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Container
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Title
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Series: Interview with Robert Schultz, August 8, 1984
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
01:20
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Working at Oscar's
: Few other jobs available. Low pay.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
02:05
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Trimming Department
: Describes job. Good place so far as temperature. Bonus system. Bonus lower on killing floor.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
04:25
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Uneven Work
: Layoffs. Early fall, sometimes work two hours a day. Rush starts late October or early November. Favoritism--“no set hours at all before the union.” No recourse. During busy season, work until 6:30 or 9:00 at night. If no room for all livestock, feed and put back in railroad cars. Stockyards dusty. Plenty of work until March. Some recalled for June rush.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
08:10
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Trimming Department (Continued)
: Toughest job was scraping resin. Changes in work--improved technology makes work easier.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
10:05
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Sitdowns
: In 1928, got rid of foreman who refused to allow injured worker to go for first aid. Early 1930s, two sitdowns over pay cuts. After first one, company promised no cuts for one year but Chicago office ordered another cut after three months. Sat down again, but threats force them back to work.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
11:45
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Depression Conditions
: No recourse for grievances. Short weeks. Some have pay cut to $.38 per hour (partially restored under NRA).
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
13:30
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Organizing Issues
: No recourse for layoffs--no seniority rights.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
14:10
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Organizing
: Help from others including UW students. Information sheets. Organizers from all over the plant but main activists worked in trimming, cut and kill.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
15:20
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Stoolpigeons
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
16:40
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Union Chartered
: Hold open meetings. Membership declines to a “handful” because not getting any results.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
17:10
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Strike Decision
: Wildcat. International refused to authorize because afraid of losing the local. Only 51 percent of voters backed strike. But activists felt had to act.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
17:45
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Women
: Limited role in organizing at first.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
18:50
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Company Policy Towards Union
: Refused to talk prior to strike. Discusses individual foremen.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
20:15
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Strike
: May 31, 1934. WPA workers dump logs and rocks to block entrance and slow down police cars. Police threaten injunction unless obstacles removed. Strikers clear roadway--fear would lose strike if injunction. Arrests.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
23:50
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Workers' Response
: Almost all honor lines although only 12 paid up members (out of 350 workers) at time of strike.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
24:40
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Company Response
: Workers refuse to return until union recognized. Oscar Mayer decides to settle--strike gives firm a “black eye.”
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
25:35
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Settlement
: Recognition. No discrimination. Seniority.
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Tape/Side
2/1
Time
26:25
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Reprisals
: Prominent, highly visible unionists fired. Spy had fooled some and taken names at meeting. Ten fired. No action by union--not risk losing the local. Others forced out.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
03:10
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Hired by Fort Dodge, Iowa Packinghouse
: Too much unemployment in Madison. Fort Dodge company had promised it would hire local workers only but needed experienced help. Aware of Madison strike.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
05:00
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Organizing in Fort Dodge
: Contacts with independent packinghouse union in Austin, Minnesota. Some workers suspicious of AFL. Packinghouse Workers Organizing Committee. Hold back per capita tax--received little help.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
06:40
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Organizing Other Iowa Workers
: Help workers organize in Mason City and Sioux City.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
07:35
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Alfred E. Newman
: (Shut off tape while he gets strike flyer from 1930s with drawing of Alfred E. Newman--“Scab”). Newman linked to company union. Source of Mad magazine character. Told him “Don't worry, when this strike's over you won't have a job.” Response--“Worry? Who, me?”
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
08:20
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Relations Packinghouse Workers and Amalgamated Meatcutters
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
09:00
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Links Three Independent Packinghouse Locals
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
09:45
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Organizing in Fort Dodge (Continued)
: Aided by Austin local, United Mine Workers, and Amalgamated Clothing Workers. Helped other local workers organize. Won 32 closed shop contracts for the CIO.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
10:55
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1946 Packinghouse Workers Raid at Oscar's
: Unsuccessful. He refused to become involved. Another Iowa United Packinghouse Workers member participated. Told Schultz that majority signed up before election. On election day, company killed for two hours, then quit. Workers told this was what would happen if the CIO won.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
12:55
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Returns to Oscar's
: 1950. Just in time to save credit for previous 7 1/2 years employment.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
14:30
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Changes at Oscar's
: Good cooperation between union and management. In part, company wanted to keep the CIO out.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
14:55
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United Packinghouse Workers Merger with Amalgamated Meatcutters
: “Best thing that ever happened.”
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
15:15
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Key Gains from Unionization
: Seniority rights. Equal treatment. Favoritism ended.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
16:10
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UW Student Helped Organize in 1933
: Went to Internal Revenue Service to obtain facts for organizing information sheet. Ran off leaflets and distributed them. Workers provided information on job complaints; he obtained important wage information from IRS by saying he needed the information for a school paper.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
18:20
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Labor Law
: National. Recovery Administration helped protect workers. Praises National Labor Relations Act--now under attack by Reagan.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
19:15
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Organizing Help from Other Unionists
: Most activists at Oscar's were inexperienced with unions. Labor Temple provides meeting place. Craft unionists offer advice.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
20:25
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Some Former Cudahy Workers Had Union Experience
: Older. Polish and German immigrants. No trouble signing them up. Not in leadership. Not talk at meetings. Cautious at first, but backed the strike.
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
22:10
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Role of Amalgamated Meatcutters in Organizing Local 538
: Provided speakers. Problem--company would not recognize the union. Advised them to delay strike. Local activists felt “now or never.”
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Tape/Side
2/2
Time
23:05
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Battling Company Union in Fort Dodge
: Company uses to push back-to-work movement. Splits off local workers. 1937 National Labor Relations Board case. Union plants member in company union--exposes plan to “only buy flowers,” etc. at first rather than bargain. Some company unionists learned the hard way and became good union members.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
00:35
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1934 Firings at Oscar's
: Impact. Company had just signed agreement to end walkout.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
01:35
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Four-Hour Day Minimum Guarantee
: Problem with favoritism. If work, then guaranteed minimum of four hours that day. At Fort Dodge, guarantee established at National Labor Relations Board hearing.
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Tape/Side
3/1
Time
02:45
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Short Work Week Before Union at Oscar's
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End of Interview
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