American Train Dispatchers Association Records, 1937-1971
Collection Number: 5195

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


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
American Train Dispatchers Association Records, 1937-1971
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5195
Abstract:
Agreements and other materials relating to the American Train Dispatchers Association's relationship with various railroad carriers and other labor organizations.
Creator:
American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA)
Quanitities:
0.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English

Biographical / Historical

The American Train Dispatchers Association [ATDA] is an AFL-CIO affiliated labor organization, representing railroad workers in the United States. The ATDA was founded in Spokane, Washington in 1917 and is currently headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The ATDA is primarily a craft union representing railroad dispatchers, including specialized dispatchers such as Assistant and Night Chief Dispatchers, who supervise other dispatchers, and trick Train Dispatcher, who are responsible for actual train movements. The ATDA also represents Power Supervisors or Directors and Load Dispatchers, who control the distribution of electric power to railroads which use electricity for propulsion. The ATDA also functions as an industrial union for employees on short line railroads, representing Trainmen, Enginemen, Maintenance of Way Employees, Mechanical and Clerical Employees.
(For further history, see American Train Dispatchers Association.)

Inclusive date range: 1937-1971
Bulk dates: 1950-1971
This collection consists of agreements and other materials relating to the American Train Dispatchers relationship with various railroad carriers. It also contains reports from various Presidential Emergency Boards, newspaper clippings and trade union articles regarding the Railroad Shopcraft Dispute of 1967, bulletins from the Railroad Labor Executives' Association, annual reports for railroads and for industries serviced by railroads, and arbitration and agreements between other labor organizations and various carriers. Also found in this collection are the ATDA's Constitution and By-Laws from a twenty-one year span, 1950 to 1971, showing the amendments made to the document during the meeting of the General Assembly.
Of particular interest is the Agreement between the ATDA and other railroad labor unions and the Norfolk and Western Railway Company [NW], which became necessary when in 1964 the NW accomplished one of the most complicated railroad mergers of the time, incorporating the Nickel Plate Road; the Wabash Railroad; the Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway; and the Akron, Canton, and Youngstown Railroad into its system. In addition to the agreements, there are also annotated drafts, minutes of meetings, other consolidation agreements, and rosters of the train dispatchers from each system. The supporting materials for this agreement also include a list of assignments from the NW system, including such information as the mileage for which the dispatcher was responsible, the types of communication available, whether there are remotely controlled C.T.C.s (centralized traffic controls), and the mileage inside and out of the yards.
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

American Train Dispatchers Association Records #5195. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
American Train Dispatchers Association.
Subjects:
Train Dispatchers -- Labor unions -- United States.
Collective labor agreements -- Railroads -- United States.
Collective bargaining -- Railroads -- United States.
Railroads -- United States -- Employees.
Wages -- Railroads -- United States
Railroads -- Mergers -- United States
Railroads -- Employees - - Labor unions

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
Constitution and By-Laws
1950-1971
Box 1 Folder 2
Norfolk and Western Consolidation Agreement and Supporting Materials
1962-1968
Scope and Contents
1. Org. Draft; 2. Carrier Draft; 3. Clerks Agreement; 4. Coord. Agreement; 5. Consol. Agreement; 6. Proposed Changes; 7. Seniority - Age; 8.Assignments.
Box 1 Folder 3
Agreements, 1965-1968
1965-1968
Box 1 Folder 4
Agreements, 1960-1964
1960-1964
Box 1 Folder 5
Agreements, 1950-1957
1950-1957
Box 1 Folder 6
75th Congress, 1rst Session, H.R. 208
1937
Box 1 Folder 7
Annual reports, proxy statements
1967
Scope and Contents
Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe Railway; Corn Products Company; Nabisco Biscuit Company; Montgomery Ward Company;
Box 1 Folder 8
Wage disputes and Railroad Shopcraft Dispute
1966-1967