Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America
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Abstract
The Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America is an artificial collection, collected and assembled by the Tamiment Library over the course of several decades. After first being rejected a charter by the American Federation of Labor, in 1936 the UE became the first union chartered by the newly formed Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). The UE collection consists primarily of agreements, contracts, and constitutions, as well as printed ephemera such as fliers, brochures, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and publications. Ranging in date from the 1930s to the 1990s, the collection covers the tumultuous late 1940s and early 1950s when the UE left the CIO because of anti-communist campaigns.
Historical/Biographical Note
The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, also known as the UE, was formed in 1936. After being rejected a charter by the American Federation of Labor, it became the first union chartered under the newly formed Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). The UE saw a growth in membership during the war years to more than 300,000 members. In 1949, because of anti-communist campaigns, the UE left the CIO. Subsequently, the CIO expelled the UE along with ten other unions from its ranks. The CIO went on to establish the International Union of Electrical Workers (IUE) as a rival union. The UE tried to rebuild its membership throughout the 1960s and 1970s, however this was difficult and continued to be as membership was hit hard by closing plants in the 1980s. As of 2009, the UE continues to practice what it refers to "rank and file unionism" and remains unaffiliated with the AFL-CIO.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series: Series I: General Files, 1936-1994; Series II: Districts and Locals, 1940-1979. Folders are arranged alphabetically within series.
Scope and Content Note
The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Printed Ephemera Collection on the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America consists of agreements, contracts and constitutions, as well as printed ephemera such as fliers, brochures, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and other publications. A sizable portion of the collection is made up of pamphlets put out by the UE on a number of different topics including, civil rights, communism, wages, record keeping, union busting and women's rights. The pamphlets are arranged chronologically by decade. Ranging in date from the founding of the UE in 1936 to the 1990s, the material in this collection was generated by the national and international bodies of the UE. The collection also contains agreements, fliers, pamphlets and other printed ephemera put out by UEs various districts and locals.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Because of the assembled nature of this collection, copyright status varies across the collection. Copyright is assumed to be held by the original creator of individual items in the collection; these items are expected to pass into the public domain 120 years after their creation. Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Archives is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce materials from this collection.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date; Collection name; Collection number; box number; folder number;
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials in this collection have been compiled by the Tamiment Library. There is no accession record associated with this collection.
Custodial History
The provenance of the materials is varied. Items were obtained through purchases, donations, standing orders with publishers, arrangements with labor unions and other organizations, exchanges with other libraries, and through ongoing collecting by Tamiment staff.
