International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, Local 191 (Rome, Ga.) records
Scope and Content of the Records
The records of the International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (IUE), Local 191 (Rome, Georgia), 1953-1997, document the daily operations, communications, and organization of the union. Minutes, budget projections, correspondence, financial records, resolutions, mailings, blank forms, agendas, political outreach documents, publicity letters, pamphlets, clippings, membership rosters, grievances and disciplinary records make up the collection. Also included are briefs, records, motions, depositions, trial transcripts, and court opinions of the General Electric Co. v. IUE, Local 191 case from 1969-1971.
Dates
- 1953-1997
Creator
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research use. Access to materials with personal or sensitive information in boxes 9, 12-17, 22, 26, 28, and 30 is restricted for 75 years from the date of creation.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.
Collection is stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.
History of International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, Local 191 (Rome, Ga.)
The International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers [IUE] (AFL-CIO) was formed on November 2, 1949. James B. Carey founded the IUE after the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America [UE] were expelled from the CIO because of suspected communist influence of the UE's leadership. Founded without any membership or treasury, the CIO recognized the newly organized IUE, and the union quickly grew to more than 300,000 members within three years.
Within a year after its founding convention in Philadelphia, IUE had adopted its first constitution, elected Carey as its president, defeated the UE in several key elections and negotiated successful national contracts with General Motors [GM], General Electric [GE], and Westinghouse. In one day in 1950, 25,000 GM Workers in five local unions chose the IUE over the UE. By the mid-1950s, IUE was the dominant industrial union representing workers in the electrical-electronics manufacturing sector.
From 1955 to 1956, IUE locals across the country declared a strike against Westinghouse. The strike lasted 156 days, one of the longest national strikes in labor history, idling 55,000 members and closing down 35 plants from coast to coast. In 1960 and 1969, IUE called strikes against GE, the latter of which lasted 101 days and resulted in a lawsuit that was heard before the Supreme Court of the United States. The court ruled in the IUE's favor. This lawsuit was instrumental in forcing negotiations with the notoriously stalwart GE.
The IUE Local 191 of Rome, Georgia, originated the significant 1969 strike against GE that led to the eventual federal lawsuit. As of 2010, the IUE Local 191 is still active in the Rome and Northwest Georgia communities.
Extent
16.26 Linear Feet (in 39 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract:
International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, Local 191 of Rome, Georgia, originated the significant 1969 strike against GE that led to an eventual federal lawsuit. Its records, 1953-1997, include documentation covering the daily operations, communications, and organization of the union.
Arrangement
The records maintain their original order.
Offsite Collection
Collection is stored offsite. Allow at least 2 working days for retrieval.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Charles M. Guice, IUE Local 191 president, 1998.
Processing Information
Processed by Hal Hansen, Robert Bexley, and Lydia Diaz, at the file level, spring 2010. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
Creator
- Title
- International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, Local 19 (Rome, Georgia):
- Subtitle
- A Guide to the Records at Georgia State University Library
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Georgia State University Library
- Date
- 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
100 Decatur St., S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
404-413-2880
404-413-2881 (Fax)
archives@gsu.edu