The origins of the Associated Unions of America lie in efforts made during the 1930s by Wisconsin labor activists to strengthen and ensure the rights of workers in independent, company unions. Leading this effort was Donald F. Cameron, an employee of the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company who was secretary of the Power Plant Labor Adjustment Committee of the Employee Mutual Benefit Association, one of the first comprehensive company unions in Milwaukee. In 1934 the Milwaukee Federated Trades Council attempted to organize the company's employees; the company responded by firing the union activists and refusing to comply with an NLRB ruling that the fired workers be reinstated. The employees then initiated a strike. Although only four days in duration, the strike was marked by demonstrations, the hiring of the Berghoff Detective Agency to conduct strike-breaking activities, property damage, and the accidental death of one demonstrator. After Mayor Daniel Hoan condemned management's activities, the company capitulated, granting full recognition to the union.
Work as secretary of the Power Plant Labor Adjustment Committee in one of Milwaukee's strongest company unions undoubtedly politicized Cameron. Although his activities between 1934 and 1938 are not documented in the papers, it is likely that Cameron began work on his own to promote and strengthen the rights of independent unions.
In November 1939 he was active in the formation of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Unions (WAIU). These company unions had come together earlier in that year in order to oppose proposed changes in the Wisconsin Labor Relations Act. Although unsuccessful in this purpose, an association of company unions for the exchange of information and statistical data relative to wage and salary scales, union agreements, industrial earnings, cost of living, and labor and social legislation seemed advisable. Membership in WAIU was open to any bona fide independent union organized to bargain collectively, that was unaffiliated with any other state or national body, and that could demonstrate that it was free of company domination. Because of the general suspicion of company unions by organized labor, throughout its history WAIA and later AUA was anxious to prove its independence.
Donald Cameron was elected president of WAIA, but there were no full time paid staff, and not until 1940 was a permanent office opened. Delegates of member unions met quarterly. Some of the first independent unions to affiliate with WAIA represented production, maintenance, and other workers in the Lake Mills Shoe Workers Union, Milwaukee County Independent Petroleum Workers, Coating Mill Workers Union of Wisconsin, and the Northwestern National Employees Association. During 1940 membership numbered about 2,000 active workers and about 3,000 observers.
In 1941 members attending voted to change the name of the association to Associated Unions of America (AUA) in order to accommodate groups outside Wisconsin who had expressed interest in joining the organization. The word independent was dropped because it was felt that the member unions were no longer truly independent after they joined the association. The AUA subsequently adopted the functioning policies of the WAIU in their constitution and by-laws. Donald Cameron was elected national secretary of AUA. In 1945 a new constitution was adopted and member unions became known as locals of AUA.
In 1942 the New Idea Independent Union affiliated with the AUA to become the first local in Illinois, and by the mid-1950s AUA had over 5,550 members in eighteen locals in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. These locals included workers in insurance companies, shoe factories, machine shops, metal industries, paper mills, oil industries, and offices. The largest local represented approximately 1,000 members at the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Local 35) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Locals consisting of 500 members or more were located at the First Wisconsin Bank (Local 25), and Cutler-Hammer (Local 5), both in Milwaukee.
Nevertheless, Cameron was apparently dissatisfied with AUA's difficulty in recruiting independent unions outside the Midwest. A national organization was necessary, he believed, if it was to be powerful enough to act as a voice in national affairs, affect legislation, and secure representation on governmental agencies. In an effort to compete with the AFL and CIO and to change the perception that independent unions were necessarily company-dominated, Cameron and others established the Confederated Unions of America based in Chicago. He became the secretary-treasurer of the CUA, terminating his position with the AUA although still maintaining an influence over its activities. In 1942 AUA affilited with CUA. Many other independent unions followed suit, and by 1943 CUA represented independent unions in twelve states. Convinced that CUA had acquired a solid base, Cameron left CUA in 1945 and once again became active in AUA.
On first examination, AUA appears to resemble a typical union of its era, one that represented semi-skilled, male workers. However, a closer look at both the membership and AUA contracts reveals that in many cases it represented organized office and clerical workers such as its members at Cutler-Hammer (Local 5), Adams and Westlake (Local 55), Four Wheel Drive Auto (Local 15), Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (Local 35), and Northwestern National Insurance Company (Local 45). In some instances AUA negotiators attempted to bring part-time clerical workers into the bargaining unit, although this issue was never adamantly pressed by union officials.
Another unique aspect of AUA was the high percentage of women it represented. At the Old Line Life Insurance Company (Local 65) ninety percent of the local consisted of women. Women represented eighty percent of the membership at the Fox River Valley Knitting Company (Local 7) and fifty to sixty-six percent at Cutler-Hammer (Local 5), First Wisconsin National Bank (Local 25), Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance (Local 35), Northwestern National Insurance Company (Local 45), Adams and Westlake (Local 55), Four Wheel Drive Auto (Local 15), and Lake Mills Shoe Company (Local 1).
Although AUA officials sought to establish harmonious relations with employers, they also pressed for competitive wages, enhanced benefits, and the creation of pension plans. These activities inevitably led to strikes. The onset of the 1950s marked the beginning of a wave of strikes throughout AUA. First to go out was Local 65 representing employees of the Old Line Life Insurance Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Shortly after affiliating with the AUA, union members at Old Line Life had voted to strike over the issue of wages. Although the largely-female local gained support from area CIO locals, the company eventually prevailed, and no union has since been able to organize workers at the company. In 1953 union employees at the Appleton Coated Paper Company (Local 16) voted to strike. Workers at Weis Manufacturing Company (Local 95) struck in 1959, as did workers at MEFCO (Local 9). Other AUA strikes included Henry Weis Manufacturing (Local 49), Sloane Valve Company (Local 10), and Aviation Corporation (Local 29). In most cases arbitration was necessary to settle the disputes.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s AUA officers had began to discuss the issue of AUA's existence as an independent union. Early in 1971 it became apparent that the union's survival was threatened after Local 10 (Sloane Valve Company) voted to affiliated with the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO. After this loss, AUA officials began to seriously consider affiliation with an international although AUA's desire to find an international union with a compatible dues structure and per capita tax which would protect the service of their membership deterred a merger. In 1972 the AUA affiliated with the Office and Professional Employees International Union. After affiliation, AUA was designated as Local 500 of the international and AUA's locals became chapters. In 1978 Local 500 ceased to exist as an intermediate entity in the OPEIU structure, and the Milwaukee office was closed.
