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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:00
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INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:30
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
: Born in Luxembourg on November 8, 1901. Went seven years to nearby grade school, until German troops began occupation. Cannon shot ended grade school education; never attended high school.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
02:35
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EARLY EMPLOYMENT
: Worked first with father, a shoemaker, then one and a half years for gentleman farmer about twelve miles from Heymanns' village of Beringen, near Mersch. Recalls steel plants under attack in southern Luxembourg during World War I.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
05:30
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MIGRATION TO UNITED STATES
: Left for U.S. in May 1920; arrived on Labor Day. Statue of Liberty “very impressive,” especially to Luxembourgers recently freed from German occupation. Both parents had relatives in U.S.; went by train from New York to northwestern Iowa to work on farm for distant cousin. Also worked in North Dakota harvest fields.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
08:30
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MIGRATION TO WISCONSIN IN 1922
: First went to Kenosha where relatives lived but work scarce at better wage-payers like Nash and Simmons companies. Worked at tannery in beam house for forty cents per hour. Moved to Sheboygan with older brother in early December, 1922; started work at Kohler Co. on December 5, 1922. Kohler lucrative because long, hard work permitted greater earnings. First worked night shift on drill press in casting finishing department; brother worked in several departments until both laid off in mid-September, 1933.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
11:55
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UNION ORGANIZING IN SHEBOYGAN AND AT KOHLER COMPANY
: Organizing, stimulated by passage of National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) in mid-1933, led by Sheboygan Labor Council Organizing Committee and included truck drivers, tannery workers, foundry workers at the Vollrath Co. and elsewhere, as well as at the Kohler Co. Heymanns a worker, although had been a foreman for about a year until about 1931. Recalls work as irregular as four days per month by then. Heymanns' personal interest in union organizing probably came from early Progressive Republicanism; cast first vote for John J. Blaine.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
15:45
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MORE ON IMPACT OF RECESSION ON KOHLER CO. WORKERS IN 1931
: Limited work available at time there were no welfare programs or unemployment insurance.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
16:20
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BEGINNING OF COMPANY UNION AT KOHLER
: Recalls management under Walter Kohler, Sr. forced workers to attend meetings in company auditorium during work hours.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
17:10
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IMPACT OF 1933 LAYOFFS ON AFL ORGANIZING ACTIVITY
: “More or less spontaneous” pro-union sentiment swept through rank-and-file; perhaps 10,000 people attended first big meeting at Sheboygan lakefront to hear speeches by J. F. (Jake) Friedrick and others, following large layoffs in August and September, 1933. Little other work available; Heymanns worked part-time on county courthouse construction project.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
19:15
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KOHLER STRIKE IN 1934
: Heymanns as union negotiating committee chairman recalls meeting with Kohler, Sr., whose paternalism meant that company policy provisions would not be part of a union contract. Also recalls how “insulted” he felt after having been called into Company Superintendent's office several years earlier to explain why he had attended a Blaine for Governor meeting and how his forceful response was that there was freedom of political association in the U.S. Might have been reason Kohler considered him particularly offensive employee, although Heymanns doesn't believe he was any less offensive than any other union activist in 1933-34. [Walter J. Uphoff, Kohler on Strike: Thirty Years of Conflict (Boston: Beacon Press, 1966) includes much minute detail on the 1934-41 strike; therefore, the interviewer decided to spend relatively little time on it here.]
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
27:05
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END OF TAPE 1, SIDE 1
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:00
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INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:30
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HEYMANNS ACTIVE IN KOHLER STRIKE UNTIL SETTLEMENT IN 1941
: Heymanns, the president of FLU 18545, helped to maintain token picket line at Kohler Co. until May 1941 settlement. Seven members kept paying dues to keep charter active; received minimal strike benefits. Heymanns in 1935 spoke before AFL Convention in Atlantic City to appeal for boycott of Kohler products following passage of resolution at 1935 WSFL meeting in Appleton. Huge ovation at both gatherings. Spoke also at 1936 Tampa AFL Convention, after visiting “at least a hundred” Chicago area locals, sixty or seventy in the Twin Cities, 30 or so in Duluth-Superior area, as well as other locals and state federations in Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
08:30
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HEYMANNS EMPLOYMENT IN 1937 BEFORE HIRED AS AFL FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
: Worked for State of Wisconsin on such part-time jobs as traffic surveying; in Sheboygan under WPA program and for Sheboygan Laborers Union in May, 1937.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
10:15
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HEYMANNS TAKES JOB AS AFL FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
: David Sigman at Henry Ohl, Jr.'s instigation came to Sheboygan to hire Heymanns. Comments further on first meeting with Ohl, “the father of our Union,” and with Sigman, as Progressive State Assemblyman. Began work for AFL on August 7, 1937, after organizing efforts intensified following AFL/CIO split. Activity also spurred by employers with AFL unions who began to sign CIO contracts.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
13:40
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COMMUNIST ELEMENTS IN WISCONSIN CIO
: Recalls how John Schmitt, Harvey Kitzman and others played role in ridding CIO of such “fellows” as Emil Costello. Recalls hotly contested AFL and CIO election at Simmons plant in Kenosha, won by AFL. Costello an effective labor leader because “those were different times,” but some good trade unionists were “serious question marks.”
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
16:00
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SANITARY REFRIGERATOR COMPANY AND RAY-O-VAC COMPANIES IN FOND DU LAC
: AFL assistance sought by Fond du Lac Trades and Labor Council president to organize Sanitary, which Walter Burke had organized for the CIO in 1937. Recalls conciliatory feelings between Burke and himself. Also recalls squaring off against the CIO at Fond du Lac Ray-0-Vac plant. Anecdote about Lloyd McBride, current USWA president, remembering years later that Heymanns was “the sonofabitch that always beat us.”
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
19:40
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AFL AND CIO RIVALRY IN ORGANIZING WISCONSIN WORKERS
: CIO plagued by “some of their Communist comrades.” Recalls 1941 International-Harvester contested election in Milwaukee involving Costello and James De Witt, during which AFL set up loudspeaker system to court workers during lunch period. Heymanns baited Costello who was standing outside the plant gate for “stealing” union funds (i.e., taking them to Illinois) from Simmons FLU in Kenosha. AFL cooperated with IAM to win Milwaukee I-H election. Further recalls AFL winning two elections over CIO at Baraboo powder plant, even though CIO erected huge signs along Highway 12. Signs disappeared before election held. [Heymanns mistakenly stated that De Witt was deceased. As of early 1982, De Witt lived in the Long Beach, California area.]
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
25:10
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SPECIAL PROBLEMS ORGANIZING INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN RURAL AREAS
: Workers at Baraboo plant traveled from as far away as 100 miles; largest bus drivers union in Wisconsin, outside of Milwaukee, located there. Workers handbilled while getting off or on buses, followed up by meetings in such small cities as Reedsburg, Sauk City, etc. Rural workers, especially women, hard to organize; not used to earning so much money. Recalls that Vernon Thomson, Richland Center, attorney and later governor, used to take credit for “giving” the powder plant a union.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
28:10
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END OF TAPE 1, SIDE 2
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
00:00
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INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
00:30
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ORGANIZING U.S. RUBBER ORDNANCE WORKS IN MILWAUKEE EASIER THAN AT BARABOO
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
01:35
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WHEN AND HOW TO ORGANIZE WORKERS
: Sometimes workers are ripe for organization; sometimes management representatives make stupid mistakes; many times lower wages in non-union plants stimulate organizing activity in non-union factories. Organizing often involves long contact with small group of workers, meeting in houses, backrooms of taverns, or in halls. Most effective to have inside committees in various plant departments, and to have help from other unions and central labor bodies in the community. Employers could--and did--head off good start in organizing by improving wages.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
05:20
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RECOLLECTIONS OF ORGANIZING IN BERLIN, WISCONSIN
: Two organizers once asked by manager to leave Whiting Hotel in Berlin while organizing Berlin Tanning Co. Democratic Party Knights of Columbus member in Berlin tried to intercede in making meeting halls available. Finally meeting attended by 200, held in park square in Berlin. Another anecdote about elderly Berlin Tanning Co. owner who always referred to union president as a “jailbird” before Heymanns persuaded him forcefully to cease. In general, organizers not subjected to physical violence, but feelings were “seldom friendly.”
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
10:30
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ALGOMA NET COMPANY
: Now represented by United Transportation Union, net workers first organized by Heymanns about 1938. Case came before U.S. Supreme Court after hearing before both Wisconsin and national labor relations boards. Back pay ordered for three workers.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
14:15
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AFL ORGANIZING WORK MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF CIO OR UMW RAIDING
: Hazy memory of details of CIO threat in Eau Claire in early 1940's, referred to by Heymanns in field reports. Heymanns always helped to organize until first representation election; stayed on if situation involved more than one AFL international. Recalls how UMW District 50 raided aluminum workers international at Two Rivers. Then Allied Industrial Workers (AIW) started big campaign, as did USWA; after UMW won run-off, AFL actively backed USWA. Also recalls how UMW District 50 tried to displace independent union at Clintonville, while AFL supported UAW-AFL. Other recollections on AFL defending successfully against raids on aluminum workers international.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
28:15
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END OF TAPE 2, SIDE 1
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
00:00
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INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
00:30
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RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY 1940'S ATTEMPT TO RAID UAW-CIO AT ALLIS-CHALMERS
: Other than handbilling several times, Heymanns little to do personally with attempt to unseat union led by “well-known Communist” Harold Christoffel. “Naturally both sides always dreamed of taking a big plant away from the next guy, you know.” Heymanns recalls helping IAM stave off CIO raid of Allis-Chalmers Co. plant at La Crosse. Later, however, while IAM organizer Gil Brunner of Waukesha was busy elsewhere during an organizing campaign, machinists lost La Crosse plant to CIO.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
04:30
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FEDERATION OF LABOR ORGANIZING STRUCTURE IN 1930'S AND 1940'S
: Sigman was regional director, WSFL had several organizers, as did many trades councils. Recalls initial FLU victory at 3-M plant at Cumberland during deer-hunting season; next staving off Oil and Chemical Workers challenge two years later. “Once you have a plant, it takes something to take it away if you do your job on it....”
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
07:25
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FEDERAL LABOR UNIONS NOT UNDER-REPRESENTED ON WSFL EXECUTIVE BOARD
: Only so many slots on board available for various types of unions. Under-representation assumption must be made on basis of number of units, not number of workers. FLU's always considered more or less a temporary arrangement that eventually would be swallowed up by internationals.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
14:45
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FEDERATION OF LABOR IN WISCONSIN AS A LEADER IN ORGANIZATION AND SERVICING AMONG U.S. FEDERATIONS
: Wisconsin remains outstanding; more active than most other state federations. Good services offered include time-study engineer for industrial unions, full-time person to help building trades; full-time representative to help with legislative matters; community services representative. Even earlier, WSFL leaders and staff provided good organizing and negotiating help, which resulted in, among other things, a high number of FLU's in state. Cites work of Ohl, Handley, and Friedrick as being particularly significant. “A lot of these things that are taken for granted now on the law books in every state in the nation were started in Wisconsin.”
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
18:10
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IMPACT OF CIO ORGANIZING EFFORTS ON AFL
: Recalls Henry Ohl's Wisconsin Plan in 1930's, designed to avoid what was still a potential split, was forerunner to eventual AFL and CIO merger in 1950's.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
19:00
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COMMENTS ON OLD SOCIALIST TRADITIONS AMONG BREWERY WORKERS UNION
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
20:35
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DIRECTION OF WSFL AFTER HABERMAN BECOMES PRESIDENT
: Did not represent a “shift to the right as I understand the right.” Haberman originally an ironworker, then a public employee who was an energetic, part-time organizer for Henry Ohl beginning in mid-1930's. Recalls Haberman working in Herman Seide's office at time of Seide's death; Haberman's victory over Rudy Faupl in 1943; and his victory the next year over Jake Friedrick after three or four FLU 19806 delegates (A.O. Smith) voted for Haberman. Vote not simply a matter of industrial versus craft unions either in 1944 or in 1964, when John Heidenreich, IAM, nominated by Katzman of UAW, while Walter Burke of USWA nominated Haberman.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
27:20
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END OF TAPE 2, SIDE 2
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
00:00
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INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
00:30
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HABERMAN'S POLITICS
: Perhaps was once a socialist as was Ohl; many Old Progressives from labor movement helped to reform Wisconsin Democratic Party in 1940's.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
02:00
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COMMENTS ON WILLIAM NAGORSNE
: “Nagorsne was a damned good trade unionist and a very good friend of mine.”
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
03:30
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J. F. FRIEDRICK AS AFL REGIONAL DIRECTOR
: Succeeded David Sigman in 1944 and remained in that position until elected General Secretary of Milwaukee Federated Trades Council. Heymanns, Friedrick's successor, tried to cooperate with WSFL at all times.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
06:10
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REMOVAL OF PUBLIC UTILITIES OWNERSHIP PLANK BY WSFL
: Heymanns would have favored retaining the plank, although removal should not be interpreted as being a “radical shift from left to right....”
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
07:10
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HEYMANNS AS CONSISTENT LIBERAL VOTER SINCE 1920's
: First voted for Progressive Republicans, then La Follette Progressives beginning in 1934. Many liberals, Heymanns included, tried to prevail upon Robert F. La Follette, Jr. to switch to Democrats in 1946. Young Bob felt he could reform Republican Party, which Heymanns felt was absurd because it was like trying “to reform an old whore.”
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
12:00
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COMMUNISTS IN CIO LEAD TO LA FOLLETTE'S DEFEAT IN 1946 PRIMARY AGAINST JOSEPH McCARTHY
: Recalls how Democratic Party primary in Milwaukee's Fourth Congressional District (Wasielewski versus Bobrowicz) caused many who would have voted for La Follette in Republican primary to vote in Democratic primary. Bobrowicz later exposed as a “commie,” but too late for La Follette by then. Communists in CIO disdained Young Bob because critical of USSR; concedes, however, that La Follette could have avoided defeat by joining Democratic ranks. Fourth district seat since 1948 held by Clement Zablocki, “one of the best labor men that we ever had in Congress.”
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
14:35
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NO RECOLLECTION OF ALLEGATION THAT PETER SHOEMANN COOL TO LA FOLLETTE CAMPAIGN IN 1946
: Would be surprised to learn that Shoemann had not supported La Follette.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
15:10
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GROWING WSFL INVOLVEMENT IN WISCONSIN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
: Greater involvement following 1946 election. COPE endorsements made on basis of candidate's labor voting record, not political party affiliations, but Democrats have had consistently better records. Explains relationship between central bodies, state federation in COPE endorsement mechanism.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
20:20
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HEYMANNS' WORK AS FIELD REPRESENTATIVE DURING WORLD WAR II
: Management attempts to take advantage of “no-strike” clause led to a few wildcat strikes. More women in some industries were paid wages equal to men.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
22:55
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WOMEN WORKERS TODAY
: Still inequities which is why Heymanns and organized labor in Sheboygan support Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Sheboygan central body currently headed by a woman, originally a public employee, now UFCW, whose husband belongs to UAW local, Kohler. Sheboygan first of eleven central bodies to merge after state merger. Comments on annual AFL-CIO Kickoff Dinner at Sheboygan Falls.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
26:40
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KOHLER STRIKE MEMORIAL
: No longer a memorial service for two strikers killed in 1934; each year UAW lay flowers on graves.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
28:10
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END OF TAPE 3, SIDE 1
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
00:00
|
INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
00:30
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ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE KOHLER COMPANY IN 1952
: Workers began to see independent union (Kohler Workers Association) had limited value so voted to affiliate KWA with UAW-CIO. AFL also launched campaign to win over workers, and Kohler Co. formed a second independent union. UAW-CIO, however, won handily, got a weak one-year contract leading up to beginning of second strike in 1954. Heymanns emphasizes that strike finally settled after Kohler Co. found guilty of violating statutes; example of why worker support for COPE is so important. Since end of strike, company/union relations have improved greatly; cites dedication of Emil Mazey Hall (UAW Local 833 headquarters) as example. Now, “it's different times and different people.”
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
06:30
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COMMENTS ON KOHLER COMPANY LEADERSHIP
: Herbert Kohler “not...the intellect” of Walter Kohler, Sr. Explains Kohler family intrigue over stock issues, company control, etc., and how Walter Kohler, Jr. probably should have been president after Kohler, Sr. instead of Herbert Kohler. Recounts Kohler, Jr. loss to Glenn Davis in 1957 Republican primary for U.S. Senate and Terry Kohler's (Kohler, Jr.'s son) unsuccessful but costly run in recent gubernatorial primary.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
10:15
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WISCONSIN CENTRAL BODIES MERGE
: Reasons for delays varied among the eleven central bodies in Wisconsin. Close cooperation with UAW by all Sheboygan unions probably responsible for that central body being first in state to merge. Racine, only place where CIO members outnumbered AFL, ended in arbitration with National AFL-CIO president George Meany's decision based on Heymanns' recommendations. In Madison where there are few CIO members, merger amounted to little more than a takeover. Peculiar situation in Rock County, where two central bodies remained after merger.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
14:35
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WSFL/STATE IUC MERGER
: Strong personalities the chief obstacle. Charles Schultz and George Haberman constantly disagreed, “took potshots at each other.” Other worrisome issues included per capita taxes and disposition of treasuries in both organizations. Meany sought Heymanns' advice before making final decision on state merger. Interviewee reminded of many clippings in his possession about merger discussion and issues around Wisconsin.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
17:55
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ANECDOTE ABOUT HABERMAN INTRODUCING JAMES R. HOFFA IN MILWAUKEE
: Haberman, “a self-educated man and very good with language,” introduced Hoffa as “Your Eminence.” Occasion came after Teamsters expulsion from AFL-CIO.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
18:50
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BAD JUDGMENT HINDERS CHARLES SCHULTZ OF STATE IUC
: Several instances of bad judgment, combined with quest for good publicity, led to his downfall in the labor movement.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
19:00
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MORE ON MERGER
: Heymanns in a position to hear many opinions from both AFL and CIO sides. Recalls that Haberman, after merger, made an excellent pro-merger speech before a badly split Iowa state federation. Repeats opinion that personalities, organizational identification, and various minor squabbles impeded merger progress. Overall, “merger worked out better in the history of the labor movement than ninety-nine per cent of the people thought it would.”
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
22:05
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MORE ON HOW NATIONAL AFL-CIO ASSISTS IN WISCONSIN MERGER EFFORTS
: Meany sent two national vice-presidents, Peter Shoeman (AFL) and Carl Feller (CIO) to help, as well as an assistant. Role of Meany's executive assistant Peter McGuire was especially important in Milwaukee.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
24:20
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RAIDING OF FEDERAL LABOR UNIONS BY INTERNATIONALS
: Heymanns not upset by such raids, as long as there was a “jurisdiction that fit.” AFL set up rules for governing FLU decisions to allow jurisdictional elections. At A.O. Smith, most leaders favored AIW but membership didn't; recalls battles between machinists and FLU leaders at Smith; describes intensive UAW organizing drive at Smith followed by decision to withdraw from effort. Smith union still directly affiliated (DALU) with AFL.
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Tape/Side
3/2
Time
29:00
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END OF TAPE 3, SIDE 2
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
00:00
|
INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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|
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
00:30
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MORE ON HABERMAN'S EFFECTIVENESS
: Lack of opposition for presidency indicative of Haberman's popularity and ability to prevail. Always a good friend of Heymanns, Haberman cannot be fairly classified either as an industrial or building trades unionist; all-around labor leader a title which fits best.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
03:10
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STATUS OF INDUSTRIAL BASE IN WISCONSIN AND STATE LABOR UNIONS
: Looks for Wisconsin economy to improve and remain strong; feels that greater numbers of skilled workers in Wisconsin than in many other states have minimized plant losses to Sunbelt states. Wisconsin one of the best-organized labor movements in the nation, “a clean labor movement, a very active labor movement, and we expect to remain that way.” Some now-defunct industries would have remained if unions had been even stronger in forcing management to modernize.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
06:05
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PUBLICATIONS HEYMANNS READS REGULARLY
: Wide-range, including labor weeklies, urban dailies, U.S. News and World Report. Best labor newspaper is AFL-CIO Weekly News.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
07:20
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LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS DURING RECESSION IN EARLY 1980's
: Corporate investment outside Wisconsin is greatly responsible for economic recession in state. “Organized labor told some of these companies twenty years ago what would happen....”
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
08:45
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WORKER-FARMER COOPERATION
: Pendulum swings back and forth; refutes claim that Reagan presidential victory a mandate from American people. Greater voter participation needed. Labor in Wisconsin has always worked with Wisconsin Farmers Union and National Farmers Organization in behalf of family farmer. Many small farmers now work in factories for economic reasons.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
12:30
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POOR ATTENDANCE AT TODAY'S UNION MEETINGS
: Contrasts situation to years ago, when dues paid at union meetings. Today's dues check-off, combined with such distractions as television, have helped to reduce attendance. Adds that perhaps organized labor has been too successful; members aren't mad anymore. “When you feed 'em full, you know...they say, a full belly likes to take a rest; an empty belly goes out looking for some.” Most who stay away from meetings don't realize that the union--not the bosses--was responsible for enactment of labor's major programs and fringe benefit gains that are still in place. Goes on to parallel union meeting attendance with that of small turnouts at statewide senior citizens meeting before Reagan election victory; jam-packed meeting the year following.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
14:55
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ORGANIZING OFFICE AND WHITE COLLAR WORKERS
: Heymanns somewhat involved in white collar organizing around the state and helped to organize public employees in Sheboygan area. Anecdote about organizing workers at Consolidated Papers Co. in Wisconsin Rapids with help of retired company official George W. Mead who was “looked up to like a saint.”
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
21:05
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EDUCATION OF TODAY'S YOUNG WORKERS
: Unworried about young workers, Heymanns nevertheless warns that “labor movement has to do its job like we had to do it in our days.” Labor education must be brought to schools as done in the past by such individuals as Heymanns, John Schmitt, and Jake Friedrick. Anecdote about labor-industry panel at Marquette University at which Heymanns startled industry spokesmen by suggesting that grievances should be settled in early stages instead of both sides incurring high arbitration expenses.
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
25:35
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ANECDOTE ABOUT MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT AT SEVERAL PLANTS AND INSISTING THEY KEEP “OFFICE GIRLS” OUT OF THE DISCUSSION
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Tape/Side
4/1
Time
28:35
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END OF TAPE 4, SIDE 1
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Tape/Side
4/2
Time
00:00
|
INTERVIEWER'S INTRODUCTION
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Tape/Side
4/2
Time
00:30
|
OTHER PERSONS INTERVIEWED FOR THE WISCONSIN LABOR HISTORY PROJECT
: Interviewer informs Heymanns of earlier interviews with George Hall, Paul Whiteside, and David Sigman, and others planned. Heymanns expresses sorrow over those deceased, such as Friedrick, Haberman, and Faupl, who might have contributed much to the project. Encourages researchers to read his speech in 1935 AFL Convention Proceedings.
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Tape/Side
4/2
Time
03:10
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PERSONAL REWARDS FOR HEYMANNS IN LONG UNION CAREER
: “It's something I believe in; it's something I tried to do the best I could when I was on the job...we were never on the high side...of salary and expenses but we were treated right.” A political liberal from an early age, Heymanns adds, “I tried to do my best; what little I contributed I tried to do,” emphasizing that he never missed a day of work due to illness in thirty years, four months, and 21 days. Retired on January 1, 1968 as a labor organizer; still active in COPE and senior citizens groups; has visited every central labor body in Wisconsin. Likes to travel around the state helping at political organizing and visiting friends. “I wonder how the Republicans could make such a stupid mistake...when they proposed cuts in Social Security,” riling up senior citizens; speculates whether accumulation of money is response for poor decisions.
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Tape/Side
4/2
Time
11:15
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FUTURE DONATION OF HEYMANNS' MATERIALS TO THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
: Includes organizer's reports, clippings, and photographs.
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Tape/Side
4/2
Time
14:00
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END OF INTERVIEW
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