BRAC, Philadelphia Division, Union Local President Robert Curran Papers, 1956-1968
Collection Number: 6187
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
BRAC, Philadelphia Division, Union Local President Robert Curran Papers, 1956-1968
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
6187
Abstract:
This collection consists of the papers of Robert E. Curran, chairman and president
of Local 390, BRAC for the employees of the Reading Company, Philadelphia Division.
Creator:
Curran, Robert
Quanitities:
0.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
The Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express, and Station
Employees [BRAC] was founded in 1899 by 33 railroad clerks meeting in Sedalia, Missouri.
They initially called the organizations "Order of Railroad Clerks of America," but
renamed itself the "Brotherhood of Railway Clerks" to be in line with the nomenclature
of the other railway labor organizations. Under that name, BRAC took part in the Illinois
Central Shopmen's Strike of 1911. In 1919, the union once again changed its name and
became the "Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express
and Station Employes" to better represent its growing membership.
The name was expanded again in 1967 when Convention delegates added the word "Airline,"
making the new organizational name "Brotherhood of Railway, Airline, Steamship Clerks,
Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employes." The union was still referred to familiarly
as BRAC.
Finally, in 1987, after absorbing members from a half dozen other unions that merged
with BRAC, the organization adopted its current name, the Transportation Communications
International Union [TCU]. TCU merged with the International Association of Machinists
and Aerospace Workers in mid-2005, and as of 2017 TCU/IAM represents approximately
46,000 members who primarily work in the railroad industry.
BRAC was the largest single railroad organization for employees who devoted a majority
of their time to clerical work of any description. This included: chief clerks; foremen;
train announcers; gatemen; checkers; parcel, baggage, and storeroom employees; dock
and pier workers; train and engine crew callers; timekeepers; paymasters; freight
inspectors; rate and tariff compilers; weigh masters; ticket clerks and sellers; operators
of all office and station equipment devices; telephone and switchboard operators;
and all employees occupying or performing duties similar to those mentioned. After
three months of experience in clerical work, employees of both genders became eligible
for membership. The union secured increases in wages and better working conditions
for its members.
Source: About TCU
Source: TCU History
Inclusive date range: 1966-1968
Bulk dates: 1966-1968
This collection consists of the files of local chairman and president of Local 390,
BRAC, for employees of the Reading Company, Philadelphia Division.
The records in this collection consist primarily of personnel files: both disciplinary
files where employees were found to be in violation of the collective bargaining agreements,
and processed claims where employee grievances were redressed by the company. Also
found in this collection are vacation agreements between BRAC and Reading, and employee
requests for time off. Finally, this collection contains seniority rosters for various
classes of employees, containing the names of people employed in various positions
represented by BRAC.
Of particular interest in this collection are the files relating to the implementation
of automated processes into the workplace. The Reading Company purchased and installed
IBM 1050 TRACE (Teleprompting Random Access Communication Exchange) machines. This
resulted in changes to the workplace, both in that employees needed to be trained
on how to use the new machines in their daily work and in changes to job titles and
responsibilities, all of which had to be negotiated between the Reading Company and
BRAC representatives. Additionally, discipline proceedings were initiated against
employees who made mistakes when transmitting data via the TRACE punch cards on the
IBM computers.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
BRAC, Philadelphia Division, Union Local President Robert Curran Papers #6187. Kheel
Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
Curran, Robert E.
Brotherhood of Railway, Airline, and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express,
and Station Employes
Reading Company
Subjects:
Automation
Automatic machinery
Railroads -- Employees -- Labor unions -- United States
Arbitration, Industrial -- United States
Collective bargaining -- Railroads -- United States
Labor discipline
Employee fringe benefits
Vacations, Employee -- United States
Health insurance
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Personnel Files. Reading Company. Disciplinary Hearings, Dismissals, and Vacations.
|
1966-1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
Arranged alphabetically by last name of employees. RESTRICTED.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Robert Curran, incoming correspondence, BRAC committees
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) C-D. Correspondence from the BRAC Independent Presidents' Club, Railway Clerk
Political League, BRAC Grand Lodge, BRAC Pennsylvania State Legislative Committee
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Reading Company. Rate Tables
|
1967 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) E-F. Circa 1967.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Correspondence re Installment of IBM 1050 TRACE Machines
|
1966 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) G-H. Contains TRACE (Teleprompting Random Access Communication Exchange) cards
and correspondence in re the creation of new positions for clerks who work with the
computer punch cards.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Processed Claims
|
1967-1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) I-J. Claims arranged alphabetically by last name of employee. Two cases of
multiple claims being resolved together are at the front of the file.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Special Audit of the Reading Company System Board of Adjustment, BRAC
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) M-N. Contains financial information for all the BRAC Locals on the Philadelphia
Division of the Reading System for the third quarter of 1968.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Health Insurance Booklets
|
1956-1966 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) O-P. Booklets from BRAC and the Railroad Retirement Board
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Reading Company. BRAC. Employee Seniority Rosters
|
1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) Q-R. Seniority rosters and negotiated lists.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Schedules, Car Cleaners; Reading System Board of Adjustment, BRAC
|
1967-1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) S-U. Car Cleaning Schedules; BRAC System Board Correspondence, By-Laws, and
the Minutes of 32nd Annual Meeting.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Vacations, Requests and Agreements; 1966 Wage and Rules Movement
|
1966-1968 |
|
Scope and Contents
File(s) V-Z. Vacations requests, assignments, and agreements between BRAC and the
Reading Company; mailer from BRAC about the Wage and Rules Movement
|
|||