Guide to the Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council records,
1937-1958

Collection Number: 5254

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Martin P. Catherwood Library
227 Ives Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3183
kheel_center@cornell.edu
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/kheel
Compiled by:
Kheel Center staff
EAD encoding:
Casey S. Westerman, December 19, 2002

© 2002 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council records, 1937-1958.
Collection Number:
5254
Creator:
Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council (CIO)
Quantity:
7 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Administrative records.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Include general administrative records, materials relating to labor legislation, relations with member organizations, relations with New York State Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the national CIO, relations with international labor organizations and with the public.
Language:
Collection material in English


ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

Local industrial union councils operated on a city, county, or district basis and were composed of the CIO local unions within these areas. The industrial union councils were under the control of the CIO, but the CIO did not force its nationals and internationals to make their local unions join the local councils. The Local councils, like the state councils, were coordinating agencies designed to serve the local unions within their area.
As stated in the CIO Model Constitution: "The objects of the Council shall be to secure united action of all locals of national and international unions and organizing committees and local industrial unions and industrial union councils affiliated to the CIO within its jurisdiction and through united action to protect, maintain and advance the interests of all working people in its territory, to extend unionism on the basis of industrial organization, to secure and enforce legislation in the interests of the working people, to promote recognition and acceptance of collective bargaining in industry, and to increase public understanding of the labor movement."
The Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council was organized in 1937. The council participated in organizing work and engaged in politics: municipal, state and national. It tried to cultivate a favorable public opinion toward CIO unions. The council sometimes engaged in various types of educational work, such as forming study classes and encouraged the formation of education committees in local unions.
This collection contains the office files of the Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council from its organization in 1937 to their merger with the Buffalo Federation of Labor in 1958.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Include general administrative records, materials relating to labor legislation, relations with member organizations, relations with New York State Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the national CIO, relations with international labor organizations and with the public.
General administrative records (1938-1958) include correspondence, publications, resolutions, reports, minutes and ballots concerning the sentiment of the GBIUC on various state and federal legislative proposals, political endorsements, veterans' affairs, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations relations, local strikes, and various other local union matters. Specific issues covered in these records include employment stabilization after World War II; unemployment insurance and workmen's compensation; industrial safety and hygiene; jurisdictional disputes and raiding between the Niagara, N.Y. locals of the United Automobile Workers and the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers; strikes at Remington Rand, Bell Aircraft, and the National Carbon Company; and the merger of American Federation of Labor (A.F. of L.) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) unions in Buffalo.
A resolutions file (1939-1958) includes matters coming before the GBIUC for its endorsement or opposition. These include proposed new or amended federal, state, or county legislation and public issues of interest to organized labor. Among the issues acted upon were the Hatch-Ball-Burton Bill, S.1171; a national health bill; the Taft-Hartley Act, the St. Lawrence power project; time-and-a-half provisions for county workers; and the imposition of state sales tax in New York. The GBIUC also expressed its opinion on the issues of runaway shops, social security, unemployment, a guaranteed annual wage, slum clearance and low rent housing, World War II defense issues, and the anti-communist campaign of the 1950's, among others.
The collection contains files relating to the Council's relations with its member organizations, including correspondence, reports, resolutions, surveys, legislative materials, and publications (1939-1959). These records concern financial matters, and affiliated local activities, including strikes, contract negotiations, and arbitration. Also included is a survey of the thirty-five affiliated member organizations on the impact of post World War II reconversion and employment.
GBIUC relations with the New York State CIO Council are documented in resolutions, reports and correspondence between the two organizations. Discussed are right-to-work laws, the New York State Disability Benefits Law, a rent control bill, unemployment insurance, and workmen's compensation, among other issues.
The Council's varied political activities are recorded throughout the collection but particularly in its legislative action files (1940-1959). These include correspondence, resolutions, legislative materials, statements, and surveys. Municipal correspondents include Bernard J. Dowd (mayor of Buffalo), Francis E. Franczak (Buffalo Department of Health), and Leo J. Hagerty (district attorney, Erie County) as well as officials of the Buffalo Common Council, the Buffalo Policemen's Organization, the Buffalo Port Authority, the City of Lackawanna, the Erie County Board of Supervisors and County Department of Social Welfare. New York State correspondents include Stanley J. Bauer (senator), Frederick T. Devlin (assistant attorney general), Charles W. Halloran (acting industrial commissioner, Department of Labor), Averell Harriman (governor), and Walter J. Mahoney (senator), as well as other representatives of the State Assembly, Department of Labor, and Public Services Commission. National legislative correspondents include Homer E. Capchant (senator), Chester C. Gorski (congressman), Irving M. Ives (senator), Jacob K. Javits (senator), James M. Mead (senator), John R. Pillion (congressman), Edmund P. Radwan (congressman), and Anthony F. Tauriello (congressman).
Subjects discussed in this correspondence include workmen's compensation, the Condon-Wadlin Bill, apprenticeship standards, New York State health and safety legislation, unemployment insurance, anti-discrimination and anti-labor legislation, civil rights, conservation, housing, wage legislation and price control, taxes, social security, the Missouri Valley Authority and the St. Lawrence Seaway project.
Also included in these records are correspondence and other documents relating to the GBIUC's activities with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, labor groups around the world and various Buffalo, N.Y. and regional social organizations (ca. 1940's-1950's).

SUBJECTS

Names:
Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council (CIO)
Bauer, Stanley J.
Capchant, Homer (Homer Earl)
Devlin, Frederick T.
Dowd, Bernard J.
Gorski, Chester C.
Harriman, Averell, 1891-
Ives, I. M. (Irving M.)
Javits, Jacob K. (Jacob Koppel), 1904-
Mahoney, Walter J.
Mead, James M.
Pillion, John R.
Radwan, E. P. (Edmund P.)
Bell Aircraft Company.
International Union, United Automobile Workers of America (CIO)
National Carbon Company.
New York (State). Dept. of Labor.
New York (State). Legislature. Assembly.
New York State CIO Council.
Remington Rand, inc.
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.
United States.

Subjects:
Alien labor--United States.
Anti-communist movements--United States.
Civil rights--New York (State)
Cost and standard of living--United States.
Employment stabilization--United States.
Guaranteed annual income--United States.
Hours of labor--United States.
Industrial hygiene--United States.
Industrial safety--United States.
Insurance, Disability--New York (State)
Insurance, Unemployment--New York (State)
Labor laws and legislation--New York (State)
Labor laws and legislation--United States.
Sales tax--New York (State)
Social security--United States.
Strikes and lockouts--New York (State)
Tax collection--New York (State)
Trade-unions--New York (State)--Buffalo--Political activity.
Trade-unions--New York (State)--Political activity.
Trade-unions--United States--Political activity.
Veterans--Employment--United States.
Workers' compensation--New York (State)


INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Restrictions on Use:
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.
Cite As:
Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council records, 1937-1958. #5254. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
I. General Administrative Activities.
Affiliation Statistics 1941-1964
Box 1
American Arbitration Association 1945-1949
Box 1
Building Fund 1944-1952
Box 1
Committees - Miscellaneous 1945-1947
Box 1
Committees - Standing 1947-1949
Box 1
Conference - National CIO Anti-inflation Conference, 1951 Miller vs. Miller
Box 1
Constitutional Committee - 1947
Box 1
Industrial Union Council Constitutions
Box 1
Industrial Union Council Requirements
Box 1
Constitution - Buffalo Council - 1954
Box 1
Convention Reports - Miller - 1953 & 1955
Box 1
Council Election (special for merger candidate) - 1958
Box 1
Council Election - 1952
Box 1
Council Election - 1949
Box 1
Council Meetings - 1951
Box 1
Council Election - 1948
Box 1
Council Election - 1947
Box 1
Council Election - 1946
Box 1
Council Meetings - 1952
Box 1
Council Meetings - 1949
Box 1
Council Meetings - 1947
Box 1
Council Meetings - 1946
Box 1
Disputes - Non-member 1947-1958
Box 1
Dunkerdoings 8/6/45-11/12/45
Box 1
Executive Board - 1947
Box 1
Financial Reports (monthly), 1957
Box 1
Financial - Council Hall, 1942-1944
Box 1
Financial - PAC, 1949
Box 1
Financial - Per Capita, 1950 & 1952
Box 1
Financial - Per Capita Revision, 1949
Box 1
Financial - Per Capita Revision, 1948
Box 1
Financial - Ways & Means Comm., 1950
Box 1
Industrial Union Councils, 1946-1958
Box 1
I.U.C. Controversy
Box 1
Labor Day Speeches
Box 1
Labor Education
Box 1
Merger
Box 1
Miller - Personal
Box 1
New York City - CIO Newspaper, 4/23/45-10/29/45
Box 1
Organizational Report - 1943
Box 1
Newsclipping Scrapbook, 1955-1957
Box 1
Personnel - Employee Agreement, 1952-1958
Box 1
Personnel - Employee Bonds
Box 1
Personnel - Severence Pay
Box 1
Personnel - Unemployment Insurance
Box 1
Personnel - Workmen's Compensation
Box 1
Press Releases - 1946
Box 1
Press Releases - 1950
Box 1
Safety
Box 1
Strike Communications - 1947
Box 1
Strike Communications - 1949
Box 1
Union Label
Box 1
Veterans - On-the-job Training
Box 1
Veterans - 1946
Box 1
Veterans - 1947
Box 1
Veterans - 1949
Box 1
War Manpower Commission Correspondence
Box 1
War Manpower Commission Newsclippings
Box 1
War Manpower Commission Procedure
Box 1
Union Leader, 1950-1958
Box 1
II. Resolutions of the GBIUC.
Resolutions - 1939, 1940, 1941
Box 2
Resolutions - updated - WWII
Box 2
Policy Statement - 1946
Box 2
Resolutions - 1944
Box 2
Resolutions - 1946
Box 2
Resolutions - 1947
Box 2
Resolutions - 1948
Box 2
Resolutions - 1949
Box 2
Resolutions - 1950
Box 2
Resolutions - 1951
Box 2
Resolutions - 1952
Box 2
Resolutions - 1953
Box 2
Resolutions - 1954
Box 2
Resolutions - 1955
Box 2
Resolutions - 1956
Box 2
Resolutions - 1957
Box 2
Resolutions - 1958
Box 2
III. Reations with Member Organizations.
Amalgamated Clothing Workers Locals 201, 207, 213, & 237
Box 2
Amalgamated Lithographers
Box 2
American Newspaper Guild - Buffalo, Local 26
Box 2
Buffalo Teachers Union - U.P.W.
Box 2
Communications Workers
Box 2
Community and Social Agency Employees
Box 2
Farm Equipment & Metal Workers
Box 2
Federal Labor Unions
Box 2
Food, Tobacco, and Agricultural Workers
Box 2
Glass, Ceramic, and Silica Sand Workers
Box 2
Government and Civic Employees Organizing Committee
Box 2
International Fur and Leather Workers, Local 39
Box 2
International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers
Box 2
Local Union Agreements
Box 2
Local Unions - Communications to
Box 2
Local Union Contract Survey I - January, 1945
Box 2
Local Union Contract Survey II - January, 1945
Box 2
Local Union Reconversion and Unemployment Survey - September, 1945
Box 2
Local Union Officers Lists, 1946-1957
Box 2
Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers
Box 2
National Maritime Union
Box 2
Optical and Instrument Workers
Box 2
Playthings, Jewelry, and Novelty Workers
Box 2
Retail - Wholesale Workers
Box 2
State, County, and Municipal Workers
Box 2
Stone and Allied Workers
Box 2
Strike - Bell Aircraft, 1949
Box 2
Textile Workers
Box 2
Transport Workers
Box 2
United Auto Workers 1944-1945
Box 2
United Auto Workers 1946-1947
Box 2
United Auto Workers 1948-1950
Box 2
United Auto Workers 1951-1958
Box 2
United Brewery Workers
Box 3
United Chemical Workers Locals 85, 215, & 375
Box 3
United Construction Workers
Box 3
United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers
Box 3
United Furniture Workers Locals 37, 39, & 103
Box 3
United Heater Equipment Workers
Box 3
United Office and Professional Workers
Box 3
United Packinghouse Workers
Box 3
United Paper Workers
Box 3
United Public Workers
Box 3
United Railway Workers
Box 3
Utility Workers
Box 3
United Steelworkers of America, 1949-1957
Box 3
United Steelworkers of America, 1945-1948
Box 3
United Rubber Workers
Box 3
IV. Relations with New York State CIO.
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1946
Box 3
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1947
Box 3
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1948
Box 3
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1953
Box 3
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1954
Box 3
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1955
Box 3
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1957
Box 3
Legislative Program, N.Y. State CIO - 1958
Box 3
Constitution, N.Y. State CIO Counsel
Box 3
N.Y. State CIO Council - Correspondence, 1955-1958
Box 3
CIO Reporter - N.Y. Council, 1945-1952
Box 3
CIO Reporter - N.Y. Council, 1955-1958
Box 3
Convention - 1946, N.Y. State CIO
Box 3
Convention - 1947, N.Y. State CIO
Box 3
Convention - 1948, N.Y. State CIO
Box 3
Convention - 1952, N.Y. State CIO
Box 3
Convention - 1958, Merger
Box 3
Newsclippings, N.Y. State CIO
Box 3
COPE - Notes and Correspondence
Box 3
Legislative Report, N.Y. State CIO, 1941-1942
Box 3
PAC - N.Y. State CIO
Box 3
Publications - N.Y. State CIO Counsel
Box 3
N.Y. State CIO Council - Correspondence, 1949
Box 3
N.Y. State CIO Council - Correspondence, 1945-1954
Box 3
V. Relations with National CIO.
CIO Region II, Director
Box 3
Conference - National AFL-CIO COPE Conference, 1958
Box 3
Conference - National AFL-CIO Economic and Legislative Conference, 1958
Box 3
AFL-CIO No Raiding, 1954
Box 3
Conference - National CIO Anti-inflation Conference, 1951
Box 3
Conference - National Win the Peace Conference, 1946
Box 3
Financial Reports, AFL-CIO
Box 3
General Correspondence with National CIO, 1948-1951
Box 3
General Correspondence with National CIO, 1954-1955
Box 3
General Correspondence with National CIO, 1956-1958
Box 3
General Correspondence with National CIO, 1945-1947
Box 3
Reports on Congress, National CIO Legislative Dept., 1954
Box 4
Reports on Congress, National CIO Legislative Dept., 1955
Box 4
Reports on Congress, National CIO Legislative Dept., 1946-1949
Box 4
Industrial Union Councils, 1950
Box 4
Industrial Union Councils, 1946-1947
Box 4
National Convention, CIO - 1950
Box 4
National Convention, CIO - 1948
Box 4
Policy - National CIO, 1954-1955
Box 4
Policy - National CIO, 1946-1948
Box 4
Policy - National CIO, 1950-1953
Box 4
National CIO Community Services Committee, 1946-1947
Box 4
Murray, Philip
Box 4
National CIO Education & Research Dept., 1947-1949
Box 4
National CIO Education & Research Dept., 1950-1953
Box 4
National CIO Education & Research Dept., 1954-1955
Box 4
Legislation, 1948-1953
Box 4
Legislation, 1945-1946
Box 4
PAC, National CIO I
Box 4
PAC, National CIO II
Box 4
PAC - Memo from PAC, 1947-1948
Box 4
PAC - Memo from PAC, 1945
Box 4
PAC- Pipeline, 1947-1948
Box 4
VI. Relations with International Labor Organizations.
Europe - Anthony Luchek, CIO European Representative, 1946
Box 4
Foreign Visitors, 1953-1958
Box 4
Histadrut, 1948-1950
Box 4
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, 1951
Box 4
International Labor Conditions
Box 4
Jewish Labor Committee
Box 4
Latin American Federation of Labor
Box 4
World Federation of Trade Unions
Box 4
World Federation of Trade Unions - Information Bulletin
Box 4
World Trade - U.S. Department of State
Box 4
VII. Relations with Non-Member Labor Organizations.
American Federation of Musicians
Box 4
Barbers and Beauty Culturists
Box 4
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Box 4
Buffalo Federation of Labor, John J. Higgins
Box 4
Buffalo Federation of Teachers
Box 4
Canadian Seamens Union
Box 4
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Box 4
Joint Labor Committee
Box 4
Local Independent Unions
Box 4
Longshoremen
Box 4
N.Y. State Federation of Labor
Box 4
Office Employees
Box 4
Strike - Relief
Box 4
VIII. Legislative Action.
A. Local Legislative Action.
American Labor Party - Central Clubs
Box 5
Buffalo Common Council
Box 5
Buffalo Policemen's Organization
Box 5
Buffalo Port Authority
Box 5
City of Lackawanna
Box 5
Dowd, Bernard J. - Mayor of Buffalo
Box 5
Erie County Board of Supervisors
Box 5
Erie County Department of Social Welfare
Box 5
Fronczak, Dr. Francis E. - Department of Health
Box 5
Hagerty, Leo J. - District Attorney, Erie County
Box 5
Parking Meters
Box 5
Rybka, Peter - Councilman, Buffalo
Box 5
Sales Tax
Box 5
United Labor Committee of the Tonawandas
Box 5
Wendling, Frank - Erie County Supervisor
Box 5
Health
Box 5
Main - Humboldt Underpass
Box 5
PAC - 1948
Box 5
PAC - 1949
Box 5
PAC - 1951, 1952
Box 5
PAC - 1953, 1954
Box 5
PAC - 1957
Box 5
PAC - 1958
Box 5
PAC - Bulletins
Box 5
PAC - Convention, 1949
Box 5
PAC - Buffalo Community Platform 1949 Municipal Elections
Box 5
PAC - Endorsement Requests, May - June 1949
Box 5
PAC - Endorsement Requests, July 1949
Box 5
PAC - Endorsement Requests, August - November 1949
Box 5
PAC - Endorsement Requests, 1958
Box 5
PAC - Endorsement Requests, 1957
Box 5
PAC - Hillery & Lehman Campaigns
Box 5
PAC - Workers, 1949
Box 5
B. State Legislative Action.
Anti-discrimination
Box 5
Bauer, Stanley J. - State Senator, N.Y.
Box 5
Devlin, Frederick T. - Assistant Attorney General, N.Y. State
Box 5
Dewey, Thomas E. - Governor, N.Y. State
Box 5
Gasoline Sign Restrictions
Box 5
Halloran, Charles W. - N.Y. State Department
Box 5
Harriman, Averell - Governor, N.Y. State
Box 5
Legislation (general) N.Y. State
Box 5
Mahoney, Walter J. - State Senator, N.Y.
Box 5
Minimum Wage
Box 5
New York State Assembly
Box 5
New York State Department of Labor
Box 5
New York State Public Service Commission
Box 5
New York State Apprenticeship Council
Box 5
New York State Commission on the Constitutional Convention, 1957
Box 5
Safety
Box 5
State Income Tax
Box 5
Unemployment Insurance
Box 5
Workmen's Compensation
Box 5
C. National Legislative Action.
Anti-discrimination
Box 6
Anti-labor Legislation, 1943-1945
Box 6
Anti-labor Legislation, 1948-1959
Box 6
Anti-labor Legislation, 1947
Box 6
Anti-labor Legislation, 1946
Box 6
Atomic Energy
Box 6
Capehart, Homer E. - U.S. Senator
Box 6
Conservation
Box 6
Civil Rights
Box 6
Cost of Living
Box 6
Cost of Living - Publications
Box 6
Economic Cooperation Administration
Box 6
Education
Box 6
Federal Communications Commission
Box 6
Gorski, Chester C. - U.S. Congressman
Box 6
Full Employment
Box 6
Housing, 1943-1949
Box 6
Housing, 1954-1959
Box 6
International Affairs
Box 6
Ives, Irving M. - U.S. Senator
Box 6
Javits, Jacob K. - U.S. Senator
Box 6
Jehle, Edward P. - U.S. Congressman
Box 6
Labor Extension Service Bill
Box 6
Mead, James M. - U.S. Senator
Box 6
Minimum Wage
Box 6
Missouri Valley Authority
Box 6
Office for Emergency Management
Box 6
Poll Tax, 1943-1944
Box 6
Poll Tax, 1945-1948
Box 6
Pillion, John R. - U.S. Congressman
Box 6
Price Control
Box 6
Radwan, Edmund P. - U.S. Congressman
Box 6
Rent Control, 1946-1949
Box 7
Rent Control, 1951-1957
Box 7
Social Security
Box 7
St. Lawrence Seaway & Power Project, 1940-1944
Box 7
St. Lawrence Seaway & Power Project, 1945-1946
Box 7
St. Lawrence Seaway & Power Project, 1949-1952
Box 7
St. Lawrence Seaway & Power Project, 1953-1957
Box 7
Surplus Food, 1953-1957
Box 7
Tauriello, Anthony F. - U.S. Congressman
Box 7
Taxes
Box 7
Tobin, Maurice J. - Secretary of Labor
Box 7
Universal Military Training, 1948-1949
Box 7
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Box 7
IX. Relations with the Public.
American Cancer Society
Box 7
Buffalo Council of Churches
Box 7
Buffalo Council of Social Agencies
Box 7
Buffalo Courier Express - Elwood
Box 7
Buffalo Evening News
Box 7
Catholic Church
Box 7
City Planning
Box 7
Civic Full Employment Committee (City of Buffalo)
Box 7
Community Service Committee, 1945-1949
Box 7
Community Service Committee, 1950-1958
Box 7
Community Service Committee - Program
Box 7
Community Service Committee - Union Counseling
Box 7
Junior Achievement
Box 7
Goodwill Industries
Box 7
Juvenile Delinquency
Box 7
Labor and Religion
Box 7
Labor Committee to Combat Intolerance
Box 7
March of Dimes
Box 7
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Box 7
National Planning Association
Box 7
Publicity - Radio
Box 7
Red Cross
Box 7
Sister Elizabeth Kenny Foundation
Box 7
Speeches - Miller
Box 7
U.S.O
Box 7
Victory Clothing Collection Drive
Box 7
Y.M.C.A.
Box 7
Y.W.C.A.
Box 7
Win the Peace Rally - 1946
Box 7
Greater Buffalo Industrial Union Council AFL-CIO Audit Report, 12/22/58
Box 7