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Container
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Title
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Series: Ralph Hilkin
: 407 Caroline Street, Janesville
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Session I, June 17, 1976
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Reel/Side
3/1-A
Time
0:00 to 0:25
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
3/1-A
Time
0:26 to 12:40
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Family background, near Dubuque, Iowa--Mosalem township--brothers and sisters--home at St. Catherine's, Iowa--high school education--farm in the hills--Catholic family--Democrats
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Reel/Side
3/1-A
Time
12:41 to 15:50
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Newspapers as source of information--Dubuque newspapers--family reaction to Al Smith as presidential candidate
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Reel/Side
3/1-A
Time
15:51 to 19:05
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FDR as first political hero--Mosalem reacted against Prohibition, home brews
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Reel/Side
3/1-A
Time
19:06 to 23:30
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Characteristics of Mosalem township--R. H.'s uncle as shrewd politician--cheating at polls--size of family
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Reel/Side
3/1-A
Time
23:31 to 29:20
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Farming as hard work--mother as dominant influence, particularly on education--occupations of brothers and sisters
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Reel/Side
3/1-B
Time
0:00 to 5:38
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Recollection of elementary school, parochial school--teaching of German dropped--Franciscan nuns--Dubuque as “little Rome”--getting out of school to plow
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Reel/Side
3/1-B
Time
5:39 to 9:58
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Mother's insistence on high school education--father's attitude less favorable to education, workers needed on farm
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Reel/Side
3/1-B
Time
9:59 to 14:49
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Uncle as political influence on R. H.--interest in history--office work as alternative to farming
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Reel/Side
3/1-B
Time
14:50 to 16:12
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Labor movement not mentioned in schools--uncle in railroad strike
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Reel/Side
3/1-B
Time
16:13 to 24:58
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Little recollection of class awareness--older than most high school students--social studies teacher who later defected to Germany--little support for Germany during WW I--friends and associates in high school
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Reel/Side
3/1-B
Time
24:59 to 26:34
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Good teachers, bookkeeping teacher--comments on women teachers
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Reel/Side
3/1-B
Time
26:35 to 27:55
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Work experience prior to Janesville
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Reel/Side
3/2-A
Time
0:00 to 0:10
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
3/2-A
Time
0:11 to 4:05
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Influence of brother Joe who came to Janesville before Ralph--first day at Fisher
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Reel/Side
3/2-A
Time
4:06 to 8:06
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R. H. joined UAW at Fisher--lay off in 1934--further comments on getting the job at Fisher--Bill Lee in the employment office--relatively easy for R. H.
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Reel/Side
3/2-A
Time
8:07 to 10:35
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First job for R. H. on the assembly line--then to the seat framing department
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Reel/Side
3/2-A
Time
10:36 to 12:44
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Brother Joe coming to Janesville--first drove for Bennison and Lane Bakery
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Reel/Side
3/2-A
Time
12:45 to 17:25
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Adjusting to the assembly line, need for money--prior attitudes about labor unions--cooperative back home--joining the union
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Reel/Side
3/2-A
Time
17:26 to 28:41
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The speed-up at Fisher Body, the primary grievance--line speed uneven--the piece work system, another major grievance
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Reel/Side
3/2-B
Time
0:00 to 4:50
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Development of R. H.'s interest in the union, related to speed-up--Myron Rothman as a radical influence on R. H.
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Reel/Side
3/2-B
Time
4:51 to 15:16
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The seat framing department, twelve men--located on cushion sub-assembly line--Lou Adkins there--bosses and foremen--tough cushion department supervisor--hard work--response to request for help, time study man from Detroit
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Reel/Side
3/2-B
Time
15:17 to 18:07
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Lou Adkins as a spokesman for the group--leadership
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Reel/Side
3/2-B
Time
18:08 to 26:23
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Anti-union workers in cushion department--Nick Luchsinger as outspoken unionist--Waldo Luchsinger--cushion department as center of union activity, due to workers located there--diverse group
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Reel/Side
3/2-B
Time
26:24 to 30:06
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Body shop as another center of unionism--hard work in the body shop--Straus Ellis unwelcome in body shop--nature of body shop work, one third of workers there
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Reel/Side
3/2-B
Time
30:07 to 33:52
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Company union--anti-union workers held no distinctive traits, except for their anti-unionism
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Session II, June 24, 1976
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Reel/Side
5/1-A
Time
0:00 to 0:18
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
5/1-A
Time
0:19 to 4:59
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Company reaction to union activities--company union and publication--harassment related to production
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Reel/Side
5/1-A
Time
5:00 to 11:40
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Company union called the GM Alliance--harassment of Alliance workers, few in cushion department--cushion department leaders--closely-knit department, most employees there as experienced
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Reel/Side
5/1-A
Time
11:41 to 21:16
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More experienced workers as union leaders--new workers hard to educate, not yet disenchanted with hard work--education of new workers
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Reel/Side
5/1-A
Time
21:17 to 28:07
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School for Workers in Janesville--ride alongs, good followers
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Reel/Side
5/1-B
Time
0:00 to 2:30
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More on School for Workers--R. H.'s aspiration to be a union leader
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Reel/Side
5/1-B
Time
2:31 to 10:55
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Union meetings sparsely attended--Hilkins social life--bars on weekends--a few close friends
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Reel/Side
5/1-B
Time
10:56 to 14:10
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Hilkin social group all Democrats--a couple of Republicans at work--sitdowners in seat framing group
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Reel/Side
5/1-B
Time
14:11 to 15:'30
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No recollection of company spy system
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Reel/Side
5/1-B
Time
15:31 to, 20:19
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Italian-American workers as unionists, most were first generation immigrants, Chicago
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Reel/Side
5/1-B
Time
20:20 to 23:38
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Community reaction to labor unions negative--rush for door during sitdown--guard who got a handful of tacks in the face
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Reel/Side
5/1-B
Time
23:39 to 31:47
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Janesville political leaders and unions--Henry Traxler and the sitdown agreement--no difficulty reconciling religion and union--hostility from merchants, fear of losing money
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
0:00 to 0:10
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
0:11 to 6:20
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AFL-CIO split caused bitter feelings--Wes Van Horn favored AFL, Lou Adkins favored CIO--cushion department center of CIO support--R. H. attitude toward John L. Lewis
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
6:21 to 10:55
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Industrial unionism--support for CIO--respect for Homer Martin
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
10:56 to 12:50
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Muncie strike in 1935 caused layoff
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
12:51 to 15:40
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Planning for sitdown strike, rank and file not involved--awareness of impending strike
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
15:41 to 20:35
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R. H. did not know until the actual day--had decided beforehand to strike--brother Joe also sat down, although wife opposed
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
20:36 to 24:50
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Most sitdowners were family men--many workers went on welfare
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Reel/Side
5/2-A
Time
24:51 to 28:18
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Further comments on sitdown--role of foremen
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Reel/Side
5/2-B
Time
0:00 to 5:45
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Meeting with city officials in clock room--the press--rally at union hall--importance of pep talks--relatively few sitdowners
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Reel/Side
5/2-B
Time
5:46 to 14:08
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Sitdown as short--workers in quiet, enthusiastic mood--little violence--no special steps by union to avoid violence
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Reel/Side
5/2-B
Time
14:10 to 20:28
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Mediating role of Henry Traxler--sitdown designed to bring pressure to bear--“probably a few divorces resulted”
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Reel/Side
5/2-B
Time
20:29 to 28:55
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R. H. returned to family home in Iowa during the strike--no support for strikers in Janesville--support from R. H.'s family--many strikers left Janesville for their hometowns during those weeks--Markham in personnel--farmer-workers less likely to be involved with union--better workers as union workers
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Session III, July 8, 1976
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
0:00 to 0:20
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
0:21 to 2:55
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Joining the Janesville Fire Department--desire for job security
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
2:56 to 6:26
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Beginning job as a hoseman--work schedule--seasonal nature of firefighter's work
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
6:27 to 12:42
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The working day off, Kelly day--from the 84 hour week to the 56 hour week--wages not comparable to GM
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
12:43 to 19:51
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Early grievances on fire department--extra chores for the city, such as flooding the ice skating ponds--charter members of the Firefighters Union--Chief Andreske
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
19:52 to 22:18
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The captains and the union--labor-management line not rigidly drawn in fire department
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
22:19 to 24:24
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R. H. had no problem getting into department
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Reel/Side
7/1-A
Time
24:25 to 32:15
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Early formation of Local 580 of the Firefighters Union--role of Casey Brothers, suspended for striking in the 1920s--need for good followers--Dennis Casey as militant--Chief Murphy and the union
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Reel/Side
7/1-B
Time
0:00 to 2:05
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Dennis Casey as a source of information for R. H.--importance of extra tasks
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Reel/Side
7/1-B
Time
2:06 to 7:15
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Twenty-five cent pay increase in 1950--nepotism and the Murphy family in the department--Con Murphy
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Reel/Side
7/1-B
Time
7:16 to 10:06
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Kearney brothers, charter members--drill sessions and “school”--knowing streets and fireboxes
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Reel/Side
7/1-B
Time
10:07 to 15:52
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Fred Youngblood--negotiated leisure time on Saturday afternoon--holidays--reaction against nepotism
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Reel/Side
7/1-B
Time
15:53 to 23:00
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Harassment related to retirement--pension system--no social security--firemen and the Wisconsin Retirement Fund
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Reel/Side
7/1-B
Time
23:01 to 30:19
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Firemen had no right to organize until the 1960s--city bargained out of courtesy--mediation--fact finding--Local 580 as “illegal” labor organization--story about the secretary of the Wisconsin League of Municipalities
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
0:00 to 0:15
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
0:16 to 2:20
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Fire department in 1946--members more daring, but shrewder
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
2:21 to 539
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Changes in nature of fires during R. H.'s career--changes in masks--“going in”
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
5:40 to 8:05
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Hazards of fire fighting--“getting lost”--fear of getting lost
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
8:06 to 12:00
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Tight-knit group--cliques--older men as a clique--union presidency passed around
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
12:01 to 18:26
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State conventions, first one for R. H. in 1949--leg work on pension fund--need for same delegates to attend annually--problem getting convention money--Ed Wellnitz
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
18:27 to 19:45
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Wisconsin Paid Firefighters formed in 1920s for lobbying--unions developed from the W. P. F.
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Reel/Side
7/2-A
Time
19:46 to 30:44
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Janesville sent representatives to W. P. F. conventions--no time off for conventions--union matters talked at conventions--pay and fringe benefits--improvement in Janesville--Chief Alex Andreske's role
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Reel/Side
7/2-B
Time
0:00 to 1:55
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Fire department vacation plan
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Reel/Side
7/2-B
Time
1:56 to 5:31
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School for Workers--preparation for bargaining, role playing
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Reel/Side
7/2-B
Time
5:32 to 12:05
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Further comments on the School for Workers--Mayor Lustig as a bargainer
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Reel/Side
7/2-B
Time
12:06 to 19:36
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Influence of the School for Workers--contact with other firefighters--conventions, need to “make all the groups”--Royal Taylor and the Beloit firefighters--Taylor and Reuben LaFave--influencing legislators--Gaylord Nelson
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Reel/Side
7/2-B
Time
19:37 to 21:27
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Local legislators helpful to firefighters--Lewis Mitness
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Reel/Side
7/2-B
Time
21:28 to 25:58
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Enthusiasm generated by School for Workers--relationship with Gaylord Nelson--Janesville area legislators, Peter Carr and Senator Swan
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Reel/Side
7/2-B
Time
25:59 to 33:20
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Learning from predecessors in the fire department--running a meeting--getting clothing allowances
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Session IV, July 15, 1976
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
0:00 to 0:15
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
0:16 to 5:52
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Clothing allowances--turnout clothing--shirts--required to wear tie--finally, shoes--80%-20% agreement
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
5:53 to 11:21
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R. H. as president of Local 580--union background--need for initiative--previous president, Merrit Brown, lacked initiative and expertise
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
11:22 to 14:42
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George Forrester as city manager, good for firefighters--R. H.'s first meeting with him--Forrester did not stay long
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
14:43 to 17:55
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Major issues in 1954--low salaries, salaries lagged during 1950s--shorter hours
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
17:56 to 20:00
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Joe Lustig as city manager, “old school”
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
20:01 to 24:16
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R. H. resigned as president in 1968--other ambitious members, Wellnitz and Rasmussen--63 hour work week
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Reel/Side
9/1-A
Time
24:17 to 29:42
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Strikes contrary to international constitution, changed at Toronto convention, R. H. supported change--right to strike--rationale for right to strike for firefighters
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Reel/Side
9/1-B
Time
0:00 to 1:15
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R. H. assumed that threat of strike would be sufficient
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Reel/Side
9/1-B
Time
1:16 to 4:45
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R. H.'s role in 1970 threatened strike--police-firefighter pay disparity as key issue--“nice guy” image of firefighters--firefighting as more hazardous
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Reel/Side
9/1-B
Time
4:46 to 9:36
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Referendum petition to city council on parity--petition thrown out--experiences gathering petitions
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Reel/Side
9/1-B
Time
9:37 to 17:09
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The threat to strike in 1970--three voted not to strike, all signed statement--efforts of supportive council members--meeting at Snyder's funeral home--strike notification
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Reel/Side
9/1-B
Time
17:10 to 24:20
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Meeting to set strike date--role of Mary Wickham--efforts to avoid strike--mediation session--acceptance of mediator's findings--satisfaction with settlement
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Reel/Side
9/1-B
Time
24:21 to 30:46
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Fear of dismissal for signing document--only chief didn't sign, other officers cooperated--bitterness--Chief Andreske held uncooperative attitude toward union
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Reel/Side
9/2-A
Time
0:00 to 0:12
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Introduction
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Reel/Side
9/2-A
Time
0:13 to 1:58
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Further comments on Chief Andreske
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Reel/Side
9/2-A
Time
1:59 to 11:54
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Problem of manning trucks during the strike--call to Beloit fire department--Janesville police anxious to drive trucks--fire department participation in protest against Gazette when it had labor problems, Chief opposed action--bad police-fire department relations
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Reel/Side
9/2-A
Time
11:55 to 14:05
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UAW support for fire department strike--support solicited from other departments
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Reel/Side
9/2-A
Time
14:06 to 23:54
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Public bitterness toward fire department--level of emergency protection planned--rationale for taking risk of fire during the strike--lives would be saved, not property
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Reel/Side
9/2-A
Time
23:55 to 27:00
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City hall resentment toward fire department, fire department supporters defeated in next election
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Reel/Side
9/2-A
Time
27:01 to 30:57
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Police orders to take over fire station--Wellnitz remark on “headcracking”
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Reel/Side
9/2-B
Time
0:00 to 4:00
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Relations between firefighters and city council--problem involving money
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Reel/Side
9/2-B
Time
4:01 to 15:16
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Local 580's political involvement, campaigning--the bumper sticker controversy--R. H. pushed for partisan campaigning--Bill Watson and Bill Cronin--R. H. was on state association board when it decided to go into politics--more on bumper sticker controversy
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Reel/Side
9/2-B
Time
15:17 to 20:25
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Senator Jim Swan's appearance before fire departments--problem with “little Hatch Act”--generally supported Democrats, dissatisfied with Governor Lucey
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Reel/Side
9/2-B
Time
20:26 to 23:38
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Pension bill veto--Lucey as “best Republican governor”
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Reel/Side
9/2-B
Time
23:39 to 24:34
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Political involvement as sound decision
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Reel/Side
9/2-B
Time
24:35 to 30:50
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Need for leadership in Local 580--R. H. took advantage of conditions--identified leaders--getting Gordy Rasmussen involved--need for support from members--importance of a good secretary, Ed Wellnitz--attending the international convention
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Reel/Side
9/2-B
Time
30:50 to 32:10
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Success in helping sheriff's department to organize
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