Skip to main content Skip to main navigation

International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, Local 485 Records

Call Number

WAG.137

Dates

1938-1992, inclusive
; 1955-1985, bulk

Creator

International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers. Local 485

Extent

6 Linear Feet
in 4 record cartons and 4 manuscript box.

Language of Materials

Materials are in English

Abstract

Chartered by the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1935-1936, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) quickly became one of the "big three" CIO unions. Local 475 was chartered in June 1939 as a merger of three UE locals, all involved in organizing small manufacturing concerns. With the outbreak of WWII and the expansion of war-related manufacturing, Local 475's organizing efforts were successful. Contracts were negotiated with 100 shops, most of them in Brooklyn, and the local grew to 20,000 members. The UE withdrew from the CIO under threat of expulsion in 1949, and in 1956 Local 475 entered the recently formed International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (IUE), becoming Local 485. This collection includes minutes of the Stewards Council, Executive Board and general membership meetings of Local 485 and its predecessor Local 475; information on union elections, conventions, and financial reports; as well as materials pertaining to other locals and special events. The Local's extensive bargaining and arbitration history is well represented. The collection also includes fifty photographs and a small amount of ephemera.

Historical/Biographical Note

Chartered by the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1935-1936, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) quickly became one of the "big three" CIO unions. Local 475 was chartered in June 1939 as a merger of three UE locals: Local 1230 representing employees of the International Projector Corporation in Manhattan, organized in 1937 by Charles Fay who became the longtime president of Local 475 and its successor; Local 1222 representing Morgenthaler employees, dating back to the mid-1930s; and Local 1223, formerly a Machinists local which had been organized at Eissman in the early 1930s. The merger was engineered to combine the strength of the three locals, all involved in organizing small manufacturing concerns. With the outbreak of WWII and the expansion of war-related manufacturing, Local 475's organizing efforts were successful. Contracts were negotiated with 100 shops, most of them in Brooklyn, and the local grew to 20,000 members. The UE withdrew from the CIO under threat of expulsion in 1949, and in 1956 Local 475 entered the recently formed International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (IUE), becoming Local 485.

Arrangement

Series I is arranged chronologically. Series II, IV and V are arranged alphabetically by topic and Series III is arranged alphabetically by employer.

The collection is arranged into five series:

Series I: Minutes, 1946-1977

Series II: General Files, 1939-1986

Series III: Bargaining Files, 1938-1988

Series IV: Arbitration Files, 1949-1979

Series V: Photographs, circa 1942-1992

Scope and Content Note

This collection includes minutes of the Stewards Council, Executive Board and general membership meetings of Local 485 and its predecessor Local 475. Subject files contain information on union elections, conventions and financial reports; other United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) and International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (IUE) locals; as well as materials pertaining to social and other special events. The Local's extensive bargaining and arbitration history is well represented. The collection also includes fifty photographs documenting a 1967 IUE convention, strikes in 1951 and 1979 and other events. A small amount of ephemera includes fliers, certificates, newsletters and an IUE cap.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

The Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Archives has no information about copyright ownership for this collection and is not authorized to grant permission to publish or reproduce materials from it. Materials in this collection, which were created in 1938-1992, are expected to enter the public domain in 2113.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, Local 485 Records; WAG 137; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials found in repository; provenance is unknown. The accession numbers associated with this collection are 1987.002, 1987.008, and NPA.2006.012.

Collection processed by

Tamiment Staff

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-01-25 16:06:46 -0500.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid is written in English

Processing Information

Photographs separated from this collection during processing were established as a separate collection, the International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, Local 485 Photographs (PHOTOS 167). In 2014, the photograph collection was reincorporated into the International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, Local 485 Records (WAG 137).

Revisions to this Guide

January 2024: Updated by Anna Björnsson McCormick to reflect the rehousing of materials

Repository

Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012