Title: Industrial Commission of Wisconsin: H. Herman Rauch Labor Stabilization and Arbitration File
Inclusive Dates: 1940-1948

Creator:

• Industrial Commission of Wisconsin

Call Number: Series 1021

Quantity: 2.0 c.f. (5 archives boxes)

Repository:

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

Archival Locations:

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

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Correspondence, studies, agreement reports, hearing reports, complaints, and notes relating to the activities of H. Herman Rauch, Industrial Commission analyst, who took part in the arbitration of labor grievances and disputes as a representative of the Commission before the National Labor Relations Board and the National War Labor Board.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-ser01021

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Alphabetical by arbitration case name.

Rauch was born in Eaton, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. He went to both public and parochical schools. He entered Marquette University, did “various forms of common labor, both on the farm and in the city,” to work his way through the University. After completing his undergraduate studies, he stayed at Marquette to earn a master's degree. [Rauch contradicts himself, in one reference letter he states his master's degree was in social science and in another, in political science. See, H. Rauch to William Lamers, 1942, Aug. 1, and H. Rauch to Manitowoc Herald Times, 1946, September 28.] He taught at Marquette University for five years and then spent four years with the Wisconsin Ice and Coal Company “progressively as office clerk, salesman and assistant plant manager, with responsibilities in personnel and product deliveries.”

In 1934, he joined the Wisconsin Industrial Commission at Milwaukee and was in charge of the Unemployment Compensation Department. In May, 1937, he was promoted to the job of Regional Director (Milwaukee Area) to the Wisconsin Labor Relations Board, and later made Director of Conciliation. When the new Act of 1939 created the Wisconsin Employment Relations Board, he was appointed to it.

In 1940, he was appointed to take charge of the Employment Stabilization program for the Industrial Commission. It was during this time that the federal government successfully instituted a program for federalizing unemployment compensation, and that Rauch lobbied against the proposal on behalf of the Wisconsin Industrial Commission.

Rauch also was a popular speaker, and he appeared before many professional and labor organizations. He usually spoke on job stabilization and the problem of unemployment. The cases in this file are the ones in which he acted as impartial arbitor.

In May, 1939, the Wisconsin Legislature passed the Wisconsin Employment Peace Act. The new act abolished the Wisconsin Labor Relations Board of April, 1937, and provided for the establishment of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Board. Besides incorporating all the features of collective bargaining, the new act recognized and protected the right of employee to refrain from joining any labor organization if they so desired. One of the functions of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Board was to create the machinery for settling disputes and grievances between organized labor and management by appointing an “impartial tribunal” to adjudicate disagreements. On May 23, 1939, the board began its work to mediate cases in which complaints were filed alleging unfair labor practices.

This H. Herman Rauch file contains material on the arbitration of disputes and grievances between organized labor and 38 companies (36 Wisconsin ones) from 1941-1948. They are cases arbitrated by H. Herman Rauch, who was associated with the Board and the Wisconsin Industrial Commission.

The arbitration cases are arranged in alphabetical order, according to the name of the company involved in the dispute. The exceptions are the Fairbanks-Morse Co., the Four Wheel Drive Corp., and the Green Bay Drop Forge Co. Because of the bulk of material connected with these cases, each is in a separate box. Rauch's general correspondence, and the material pertaining to his lobby activities against federalization of unemployment compensation, Steadier Jobs Conference, and with the Wisconsin Industrial Commission, is arranged in chronological order and is in Box 1. All correspondence between Rauch and the parties involved in the labor disputes was left with the particular case.

Box   1	Steadier Jobs Conference Correspondence, 1940-1942
Box   1	Statements and Correspondence on federalization of unemployment compensation, 1942
Box   1	Stabilization and civil defense correspondence, 1942
	Arbitration cases:
Box   1	Ampco Metal, Inc. vs. United Farm Equipment and Metal Workers of America, CIO, 1947-1948
Box   1	Automatic Products Co. vs. United Automobile Workers of America, AFL, 1945
Box   1	George Banta Publishing Co. vs. International Printing Pressmen and Assistants Union, AFL, 1945
Box   1	Borden Co., Gridley Division vs. Milk and Ice Cream Drivers Union, 1946
Box   1	George W. Borg Corporation vs. International Association of Machinists, 1946
Box   1	Buckstaff Co. Vs. Furniture Workers Union, 1947
Box   2	Continental Baking Co. vs. Bakery Sales Drivers, 1945
Box   2	Cook and Brown Lime Co. vs. Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, Boatmen, AFL, 1946
Box   2	Creamery Package Mfg. Co. vs. United Steelworkers of America, CIO, 1943
Box   2	Fairbanks-Morse and Co. vs. United Steel Workers of America, CIO, 1943-1946
Box   2	Four Wheel Drive Co. vs. United Automobile Workers, AFL, 1944-1947
Box   3	Four Wheel Drive Co. vs. Associated Unions of America, Office and Professional Workers, 1944-1946
Box   3	Froemming Shipbuilding Co. vs. International Association of Machinists, AFL, 1945
Box   3	Garton Toy Co. vs. Associated Unions of America, Metal Fabricators, 1945
Box   3	General Foundries Co. vs. International Molders and Foundry Workers Union, 1946
Box   3	Geuder, Paeschke and Frey Co. vs. Fabricated Metal Workers Union, 1944
Box   4	Green Bay Drop Forge Co. vs. United Farm Equipment and Metal Workers of America, CIO, 1945-1948
Box   4	Hardwood Products Corporation vs. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, 1946
Box   4	Holton and Hunkel Greenhouse Co. vs. Greenhous e Workers and Growers Union, 1947
Box   4	Milwaukee Gas Light Co. vs. United Gas, Coke and Chemical Workers of America, CIO, 1948
Box   4	Milwaukee Tool and Die Co. vs. United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, CIO, 1947
Box   4	Mitchell Transfer Service vs. Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers, 1948
Box   4	Morgan Co. vs. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, AFL, 1945-1948
Box   4	Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America, AFL, vs. Union Painting Contractors Association and Milwaukee County Painting and Decorating Contractors Association, 1946
Box   4	Polar Ware Co. vs. United Farm Equipment and Metal Workers of America, CIO, 1947
Box   4	Prairie du Chien Woolen Mills Co. vs. United Textile Workers of America, AFL, 1948
Box   4	Pressed Steel Tank Co. vs. United Steelworkers of America, CIO, 1946
Box   5	Roddis Lumber and Veneer Co. vs. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, 1945
Box   5	Socony Vacuum Oil Co., Wadhams Division, vs. Associated Unions of America, Petroleum Workers, 1946
Box   5	Albert Trostel and Sons Co. vs. International Fur and Leather Workers Union, CIO, 1947
Box   5	United States Motors Corporation vs. United Automobile Workers, CIO, 1946
Box   5	United States Rubber Co. vs. United Rubber Workers of America, CIO, 1943
Box   5	Universal Foundry Co. vs. United Automobile Workers, CIO, 1945-1946
Box   5	Vollrath Co. vs. United Farm Equipment and Metal Workers of America, 1945
Box   5	Western Cartridge Co. vs. American Federation of Labor and Affiliated Organizations, 1946
Box   5	Wisconsin Axle Division, Timken-Detroit Axle Co. vs. United Automobile Workers, CIO, 1947-1948
Box   5	Wisconsin Machine Shop vs. United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, CIO, 1945
Box   5	Wisconsin Steel Works, International Harvester Co. vs. Progressive Steelworkers Union, 1945
Box   5	Zamonski Cartage Co. vs. Teamsters, Chauffeurs and Helpers, 1945