New York City CIO Scrapbook, 1940-1948
Collection Number: 5270

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
New York City CIO Scrapbook, 1940-1948
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5270
Abstract:
A large scrap book consisting of clippings from New York daily newspapers, labor union journals and publications of the Greater New York Industrial Union Council covering the period of its existence, 1940-1948.
Creator:
Congress of Industrial Organizations (U.S.)
Quanitities:
0.61 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

The Greater New York Industrial Union was organized in 1938. As with all city central labor bodies, its objects were by united action to protect, maintain and advance the interests of the affiliated unions and membership in this territory, to extend unionism on the basis of industrial organization, to secure legislation in the interests of working people and cooperate with the state and national CIO. The Council was composed of delegates from affiliated local unions in the City of New York and vicinity.
Its official organization was founded July 24, 1940 at a special congress of representatives of CIO affiliates held at the Hotel Mc Alpin. Allan S. Haywood, National Director of the CIO and former President of the New York State CIO presided. Joseph Curran, President of the National Maritime Union and Saul Kills, a member of the American Newspaper Guild were unanimously elected first president and secretary-treasurer, respectively. By June 1942, the Council represented 500,000 members of some 250 CIO locals in greater New York.
By 1948, communism in labor unions was a serious issue. A special subcommittee of the House of Representatives of Congress was appointed to investigate communist infiltration in labor unions and several New York City CIO unions were investigated, among them the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America and the Teachers Union of the City of New York, United Public Workers of America and Department Store Employees Union.
The City Council planned a mass picketing demonstration to protest the House investigation and to promote Henry Wallace as a candidate for President on a third party ticket. This split the New York Council in two. Several right wing unions withdrew, protesting the use of an economic weapon for purely political purposes and the Council's refusal to follow the National CIO policy which opposed Wallace's third party and supported the European Recovery Program.
CIO President Philip Murray appointed a three man board in October to hear charges against the Council's officers, and the Board reported to Mr. Murray that the Council had been following a pro-communist line. The report was given to the National CIO Executive Board, which revoked the Charter of the Council at the annual meeting in November.
The New York State organization was made responsible for closing the offices and liquidating the funds of the Council.

A large scrap book consisting of clippings from New York daily newspapers, labor union journals and publications of the Greater New York Industrial Union Council covering the period of its existence, 1940-1948.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

New York City CIO Scrapbook #5270. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Congress of Industrial Organizations (U.S.)
Subjects:
Labor unions -- New York (State) -- New York
Labor unions and communism -- New York (State) -- New York

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Newspaper Clippings: Blood Donation and ACWA
1945-1946
Scope and Contents
May 1945 - January 26 1946
Box 1 Folder 2
CIO Pamphlets and Posters
1943-1945
Box 1 Folder 3
Chorus Audition and Veterans Pay Posters
1946
Box 1 Folder 4
Petitions, Posters and Pamphlets
1946
Box 1 Folder 5
Pamphlets and Posters
1946
Box 1 Folder 6
Pamphlets and Posters
1947
Box 1 Folder 7
Community Guide for Victory Pamphlets
Box 1 Folder 8
CIO Guide Booklets
1943-1944
Box 1 Folder 9
War-Related Pamphlets
1945
Box 1 Folder 10
Bring-the-GI's-Home Petitions and Posters
1945-1946
Box 1 Folder 11
Black Market Meat, Prices Petitions and Pamphlets
1946-1947
Box 1 Folder 12
Miscellaneous Posters
1945-1946
Box 1 Folder 13
Register-to-Vote Posters, Petition
1947
Box 1 Folder 14
Voting Posters
1946-1947
Box 1 Folder 15
Register to Vote and to Canvas Posters
1944-1945
Box 1 Folder 16
Register to Vote Posters and Pamphlets
1943-1944
Box 1 Folder 17
CIO Rallies Posters
1945-1947
Box 1 Folder 18
Shop-Stewards Conference Posters
1946-1947
Box 1 Folder 19
Housing and Jobs Conference Posters
1944-1945
Box 1 Folder 20
Miscellaneous Conference Posters
1943-1947
Box 1 Folder 21
Unionize Your Block Poster
1945
Box 2 Folder 1
New York City. CIO. Scrapbook Contents. Newspaper Clippings
Scope and Contents
Contents removed from box 1.