The majority of these records are correspondence created by the Local Secretary, Mr. Alois Mueller. The correspondence largely pertains to the Secretary's routine business responsibilities such as delinquent dues notices, suspension and termination notices, documenting employer and employee conflicts, changes in union procedures, correspondence to and from the international organization, and financial analyses of local businesses.
The records provide a limited picture because of the nature of the correspondence. The majority of the correspondence is outgoing (delinquent dues notices, etc.) with a limited amount of incoming correspondence; the response is usually not found. Complaint and arbitration documents included in the records provide insight into employer/employee conflict and the union strategy for resolution. Correspondence files for 1941 contain solicited letters from members which provide insight into actual working conditions. Correspondence after the start of World War II detail the effects of rubber rationing and other war related labor issues on the local. The financial reports and meeting minutes provide a summary overview of the Local's activities.
Joint Council No. 50 was formed by the Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers in Milwaukee to assist separate locals in securing better working conditions. Minutes of the meetings provide a detailed summary account of labor and union related issues in the Milwaukee area.
Unsorted Material from the Laundry and Dry Cleaning Strike in 1939 contain picket duty rosters and numerous slips of paper with notations representing license plate numbers or descriptions of persons apparently crossing picket lines. Newspaper photographs of persons affected by the strike and editorial cartoons are also included. While the nature of these records do not provide a clear picture of the strike, they do allow some insight into the organization and effects of the strike.
