Series: Interview with William Conners, July 27, 1984

Introduction

Early Life
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Apprenticeship
Scope and Content Note: Found bricklaying work with contractor for $.50 an hour. 5 1/2 day week. Served four-year apprenticeship.

Craft Pride
Scope and Content Note: Loved trade. Boss contractor emphasized pride in work.

Apprenticeship (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Worked for one contractor. Union supervised the program.

Description of Job
Scope and Content Note: Learned trade in home construction--also worked on churches and small stores. Discusses bricklaying. Making mortar, slacking lime. Changes in making mortar.

Winter Layoffs
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Depression
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Workloads
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Labor Day Parades
Scope and Content Note: Marching units. Floats--demonstrate craft. Prominence of building trades.

Union Involvement
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Madison Labor Movement
Scope and Content Note: Importance, strength, solidarity of Building Trades Alliance.

Local 13
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Member Involvement
Scope and Content Note: Limited membership involvement. Mentions committees.

Lists Local Labor Leaders

Madison Labor
Scope and Content Note: Building trades--the backbone. General overview of craft and industrial unionism. Uncertain why CIO so weak in Madison.

Union Gains
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Jobs Outside Madison
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Lists Other AFL Locals in Madison in 1920s

Building Trades, Strength
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Job Referrals
Scope and Content Note: Union not guarantee work. Try send out members on first-in/first-out basis. Hiring hall in 1940s or 1950s.

Local Union Officials
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Lessons
Scope and Content Note: Be honest with members. Importance of voting.

Rapport with Contractors
Scope and Content Note: Value of labor-management cooperation.

New Materials
Scope and Content Note: Metal, glass, concrete panels reduce jobs for bricklayers. Also precast brick panels--most made in organized shops by union bricklayers.

End of Interview

Series: Interview with Robert Schultz, August 8, 1984

Introduction

Working at Oscar's
Scope and Content Note: Few other jobs available. Low pay.

Trimming Department
Scope and Content Note: Describes job. Good place so far as temperature. Bonus system. Bonus lower on killing floor.

Uneven Work
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Trimming Department (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Toughest job was scraping resin. Changes in work--improved technology makes work easier.

Sitdowns
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Depression Conditions
Scope and Content Note: No recourse for grievances. Short weeks. Some have pay cut to $.38 per hour (partially restored under NRA).

Organizing Issues
Scope and Content Note: No recourse for layoffs--no seniority rights.

Organizing
Scope and Content Note: Help from others including UW students. Information sheets. Organizers from all over the plant but main activists worked in trimming, cut and kill.

Stoolpigeons

Union Chartered
Scope and Content Note: Hold open meetings. Membership declines to a “handful” because not getting any results.

Strike Decision
Scope and Content Note: Wildcat. International refused to authorize because afraid of losing the local. Only 51 percent of voters backed strike. But activists felt had to act.

Women
Scope and Content Note: Limited role in organizing at first.

Company Policy Towards Union
Scope and Content Note: Refused to talk prior to strike. Discusses individual foremen.

Strike
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Workers' Response
Scope and Content Note: Almost all honor lines although only 12 paid up members (out of 350 workers) at time of strike.

Company Response
Scope and Content Note: Workers refuse to return until union recognized. Oscar Mayer decides to settle--strike gives firm a “black eye.”

Settlement
Scope and Content Note: Recognition. No discrimination. Seniority.

Reprisals
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Introduction

Hired by Fort Dodge, Iowa Packinghouse
Scope and Content Note: Too much unemployment in Madison. Fort Dodge company had promised it would hire local workers only but needed experienced help. Aware of Madison strike.

Organizing in Fort Dodge
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Organizing Other Iowa Workers
Scope and Content Note: Help workers organize in Mason City and Sioux City.

Alfred E. Newman
Scope and Content Note: (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?”

Relations Packinghouse Workers and Amalgamated Meatcutters

Links Three Independent Packinghouse Locals

Organizing in Fort Dodge (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Aided by Austin local, United Mine Workers, and Amalgamated Clothing Workers. Helped other local workers organize. Won 32 closed shop contracts for the CIO.

1946 Packinghouse Workers Raid at Oscar's
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Returns to Oscar's
Scope and Content Note: 1950. Just in time to save credit for previous 7 1/2 years employment.

Changes at Oscar's
Scope and Content Note: Good cooperation between union and management. In part, company wanted to keep the CIO out.

United Packinghouse Workers Merger with Amalgamated Meatcutters
Scope and Content Note: “Best thing that ever happened.”

Key Gains from Unionization
Scope and Content Note: Seniority rights. Equal treatment. Favoritism ended.

UW Student Helped Organize in 1933
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Labor Law
Scope and Content Note: National. Recovery Administration helped protect workers. Praises National Labor Relations Act--now under attack by Reagan.

Organizing Help from Other Unionists
Scope and Content Note: Most activists at Oscar's were inexperienced with unions. Labor Temple provides meeting place. Craft unionists offer advice.

Some Former Cudahy Workers Had Union Experience
Scope and Content Note: Older. Polish and German immigrants. No trouble signing them up. Not in leadership. Not talk at meetings. Cautious at first, but backed the strike.

Role of Amalgamated Meatcutters in Organizing Local 538
Scope and Content Note: Provided speakers. Problem--company would not recognize the union. Advised them to delay strike. Local activists felt “now or never.”

Battling Company Union in Fort Dodge
Scope and Content Note: 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.

Introduction

1934 Firings at Oscar's
Scope and Content Note: Impact. Company had just signed agreement to end walkout.

Four-Hour Day Minimum Guarantee
Scope and Content Note: Problem with favoritism. If work, then guaranteed minimum of four hours that day. At Fort Dodge, guarantee established at National Labor Relations Board hearing.

Short Work Week Before Union at Oscar's

End of Interview

Series: Interview with David Kneebone, August 15, 1984 (#s 4-6) and , August 20, 1984 (#s 7-10)

Introduction

Becoming a Printer
Scope and Content Note: 1966. Relatives worked in the trade.

Respect and Security
Scope and Content Note: A good job. Grandfather worked regularly as printer during the Depression. International Typographical Union (ITU) took care of members during Depression through jobsharing. Newspapers provide steady work. “As secure a thing as you could ever want.”

Apprenticeship
Scope and Content Note: One-year probation. Union and management decide whether allowed to continue--most pass. Written tests--union screens applicants prior to first year. Joint apprenticeship committees. Timetables. Six-year program. Forced to serve full six years because of union activity.

Aid to Apprentices
Scope and Content Note: Start at 45 percent of scale. Five percent increase every six months. “You were treated very special.” Get whatever help necessary. “It was a joy.”

Conflict with Management over Linotype Training
Scope and Content Note: Linotype was “the most fascinating piece of equipment in the whole place.” He knew it was outdated but wanted training. Apprenticeship based on learning skills to work for any employer. Regrets not trained on linotype. The few available linotype situations pay well. Produces a fine product.

Phasing Out Hot Metal Typesetting
Scope and Content Note: ITU took lead in developing new processes. Locals kept abreast of developments.

Tape-Operated Linotypes
Scope and Content Note: Perforate tape. At first, put tape on linotype. Later, computerized. Tape slightly faster than manually operated linotypes. Computer solves problem with ends of lines. Operator punches tape. Run tape through reader. Computer justifies lines.

Final Year as Apprentice
Scope and Content Note: Conflict with management. Clear he would be active in local. Last year was hard--placed on days for disciplinary reasons. Night foreman had tried to fire him. Became Chapel Chairman after a couple months on days--“kind of unheard of.” Spent most of last year as keyboard operator.

Jobs as Journeyman
Scope and Content Note: When needed production, he marked up copy. Marked up ads to computer specifications. Describes process--marked up, pasted up, shot on camera, sent to press. Tough job--“drained” by end of shift. Did markup 4 out of 5 shifts.

Type Bank
Scope and Content Note: Trimming and correcting. “Grunt work.” Putting in correction lines. In part, because of low seniority but also placed on type bank because of union activity. Others in ITU believed company was punishing him. Helped bring local together.

Foremen Removed from Contract
Scope and Content Note: In contract until last agreement. NLRB made it hard to fight. Members upset when foremen get separate vacation schedule--lower seniority but preferred vacation dates.

ITU Role in Composing Room
Scope and Content Note: Changes with new processes. Concerned about getting out product.

Labor Laws
Scope and Content Note: Factor in change in ITU's status. General comments on history of ITU's response to 1947 Taft-Hartley Act.

Travellers
Scope and Content Note: Source of information on conditions elsewhere. Number declines by 1970s. Often not retrained.

Retraining
Scope and Content Note: New processes committee. Fewer apprentices, so retraining and apprenticeship committees merge. Anyone interested was retrained.

ITU Philosophy
Scope and Content Note: Historical sketch. Importance of organizing. ITU and the split between the AFL and the CIO. Importance of internal democracy and member participation.

Introduction

Craft Pride
Scope and Content Note: Some thought that with paste up, “I'll be cutting up paper dolls, I won't be a printer anymore.” Still requires talent. Not so much as hot metal that required mechanical abilities. Not change need for “eye or perception” concerning final product. “People still take an awful lot of pride.” Especially commercial shops.

Contact Between Newspaper and Job Shop Members
Scope and Content Note: Knew each other. Describes merger between Madison Local 106 and Milwaukee Local 23. Commercial shop members regarded Local 106 as newspaper local. Often relatively few from commercial shops at regular meetings. Stereotypes of each other. No real friction. Get together at picnics and Christmas party.

Craft Pride (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Well-dressed. Women printers wear dresses and skirts to work; men wear white shirts and ties. Changes with the times. Pride in job. Community and political activity of members. “Never too proud to help each other.”

Member Involvement in Early 1970s
Scope and Content Note: Social functions. Some younger workers not appreciate union's role in improving conditions. Many of those workers are gone--lacked pride.

Workplace Bonds
Scope and Content Note: When become journeymen, all work on night crew. Knew each other. Co-workers and friends.

Union Activity
Scope and Content Note: “Just seemed to happen.” Learned of Milwaukee Apprentice League. Apprentices received priority when became journeymen. Priority---credit for length of time with union. Seniority--credit for length of time with company. Pushes for priority for apprenticeship if met standards established by company and union. Won despite some local opposition. Leadership change in local.

Priority Explained
Scope and Content Note: Claiming rights for vacations, days off, situations.

Situations and Claiming Competency
Scope and Content Note: Situations posted for five shifts. If competent, worker with most priority claims situation. Two weeks to prove competency. If fail, lose employment for up to six months. Union rule. Management determined competency. If fail, union could bar from employment for up to six months but management could not bar for more than six months. Not always that severe.

Becoming Active in ITU
Scope and Content Note: Not seek leadership role. Others expected him to become involved. Better person for becoming involved and trying to live up to models.

Chapel Chairman
Scope and Content Note: As apprentice, assisted on night shift. Chapel elected chairman, who appointed assistant on other shift. They appointed own assistants. When switched to days, he replaced assistant chairman--actively sought the post. Became day chairman while still apprentice. Respected. Foreman harasses on first day as chairman.

Introduction

Chapel Chairman (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Harassment. Originally placed on days for discipline.

Harassment
Scope and Content Note: Forced to serve full six years as apprentice. Forced to cancel vacation to keep job by passing special three-week competency test. Production Manager Richard Gottlieb did not attend joint apprenticeship meeting the day before Kneebone was to receive journeyman's card (if not become journeyman after six years, lose job). Gottlieb wanted him out. No full-time job until November, 1973--worked as substitute until then.

Chapel Chairman (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Remained while substitute. Worthwhile experience. Out of office for 18 months but reelected “when things started getting rough again.”

Conflict with Gottlieb
Scope and Content Note: Run-in at joint apprenticeship committee meeting soon after Gottlieb became Production Coordinator.

Responsibilities of Chapel Chairman
Scope and Content Note: Represent local on workfloor. Contact members to do the work (provide enough workers to do the job).

Overtime
Scope and Content Note: Overtime necessary if not able to provide enough members to do the work. Different views of commercial shop and newspaper workers. For latter, “goal of the union was to provide a satisfactory wage,” so that overtime was unnecessary. If overtime, then some printer was out of work because “people were too damned greedy.” Chairman has to tell workers if required to give up some overtime to a traveller. Sometimes had been forced to work overtime but still required to give it up (traveller replaces until overtime cancelled).

Alcoholism among Printers
Scope and Content Note: Complicates job of chairman. Talk with agencies. Try to keep from being fired. Union's view--so long as competent, no problem as far as management concerned.

Gottlieb
Scope and Content Note: Three discharges during his first eight months. ITU won all three arbitrations. Gottlieb from Quad Cities--nonunion. “I think he felt too restricted” in Madison. Composing room workers made it clear they took orders from foreman, not from him. Big factor behind strike.

MNI's Move to Fish Hatchery Road
Scope and Content Note: Editorial boards opposed. Gottlieb's decision.

ITU Role in Local Labor Movement
Scope and Content Note: Richard Huffmann as Union Labor News editor. Outspoken, popular paper. Mentions judges who held ITU cards. Support for CIO--if AFL not organizing, back CIO efforts. Kneebone worked nights: so not personally involved with other unions in early 1970s (other than newspaper unions).

Relations among Newspaper Locals in Early 1970s
Scope and Content Note: In 1960s, joint plant council discussed common issues. Never any “closeness.” Locals learned of others bargaining from company not each other. Gives national overview. MNI mailers joined International Mailers Union after IMU-ITU split. “Always some distrust.” Locals began coming together as MNI situation became serious in mid-1970s. By 1974, “pulling together a little bit.” National merger talks important in cooperation between ITU and Newspaper Guild.

Introduction

Relations among Locals (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: ITU's support for CIO influences relations. Some changes in late 1960s when reporters begin making more than printers. Mid-1970s, pressmen suspicious of printers, merger with Local 23. Mailers had voted not to merge with pressmen--rumors that MNI would withhold raise if merged. Suspicions remain.

Sitdown Plans in 1960s
Scope and Content Note: Not aware at time--apprentices sheltered. Sitdown at Carroll Street plant discussed. Uncertain about issue--believes over retraining. Approximately 1968. But union obtained language guaranteeing broad training for apprentices.

1974 Bargaining
Scope and Content Note: Transition period from hot metal. Company praised workers. Hard to learn “on the run.” Proud of accomplishment. Management takes tough position in bargaining. Concern about MNI plans for new plant. Lee Enterprises secretive. ITU seeks job guarantee in return for giving up jurisdictional rights. MNI rejects--improves severance pay. Describes severance pay as a management issue.

MNI Bargaining Stance
Scope and Content Note: Drag out until Christmas then offer retroactive raise (Christmas bonus). Members accept. At pre-1974 session with State Journal, ITU asked what a statement meant, told “absolutely nothing.” MNI approach--delay, try to divide members from bargaining team, play off separate locals.

Pressmen Settle First in 1974
Scope and Content Note: ITU and Guild in long negotiations. Pressmen settle without telling others. Mailers settle after one meeting. Then Guild settles. ITU position untenable.

Relations among Locals (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: ITU-Pressmen tensions. Stresses accomplishment involved in 1977 cooperation.

Showdown Too Late
Scope and Content Note: Easier to win with hot metal. With cold processes, can bring in specialists. Could get paper out with hot metal but with little local news.

MNI Takes Hardline
Scope and Content Note: Greedy. Much easier if had waited. Gottlieb involved in a “religious crusade to rid the place of unions.” Very secretive about plans for new equipment. Not inform ITU of plans even after equipment ordered.

Gottlieb Promised No Jobs Would Be Lost with Transition
Scope and Content Note: Verbal promise in 1974 negotiations. Influenced acceptance.

ITU Concern over MNI Plans
Scope and Content Note: Suspicious when Gottlieb arrived. Aware of ITU's clashes with his father. Local 106 a small local with limited treasury. Influenced merger decision. Protect officers from reprisals. Stresses MNI's willingness to make example of individuals. After merger, full-time officers.

Gottlieb and the Other Locals
Scope and Content Note: Different approach. Tries win over pressmen. Tries create company loyalists among pressmen. Internal conflict with stronger unionists winning out (1975-1976).

District Managers
Scope and Content Note: Organized separately. No contract for approximately 2 1/2 years before strike. Did own bargaining--concerned over pressmen's lack of enthusiasm.

Pressmen's View of MNI Threat
Scope and Content Note: First threatened when implication of attacks of ITU become clear.

Introduction

Personal Ties among Crafts
Scope and Content Note: Enter as apprentice--contacts help get hired. Family networks in different departments. Informal communication channels. Concern over attacks on ITU creates uncertainty. Importance of friendship networks and interaction off the job. New journeymen all work nights--socialize off the job. Key to strike unity--“people knew each other on a personal basis.”

Links among Crafts in the Plant
Scope and Content Note: Extensive discussion of production process and connections among departments. At Carroll Street, some printers helped distribute papers to carriers--got to know mailers. After work socializing among night shift members. Friendship bonds especially important in shaping older workers' response.

1976-1977 Bargaining
Scope and Content Note: Some serious bargaining between company and editorial unions. Otherwise, little serious bargaining except night before strike. Mailers close to agreement. If settled, no strike. Role of Unity Committee. If Mailers settled, no strike and MNI would have picked the unions off one by one. Mailers would have been easiest to replace.

Installing New Equipment, Spring 1977
Scope and Content Note: Secret. Installed behind locked doors. MNI claims not know what planning to do with it.

Implementation
Scope and Content Note: New room built inside composing room--technician and Pinkerton there. Type handed through window. Not proofread. Classified ads typed directly in Advertising Department. ITU not seeking duplication--not oppose reporters, working at terminals. But felt outside material that had to be set was ITU work. MNI secretly hired six typists instead.

Layoffs
Scope and Content Note: Result of unilateral reduction of ITU's jurisdiction. Work still there. Editorial boards promote image of inflexible union. Having failed to get job security, ITU insists on layoff by seniority. Forced to do new jobs--sometimes while continuing to do old job. Individuals pressured to quit. Unless take severance pay, have two weeks to prove competency. Unspoken threat--if not competent, lose job. But company able to tell court that never threatened to fire them. Anger. Humiliation. Crushed pride. Thirty-three of fifty-two lose jobs. Rest have wages cut by one-third. Pressure on those remaining. Grab overtime. Heavy drinking. Impact throughout the plant.

Unemployment Compensation
Scope and Content Note: April 1977. No problem for the seventeen who took severance. Others have to wait seven or eight weeks. MNI not admit they worked there. Then allocates vacation and severance pay so not get unemployment compensation until those payments exhausted. When strike begins, many leave unemployment for strike roll.

Layoffs (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Sixteen who didn't take severance pay were fired by seniority. The seventeen had been intimidated into taking severance without regard to their seniority.

National Labor Relations Board
Scope and Content Note: Pay cut just “good, hard bargaining.” Weak response prior to strike. After strike begins, view changes. If had ruled differently at first, perhaps no strike.

Introduction

Spring Preparations
Scope and Content Note: Unit Committee set up February. Clear that trouble ahead. Editorial workers trained for some composing room jobs. Locals stress seriousness of situation to their internationals. Try negotiate. By late February, clear that MNI not bargaining seriously.

Training Sessions
Scope and Content Note: Company claims not sure what planning. Claims training so workers know what happens to their work after they're through with it. Weekend training for business and nonunion personnel. Hard to respond. Not producing anything for sale, not replacing anyone.

“Never on Sunday”
Scope and Content Note: First Unity Committee activity. In part, response to Guild concern over Capital Times' finances. Direct pressure on State Journal. Hope McMillan would intervene.

McMillan
Scope and Content Note: Others besides Guild believe the Capital Times publisher might intervene. Difference between him and former publisher William Evjue. Miles McMillan's concern--editorial after Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970, not concerned about circulation.

Practice Picket
Scope and Content Note: Big success. Recommends. “Just about any other place it might have had some real impact.” Good publicity. Company resumes surface bargaining--“if we show them we want to talk, maybe they won't embarrass us publicly any more.”

Assessment of Practice Picket and “Never on Sunday”
Scope and Content Note: Practice Picket accomplished more than expected. “Never on Sunday” attracted publicity but didn't cost many subscriptions. Stresses importance of publicity--once on strike, MNI limited coverage of the walkout. “Never on Sunday” campaign--unless MNI resolved the dispute, supporters would cancel subscriptions. Newspaper buying a habit--people learn can do without. Hard for papers to recover.

District Managers
Scope and Content Note: Until problems began, he didn't know they had a contract. Neither Pressmen nor MNI had mentioned.

Unity Committee
Scope and Content Note: Member from each of six bargaining units. Stress meet with own members so know where stand. Plan “Never on Sunday,” etc. Want get MNI's attention and learn members' response.

Strike Headquarters
Scope and Content Note: Staff in regular shifts before strike. Rotate different locals. Make new friends in other locals. Get people involved. Factor in response to strike.

Unity Committee Decision Making
Scope and Content Note: Set up to make binding decisions. In practice, act on unanimous decisions. Avoid divisions.

Dangers of Splits among Leaders
Scope and Content Note: Example from strike. One leader's elitism towards pickets. Word spreads. Bitterness persists among ITU members.

Unity Committee
Scope and Content Note: Internal battles trying persuade individuals to take firm stand. Relation between leaders and rank-and-file. Must know where members stand but also must be able to make decision. Critical of indecision of some leaders after members voted to strike. Walkout planned for August but ITU could not act alone. Press others to make a decision. Members of other locals coming to him for information.

Strike Decision
Scope and Content Note: Late September, told Unity Committee it had to decide. Members of other unions come to him for information. Ultimatum--some will get fired if indecision continues.

One Leader Scabs

Expiration of Contracts
Scope and Content Note: Uneven expiration dates. ITU and District Managers contracts expired year earlier. Guild in spring, Pressmen and Mailers during summer. Contracts not barrier to strike in last few months. Still try to negotiate. ITU prepared to sacrifice Kneebone and others at bottom of seniority ladder. But not expect much.

Introduction

Lee's Record Elsewhere
Scope and Content Note: Often try to talk into submission. Discusses Racine situation. “For a chain its size a terrible record.” Usually able to get rid of unions without Madison-type situation.

Lee's Expectation
Scope and Content Note: Believes wanted an ITU strike. Wage cut critical. Didn't think ITU strike would involve others. If force strike, quickest way to eliminate the ITU.

Strikers' Expectations
Scope and Content Note: Knew it would be a tough strike. Some may have expected a relatively short strike because of what their leaders said. But ITU members knew it would be a long struggle.

His Expectations
Scope and Content Note: Not certain of results. Knew members wanted to strike. If not strike, risk discharges for individual actions. No alternative if to act as union.

Lee's Expectations (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Left ITU no alternative. Could have kept bargaining without the wage cut. Company wanted strike in April before the other contracts expired.

Early Days of Strike
Scope and Content Note: Hectic but relief to see unity. Help individuals with financial problems. Large picket-lines. “Everyone was working together, pulling hard, getting the job done.”

Unity Committee and the Strike
Scope and Content Note: Daily meetings. Functions as strike committee. Mistake--some too busy for picketing. Had to be visible on lines so members know you're there to help with problems. With large number of police, thought especially important to be on lines. ITU members had to picket to get benefits.

Picketing
Scope and Content Note: Raucous. No scab seriously hurt on line. Some pickets hit by cars.

Madison Police
Scope and Content Note: Varied response. “The ones that didn't want to be there could be awful rough.” Didn't want police there--wanted to stop trucks. In retrospect, because of laws, probably saved some strikers from getting in trouble. Cops have no place in a strike--there to protect property.

Scabs Speed Through Lines
Scope and Content Note: Some ticketed but little done about it. Pickets carried on hoods at high speed. Two scabs always refuse to slow down.

Introduction

Role of Local Government
Scope and Content Note: City officials pretty good. County officials less concerned. District Attorney Doyle wanted to avoid the issue. Unions concerned about MNI pressure on police. MNI ignores law requiring job advertisements to mention strike in progress. Not enforced. Some arrive from out-of-state unaware of strike. MNI's political clout. “They just didn't seem to want to take on MNI.”

Private Police
Scope and Content Note: Wackenhuts--limited role. Low pay. Before strike, local security. Pinkertons added just before strike. Wackenhuts arrive when strike begins. Only Wackenhuts had top security clearance inside plants. Estimates 20 guards per shift. At first, transport scabs. Later scabs cross on own and number of Wackenhuts reduced. Cameras monitor pickets. Low-paid Wackenhuts--“pretty much a ragtag group.” Wackenhuts establish local foothold as result of strike.

Attorneys
Scope and Content Note: Lee's Iowa attorney handled negotiations. Left when “things started getting nasty.” Washington unionbuster Stanley Straus handled NLRB hearings. Others from his firm also worked for MNI. Madison attorney Joe Melli wanted to be involved--negotiated against Pressmen. Unsure of cost. At NLRB hearings, Gottlieb mentioned $2600 per day. 56 days of hearings. Would have cost less to negotiate with unions. Capital Times “may never recover.”

Capital Times' Position
Scope and Content Note: “A little bit surprised.” Lee dominant partner at MNI.

Robert Melloon and Elliot Maraniss
Scope and Content Note: Former ITU members blacklisted by Lee after Quad Cities strike. Hired by Evjue.

Miles McMillan
Scope and Content Note: Stayed in background. Strike insurance.

Strike Insurance

In Effect, One Company
Scope and Content Note: Lee in control. “It was only when you get to court and you're dealing with technicalities and who signs whose paycheck.... They even run all the checks through the same computer. Kind of silly to say there's three separate companies. But that's how they do it.”

Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970
Scope and Content Note: Guarantee Capital Times survives if Lee survives. Otherwise, Capital Times could not have survived strike.

Introduction

Boycott
Scope and Content Note: Newspaper buying a habit. Ad rates based on circulation. MNI ignored strike cancellations. Not tell carriers of cancellations--force them to pay. Estimates combined cancellations--12,000 at first. Capital Times hurt the most. Liberal facade damaged. Public aware that not the “social messiah it painted itself as.” Impact lingers.

Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970 (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Representative Kastenmeier pushed through Congress. Describes encounter with Kastenmeier over the bill in early 1970s--unwilling to appear at ITU meeting.

Boycott (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: State Journal had more circulation outside Dane County. Sports coverage important.

Union Response to Boycott
Scope and Content Note: Not satisfied. If all Dane County unionists had cancelled, strikers would have won. But strong support from some individuals and locals. Madison Federation of Labor leadership a factor in weak response. Told MFL attorney advised against active role in boycott.

International Unions
Scope and Content Note: Helped pull together. Didn't want them too involved on daily basis. Kept them well-informed though. “The internationals were involved when we wanted them to be involved.” Proud of ITU's role--strong support when needed, strike benefits, paid legal bills, paid for strike headquarters. Members impressed.

Importance of Strike to ITU
Scope and Content Note: Other publishers watch Madison. ITU support caused some to think twice. Demonstrated that ITU determined to back smaller locals.

Sitdown Rejected
Scope and Content Note: Discussed. But guards “all over the place.” Probably would have worked at the Square.

Community Support
Scope and Content Note: Not that well prepared in advance.

1962 Milwaukee Mailers' Cancellation Campaign
Scope and Content Note: Cancellation cards signed before strike. Stewards in other unions take plants to members. Mid-1970s, Milwaukee Journal still not recovered. Did not try here--not put other unions on spot; too busy. “If people wanted to put forth as much before the strike as after it was called, there might not have been a strike.”

Local Labor
Scope and Content Note: Mixed response. Teaching Assistants Association, Madison Teachers Inc., Memorial Union Labor Organization, nurses provided good support. Inadequate backing from building trades and union at Oscar Mayer. Notes that not always aware of support from individual members in building trades and other locals.

Introduction

Local Labor (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Locals not always inform newspaper workers of own members' support activities.

Outreach
Scope and Content Note: Went to local meetings. Major financial help from American Federation of Teachers Local 243 (MATC teachers) to Welfare Fund.

Welfare Fund
Scope and Content Note: He chaired. Some criticism of his emphasis on structure and evaluation of requests.

Cost-Cutting

Community Support
Scope and Content Note: Good support from non-labor groups. “Came up kind of short as far as the Federation [of Labor].” Wanted Federation to be active rather than simply pass resolutions.

Individuals' Responses
Scope and Content Note: “The big problem was the newspaper comes in the home.” Refers to union leader who continued to subscribe. Can talk big at meetings but not take issues home.

Stressed Cancellations

Other Workers' Stake In Strike
Scope and Content Note: When have problem, scabs will cover story. How can a scab not favor the company? “If you're a scab, it's kind of hard to not be on the side of the company when you're doing a story. You're interviewing strikers. You didn't want anything to do with them when you took your job because you didn't have enough fiber or talent to get a job any other way so you became a scab. So you're covering a labor story now as a scab. I mean, what kind of view are you going to have?”

Madison Federation of Labor Response
Scope and Content Note: Compares to politicians--want names in print. Despite boycott, some union leaders give interviews. Worse to give interview than to subscribe--gives MNI credibility. A newspaper “lives on” credibility. Strike a controversial issue at MFL but not dealt with in open. Role in changes at MFL--affected alliances.

Union Response to Picketlines
Scope and Content Note: Five ITU members (all supervisors) scabbed. One supervisor struck. Other units' own supervisors struck. Most scabs marginal employees--often carried by fellow unionists prior to strike.

Teamsters
Scope and Content Note: Tell members not to cross but to call supervisor (to drive across). More support from nonunion drivers (afraid would tell Teamsters). Out-of-town Teamsters ignored picketlines. Strikers bitter.

Strikers and the Law
Scope and Content Note: No major concern over anti-picketing injunction. Believes strike a factor in Mayor Soglin's decision not to seek reelection. Knew what was proper conduct on picketlines--discussed with police. MNI also contacted police. At rush hour, only allowed to stop cars for 30 seconds.

Plans for Strike Paper
Scope and Content Note: Plan in advance as a way to get views across. Thirty strikers contribute $1,000 each to pay for equipment.

Introduction

Press Connection Equipment
Scope and Content Note: ITU and Pressmen's members provided most of money. Used his severance check. Top-of-the-line typesetting equipment.

Presses
Scope and Content Note: Beaver Dam, then Stoughton. Problem getting to Post Office in time for same day delivery outside Madison, Made special run to solve problem.

Local News
Scope and Content Note: At first, Press Connection to emphasize local news. Then, people “started getting a little lazy.” Overemphasis on need for wire copy. ITU resentment over violation of initial agreement on amount of wire copy.

Conflicts at Press Connection
Scope and Content Note: Political differences. In part, age differences. Some use as excuse to picket rather than work on Press Connection. Problems result from violation of agreement concerning proportion of local news and promise that all Press Connection workers would have input on editorial content. Anger over elitism.

Control
Scope and Content Note: “It wasn't so much that they wanted [a say] initially. It's that the editorial people told them that this was the way it was going to be.”

Staffing Levels
Scope and Content Note: Spring, 1978. Discuss going private. Many in editorial feel strike over. Set staff levels. Composing room, press room, mailers cut staff. Editorial refuses to trim when shift to paid staff. On payroll when could have been on strike roll. Eventually cut by attrition. Resentment among many production workers.

Cardinal Benefits
Scope and Content Note: Almost all proceeds to reporters and district managers. Money not funnelled through strikers' Welfare Fund. Perhaps done “in spite of the welfare committee because we were considered too bureaucratic because we did not willingly give up money without knowing why.” Guild created its own fund without telling others.

Advertising and Circulation for Press Connection
Scope and Content Note: MNI threatened some advertisers. Some advertisers willing to deal with Press Connection, others refuse on principle. As weekly, bigger circulation than MNI papers. Circulation drops from 67,000 to under 15,000 when go to paid circulation. Mistake. Might have been able to get comics for Sunday and put out Wednesday edition with grocery ads and coupons. Some use coupons as an excuse to justify buying scab paper.

Going Daily
Scope and Content Note: Gave strikers a daily routine. “Best damn therapy in the world.” Prove to selves that retain skills and able to do the job.

Cost to MNI
Scope and Content Note: Cancellations. Court costs. Security costs. Credibility with readers (“lifeblood of the newspaper”).

Introduction

National Labor Relations Board (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Focus--who's strongest. 1977 pay cut--“good, hard bargaining.” “Paper tigers” with weak remedies. Changed view once strike began. Labor laws--“pro-management.”

ITU Settlement
Scope and Content Note: Recall list as for an economic strike. $443,000. Guild had settled earlier on own without telling others. Pressmen start own negotiations in secret. Mailers--half share to those who left early, remainder divided equally. Pressmen--divided equally. ITU gave $25,000 to local. Had to satisfy NLRB on distribution. All printers got $1,000. Rest divided in inverse proportion to earnings during strike. Board had vetoed Guild's proposed settlement based on length of strike involvement.

Decision to Settle
Scope and Content Note: Some had other jobs. Some not active in strike. He voted against it although best he could bargain. Wanted ruling on unfair labor practice charges. “Personally, I got more money but that wasn't what it was about when it started.” Most members pleased with settlement though.

NLRB Ruling Imminent
Scope and Content Note: MNI acted because expected ruling with a few weeks.

Impact on Families
Scope and Content Note: In some locals, divorces. Alcoholism. Standard of living--changed expectations. Biggest effect--dealing with friends and relatives (lack of understanding concerning long strike). Impact on children. Christmas.

Jobs for ITU Members
Scope and Content Note: Ten of fifty-two now working regularly as printers. A few others retired.

Attitudes towards Jobs
Scope and Content Note: Most would do it again. Found that other jobs could be rewarding. Benefits, no deadline, weekends off. Demystification of working for the newspaper. “As a whole, people are better people because of that strike.”

Strike's Impact on Values
Scope and Content Note: Values different. “People have learned they can do without their credit cards. They can do without a new car every two years.” “The most important thing to them is their loved ones--not the material things to impress their neighbors. It's a more intimate life now than there was before.”

Strike's Meaning for Madison Labor Movement
Scope and Content Note: Scabs cover labor stories.

Introduction

Lessons of Strike
Scope and Content Note: Need aggressive approach. MNI strike--no alternative. Laws handicap unions.

Reaction of Other Unions
Scope and Content Note: Sympathetic but felt secure. Many unwilling to risk challenging the press.

End of Interview

Series: Interview with Evelyn Gotzion, October 30, 1984

Introduction

Layoffs
Scope and Content Note: 1932. Laid off. Seasonal. Before union, favoritism. Seniority provides predictable system in which all treated alike.

Union Social Activities
Scope and Content Note: Get to know each other. Help to get along on job too. Parties, family affairs. Sports, etc. Social hour after meetings--get to know other workers.

Job Rotation and Grievance
Scope and Content Note: Grievance when company changes line. Workers had rotated jobs so that know all work. “Lifesaver” when work long hours during the war. Help company too. Foreman agrees. Help each other. But company thinks making too much on piece rates. Turns line around. Uses as excuse to cut rates. She shuts line off. Local presidents asks her to join grievance committee to argue the case. Victory. Stays on committee.

Union Gains
Scope and Content Note: Vacation, holidays. Gradual improvement. Health insurance. Rank and file not always realize how much hard work went into these gains--so bring them in to sessions.

Older Workers
Scope and Content Note: Many start work after high school. Stay at Ray-O-Vac. With seniority rights, tend to stay. Seniority stabilizes work force. Nineteen-week pension strike.

Pension Strike
Scope and Content Note: 19 weeks. Got to know each other well. Picket kitchen. Aid from other unions. Help from East Side businesses. “It got to be one big family.” Very small pension prior to 1963 strike.

Union Accomplishments
Scope and Content Note: Someone to go to. Help others with jobs. Camaraderie. During World War II, Thanksgiving potlucks on job. Conditions improved--cleaner. Union emphasizes importance of political involvement. Economic gains--started at $.27 an hour.

First Job at Oscar Mayer
Scope and Content Note: Company rule--one worker per family. Either she or husband had to quit.

Family Networks at Ray-O-Vac
Scope and Content Note: Her brother worked there. Later, nieces and nephews worked there. Workers' children find summer jobs there.

Piece Rate
Scope and Content Note: Workers have different opinions. Some liked system because able to earn more. Bid for jobs based on seniority.

Elimination of Men's and Women's Job Classifications
Scope and Content Note: Many women want better paying jobs formerly in men's classifications. But some problems with merged seniority list. To keep jobs, some forced into hard jobs. To keep jobs, some forced to take night work--at times caused family problems.

Busy Season
Scope and Content Note: July to Christmas. Worry about layoffs December-January.

Her Jobs
Scope and Content Note: Inspector. Sealed battery tops with hot pitch. Bent wires for cells (easy work but arthritis as result). Enjoyed work.

Pay Victories
Scope and Content Note: If machine broke, get down time after certain period. Formerly, company sent workers home if not enough work. With union, company had to pay for at least two hours.

Introduction

Piecework
Scope and Content Note: Majority worked on piece rate. More output, increased production. Some jobs very desirable.

Conditions
Scope and Content Note: No air conditioning. Very hot in summer. Some parts of plant cold in winter. Improved over time. Dirty, but a lot better now. Shop aprons to help protect clothes. No dress code but have to be concerned about safety--working with hot pitch, sparks from machines, etc. Some jobs require safety glasses. Finally persuaded management to pay for safety glasses and shoes. Her arthritis from handwork. Pace nerve-wracking for inexperienced workers.

Union Activity
Scope and Content Note: Limited involvement at first. Tell others to join. Some reluctant, so stressed benefits they received. Got others involved as steward, etc.

Key Issues in Organizing
Scope and Content Note: Seniority. Before that, uncertainty and anxiety. Newer employees let selves be pushed around more.

Union Protection
Scope and Content Note: Have rights, able to protect yourself.

Importance of Standing Up for Self
Scope and Content Note: Describes experience placing cores. Some workers get on others. Stands up for self--then gets along better. Try to help newer workers.

Becoming Active
Scope and Content Note: Worked beside President. Knew his wife. Always attended union meetings. “If I'm going to pay those dues, I'm going to see what they're doing for me.” Asked to do small jobs for union. “I thought it had already helped me by giving me some rights. So I didn't have to be pushed around if I didn't want to, you know.”

Communication
Scope and Content Note: Importance of communication with management. Get issues out in open. At union meetings, get up, express concerns. Make better employees.

Steward
Scope and Content Note: Grievance procedure. Talk to boss first, then written grievance. Older workers helped her out. Advised workers.

Wartime Grievance on Rates
Scope and Content Note: Stood up to boss when rates cut for job. Stopped line. Brought in AFL representative. Backed by workers in department. Won back pay--really boosted the union.

Member Involvement
Scope and Content Note: At first, large attendance at meetings. Newer workers, who came in after made gains, attend less regularly. Election of officers--some campaigned hard. New officers learn it took hard work to make gains--management not give in easily.

Other Ray-O-Vac Plants
Scope and Content Note: Form Battery Council. Plants--Lancaster, Ohio, Clinton, Mass., Fond du Lac and Wonewoc. Compare situations, exchange information, get to know officers of other locals. All plants didn't make the same product.

UAW and Federal Labor Union
Scope and Content Note: UAW stronger than FLU. Refers to Federal Labor Union council “As we grew, we grew stronger, I think.”

Introduction

Support for Closed Shop Elections
Scope and Content Note: Major organizing effort. One worker told her would vote for it because union had proved itself. Key workers who got along well with others were assigned to organize for the votes. Not just stewards.

Aid for Stewards
Scope and Content Note: Sometimes workers upset with stewards--expect too much. Important to have other workers help out.

Social Activities
Scope and Content Note: Important--help understand each other's situation, help families understand jobs. Strengthened union. Dances, picnics, etc. Now company picnic/party.

Retirees
Scope and Content Note: Can attend meetings. Retirees' social hour after meeting. Retirees group--cards, bingo, meetings where learn about union activities, legislation action, etc.

Contacts among Madison Unions
Scope and Content Note: Active in Madison Federation of Labor. Worked at COPE Bean Feed and Labor Day. Got Ray-O-Vac members involved at Labor Day. Enjoyed working at Bean Feed. Gave Stewards Labor Day ticket books. Members attend dances, parties with other locals. Once in UAW, ties with Janesville local. Served on UAW State Recreation Committee.

Labor's Public Image

Union Involvement in East Side Activities
Scope and Content Note: Co-Op store. President William Skaar stressed importance of cooperatives. Substantial membership from Ray-O-Vac but lack of numbers needed to insure best buy. Other unions involved--Building Trades and Meatcutters Local 538 at Oscar Mayer. Met at different union halls to try to build support.

Education
Scope and Content Note: School for Workers. President Skaar stressed educational issues. Some members criticized him for bringing up political and educational issues.

William Skaar
Scope and Content Note: Did not always receive credit he deserved. Far-sighted.

Education (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Goes over School for Workers ties.

Madison Federation of Labor in 1950s
Scope and Content Note: Differences between building trades and industrial unions. Building trades bigger and stronger. Some complain that building trades were too prominent.

Labor Temple
Scope and Content Note: Location hotly contested. Plans for expansion--wanted to build bowling lanes to help pay for it. Some wanted the Labor Temple built on East Side because most industries were there. Many building trades members lived on West Side.

Madison Federation of Labor Meetings
Scope and Content Note: Good attendance.

Political Activity
Scope and Content Note: Importance of UAW CAP and AFL-CIO COPE--“alerted to issues.” Unions become more involved, stronger politically over the years.

Introduction

Political Activity (Continued)
Scope and Content Note: Politics more part of daily life. More aware of impact on personal lives. Her involvement in ward activity. Work on City Council campaigns. East Side union ties. Knew who could depend on.

Lessons
Scope and Content Note: Value of union experience and training. Importance of politics--more involvement and more opportunity. In work place, gain practical experience working with people. “You get your experience by being in a union, you know. I think you find out that you can do all these things. You get kicked and pushed and hollered at and everything and you get so after awhile it don't mean anything, it doesn't hurt you so much.” Some get good jobs through union experience. Charlie Heymann--“he just has lots of ambition and he's applying it where he thinks he can help people.”

End of Interview