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Container
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Title
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Series: Interview with William Conners, July 27, 1984
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:35
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Early Life
: Born in Madison. Raised on South Side. Left school early because of family illness and finances. Worked in shoe shop. Decided to learn a trade.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
01:45
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Apprenticeship
: Found bricklaying work with contractor for $.50 an hour. 5 1/2 day week. Served four-year apprenticeship.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
02:35
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Craft Pride
: Loved trade. Boss contractor emphasized pride in work.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
03:45
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Apprenticeship (Continued)
: Worked for one contractor. Union supervised the program.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
05:20
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Description of Job
: Learned trade in home construction--also worked on churches and small stores. Discusses bricklaying. Making mortar, slacking lime. Changes in making mortar.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
08:45
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Winter Layoffs
: Stopped work in November. Covered walls for winter. Contrasts to today. Most bricklayers cut ice or worked in tobacco warehouses during winter. He worked in foundry.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
10:05
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Depression
: Personal situation--no work for 13 months. General description of national New Deal programs. Work relief at Breese Stevens Field. Compares Depression to conditions in 1980s. Says union had no problem with WPA programs--didn't undercut conditions. Discusses credit from grocer and landlord.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
15:10
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Workloads
: Rejects notion of union quotas. For some intricate fireplace work perhaps able to lay only 75 bricks a day. For blind walls without windows maybe able to lay 1000 bricks a day. Describes different types of bricklayers.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
18:25
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Labor Day Parades
: Marching units. Floats--demonstrate craft. Prominence of building trades.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
19:35
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Union Involvement
: Local, state, and international offices. Becomes Doorkeeper for Local 13 in 1930. Fifth Vice President of international in 1952. International Secretary in 1966. Lists community activities. Others in Local 13 recruited him to serve as Doorkeeper.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
23:15
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Madison Labor Movement
: Importance, strength, solidarity of Building Trades Alliance.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
25:00
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Local 13
: Approximately 100 members. Growth with Badger Ordnance job in Baraboo--large number of out-of-town bricklayers. Large meetings at Labor Temple. Banquets. Pins awarded to longtime members.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:35
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Member Involvement
: Limited membership involvement. Mentions committees.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
01:30
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Lists Local Labor Leaders
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
02:50
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Madison Labor
: Building trades--the backbone. General overview of craft and industrial unionism. Uncertain why CIO so weak in Madison.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
05:35
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Union Gains
: Eight-hour day. Apprenticeship laws. Social security. Stresses labor's role. Gains by Local 13--travel expenses for out-of-town jobs, insurance. Gains under attack by Reagan.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
10:25
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Jobs Outside Madison
: As bricklayer, always worked inside Wisconsin. Sometimes out of town for two or three months as a time (maybe returned home on weekends). Paid own expenses.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
11:40
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Lists Other AFL Locals in Madison in 1920s
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
12:35
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Building Trades, Strength
: Well organized. Doubts non-union bricklayers worked in Madison. At membership meetings, questions asked about who was working on particular jobs. If any question, union official investigates.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
14:10
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Job Referrals
: Union not guarantee work. Try send out members on first-in/first-out basis. Hiring hall in 1940s or 1950s.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
16:40
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Local Union Officials
: No full-time paid staff during 1930s. Deputies (business agents) worked as bricklayers--paid union scale by Local 13 when leave job to work on union business.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
17:55
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Lessons
: Be honest with members. Importance of voting.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
19:45
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Rapport with Contractors
: Value of labor-management cooperation.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
21:00
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New Materials
: Metal, glass, concrete panels reduce jobs for bricklayers. Also precast brick panels--most made in organized shops by union bricklayers.
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End of Interview
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