement--were those offered by the Gisholt Machine Company and insured by Local Union 1404.
CORRESPONDENCE AND MEMORANDA form a comparatively complete series for the years 1939-1972, containing mostly interpersonal communications such as notes, letters, and telegrams; however, miscellaneous items such as promotional brochures and incidental circular letters are interspersed. Other circular letters found in sufficient quantity to warrant special classification are listed according to source under NEWSLETTERS AND INTERNAL CIRCULARS. The majority of the newsletters are from sources outside Local 1404 and the Gisholt Machine Company. Though not formally recognized as such, many of the mimeographed letters are essentially position statements. Emanating from practically all echelons of the labor movement, these “newsletters” reveal organizational postures not only on internal union politics, but on national and international affairs of a general nature as well.
A small collection of labor and general public relations periodicals can be found under NEWS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ITEMS, together with clippings from Madison newspapers and a limited but varied assortment of press releases, radio scripts, and speeches. Among the periodicals are copies of News Crib, 1968-1969, a house publication of the Gisholt Machine Company, and the Wisconsin edition of the weekly CIO paper, The CIO News, 1942-1944. Employee Relations in Action, 1966-1970, is a 4-page monthly published by Man and Manager, Inc. Other labor relations articles are excerpts from Mill and Factory magazine. Most of the press releases, speeches, and scripts have been generated by the Gisholt Machine Company and the local union.
Remaining printed materials neither attached to other documents nor easily fit into any established category of the collection have been relegated to MISCELLANY under Printed Materials, General. These include government publications, pamphlets, posters, notices, brochures, and general trivia. The photographs (prints and negatives) are listed in this series and show working conditions, workers on strike, and equipment loaded on trucks, circa 1956-1970. Also included under Miscellany are three industrial surveys conducted in 1970 by the U.S.W.A. research department, and several seemingly insignificant notebooks of union members.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by the United Steelworkers of America, Local 1404, Madison, Wisconsin, April 8, 1953; April 1, 1954; and March 29 and October 18, 1974. Accession Number: M74-119; M74-455
Processed by K. Fones (Intern) and Joanne Hohler, December 16, 1975; and by G. Strodthoff and Joanne Hohler, March 3, 1977.
Contents List
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U.S. Mss 79A
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Series: Organizational Records
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Box
1
Folder
1
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By-laws, Constitutions, and Amendments, 1940, July-1966, September; undated
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Series: Administrative Records
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Minutes and Reports
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council Executive Board, 1944, June-1966, April
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Local 1404 Executive Board regular and special meetings
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Box
20
Folder
1
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1937, May 5-1945, June 12
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Box
20
Folder
2
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1945, July 22-1946, June 18
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Box
1
Folder
3
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1945, July-1947, January (loose sheets)
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Box
21
Folder
1
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1946, June 28-1948, June 5
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Local steward meetings, 1945, April 7-1948, September 1
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Gisholt Company Plant Committee
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Box
1
Folder
5
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1945, July 2-1946, March 22
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Box
1
Folder
6
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1946, March 29-1950, January 5
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Apprenticeship Committee, 1960, September-1968, May 9
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Local 1404 Health and Safety Committee, 1952, January 17-1964, May 27
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Gisholt Company Plant Safety Committee, 1945, October 15-1964, March 18
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Local 1404 Education Committee, 1946, August-1947, July
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Box
1
Folder
11
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National, state, and local political action committees, 1944, October 18-1948, February 26
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Local 1404 Co-op Committee, 1946, July 12-1947, November
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Box
1
Folder
13
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Dane County Industrial Union Council, 1946, June 5-1947, December 3
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Financial Records
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Local 1404 summary audits, 1946, December 18-1968, June 12
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Local 1404 cash books
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Box
21
Folder
2
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1957, January-1957, December
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Box
21
Folder
3
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1966, January-1968, December
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Box
2
Folder
2
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Gisholt Company annual statements and reports, 1948-1960
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Box
2
Folder
3
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Gisholt Company tax returns, 1943-1946
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Box
2
Folder
4
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Local 1404 dues and fees, 1947, February-1948, December; 1969, March-1969, April
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Recreational expenditures, 1943, February 14-1967, January 10; undated
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Miscellaneous, 1945-1970; undated
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Local 1404 Regular and Ad Hoc Committee Materials
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Box
2
Folder
7
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1946 Strike, 1946, January 5-October 1
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Box
2
Folder
8
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1968 Strike, 1968, February 26-October 9; undated
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Box
2
Folder
9
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Education, 1946-1970
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Safety
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Accident reports, 1952-1961
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Medical records and bulletins
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Box
2
Folder
11
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1951, August-1954, December
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Box
3
Folder
1-2
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1955, January-1964, April; undated
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Apprenticeship, 1960, January 20-1968, January 31; undated
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Recreation, 1960, August 13-1970, November 17
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Convention Materials
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Box
3
Folder
5
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State, national and international conventions, 1946, May 14-1968, October 10; undated
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Box
3
Folder
6
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District conferences (Dist. 32), 1946, August 11-1969, September 7
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Policy Statements
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Box
3
Folder
7
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Resolutions, 1943, May 19-1968, August; undated
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Legislative bulletins and guidelines, 1946, February 23-1948, February 19; undated
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Petitions and referenda, 1946, August 3-1967, July 3; undated
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Series: Membership Records
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Membership Rosters, 1946, August-1970, August; undated
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Eligibility, Attendance, and Voting Records
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Box
4
Folder
2
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1946, May 31-December 10
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Box
4
Folder
3
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1947, January 12-1971, June 18; undated
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Box
4
Folder
4-6
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Job Openings, 1968, October 1-1970, October 7
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Job Transfers and Seniority Listings, 1968, October 21-1970, April 6; undated
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Box
4
Folder
8
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Layoffs, Terminations, and Reinstatements, 1954, June 1-1971, February 3
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Lost Time Reports
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Box
4
Folder
9
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1950, July-1966, June
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Box
4
Folder
10
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1966, August-1967, December
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Box
4
Folder
11
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1968, January-November
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Retirement and Pension Rosters, 1966, June-1971, January, undated
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Box
5
Folder
2
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Union Trustee Resignations, 1947, August 11-1964, January 9
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Box
5
Folder
3
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Transfers to “Excluded Group,” 1954, August 25-1962, October 22
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Series: Arbitration Records
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Grievance Reports and Replies
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Box
5
Folder
4-7
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1947-1960; undated
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Box
6
Folder
1-6
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1960-1971; undated
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Box
6
Folder
7
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Grievance Exhibits, 1950-1953; 1965
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Company and Union Proposals
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Box
6
Folder
8
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1953-1956
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Box
6
Folder
9
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1958-1962
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Box
6
Folder
10
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1966-1970
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Arbitration Notes
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Box
7
Folder
1-4
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1957-1965
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Box
8
Folder
1-4
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1966-1971
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Arbitration Briefs, Exhibits, Transcripts, and Awards
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Box
8
Folder
5
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1951-1953
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Box
8
Folder
6
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1954, January-May
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Box
9
Folder
1
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1954, May-October
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Box
9
Folder
2-4
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1957-1959
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Box
9
Folder
5
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1961-1962
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Box
9
Folder
6
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1963-1967
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Box
10
Folder
1-5
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1967-1970; undated
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Agreements and Stipulations
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Box
10
Folder
6
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1946-1947
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Box
11
Folder
1-4
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1948-1960
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Box
11
Folder
5-6
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1962-1966
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Box
12
Folder
1
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1966
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Box
12
Folder
2
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1968
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Box
12
Folder
3
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1969-1970; undated
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Series: Employment Standards and Benefits
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Box
12
Folder
4
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Job Descriptions, 1952-June 11-1963, January 1
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Job Evaluation and Equity
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Box
12
Folder
5
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1943-1959, January 31
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Box
12
Folder
6
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1963, January 1-1970, December 22; undated
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Box
13
Folder
1-2
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Job Evaluation Training Notes, 1969
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Box
13
Folder
3
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Regulations for Servicemen, 1954, March 1-1968, March 12
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Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plan
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Box
13
Folder
4
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1958, April-1965; undated
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Box
13
Folder
5
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1968, August-1971; undated
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Health Benefits and Insurance
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Box
13
Folder
6
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1952, June 27-1958, July 25
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Box
13
Folder
7
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1959, February 28-1962, June 12
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Box
14
Folder
1
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1963-1965, December
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Box
14
Folder
2-4
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1966, May 25-1969, November 26
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Box
14
Folder
5-6
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, Undated (Insurance plans)
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Box
14
Folder
7
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Retirement and Pension Materials (Financial records included), 1951, September 30-1969, March 28
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Series: Correspondence and Memoranda
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Box
15
Folder
1-7
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1939, July 7-1967, November 28
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Box
16
Folder
1-2
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1968, January 4-1972, July 31; undated
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Series: Newsletters and Internal Circulars
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Box
16
Folder
3
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CIO National Headquarters (Washington), 1942, June 13-1973, January 8
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United Steelworkers of America National Headquarters (Pittsburgh)
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Box
16
Folder
4
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1936, November 25-1943, December 31
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Box
16
Folder
5
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1944, January 6-1947, December 29
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Box
16
Folder
6
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1948, January 1-1971, February 1
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Wisconsin State Industrial Union Council (Milwaukee)
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Box
16
Folder
7
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1939, July 7-1947, November 21
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Box
16
Folder
8
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1948, January 7-1950, September 13; undated
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Box
17
Folder
1
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Wisconsin State AFL-CIO (Milwaukee), 1963, June 13-1970, October 20
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Box
17
Folder
2
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United Steelworkers of America, District 32 (Milwaukee) 1943, March 17-1971, December 6
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Box
17
Folder
3
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U.S. Department of Labor and other federal boards and commissions, 1943, May 1-1950, August 13
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Box
17
Folder
4
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Wisconsin State Industrial Commission and other state labor boards and commissions, 1943, May 29-1947, June 10
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Box
17
Folder
5
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Newsletters from various other locals, 1942, September 22, 1969, October 28
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Box
17
Folder
6
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Local 1404 internal memoranda, 1946, August 4-1968, August 6
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Box
17
Folder
7
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Gisholt Company internal memoranda, 1946, January 17-1968, September 27
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Box
17
Folder
8
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Madison Federation of Labor, 1963, June 20-1970, August 5; undated
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Box
17
Folder
9
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Madison Labor Co-Op Committee, 1946, September 15-1947, October
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Box
17
Folder
10
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National, state, and local political action committees, 1946, August 3-1970, September 10
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Box
17
Folder
11
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Arbitration Newsletter, 1966, May 16-1970, January 30
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Series: News and Public Relations Items
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Box
17
Folder
12
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Newsclippings and Copies of News Articles, 1944, August-1968; undated
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Employee Relations Publications
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Box
17
Folder
13
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The CIO News, 1942, August 24-1944, April 10
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Box
18
Folder
1
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Employee Relations in Action, 1966, May-1970, October; undated
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Box
18
Folder
2
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“Right or Wrong in Labor Relations” (from Mill and Factory), 1961, October-1962, September
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Box
18
Folder
3
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“Labor Relations Case Studies” (from Mill and Factory), 1966, November-1967, January
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Box
18
Folder
4
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“Labor Relations Know-How” (from Mill and Factory), 1964, April-February
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Box
18
Folder
5
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Gisholt Company News Crib, 1968, November-1969, December; undated
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Box
18
Folder
6
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Press Releases, Radio Scripts, and Speeches, 1942-1949, January 26; undated
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Series: Miscellany
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Box
18
Folder
7
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Industrial Surveys, 1964, May 1-1970, April 16
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Printed Materials (General)
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Box
18
Folder
8
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1944, November-1965
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Box
18
Folder
9
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1966, April 13-1969, January 31; undated
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Notes and Notebooks of Union Members
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Box
19
Folder
1
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1953-1956
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Box
19
Folder
2
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1958-1970
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Box
19
Folder
3
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1970, February 23-1971, April 4; undated
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Box
19
Folder
4
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Fragments, undated
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PH 4415
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Photographs (Prints and Negatives)
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