Guide to ACTWU's Research Department Correspondence Chronological Files, 1978-1995
Collection Number: 5619/013
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Cornell University Library
Title:
ACTWU's Research Department Correspondence Chronological Files, 1978-1995
Collection Number:
5619/013
Creator:
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. Research Department.
Quantity:
14 linear feet
Forms of Material:
Correspondence.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
This collection consists of outgoing correspondence from the Research Department, filed in chronological order.
Language:
Collection material in English
The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, the most significant union representing workers in the men's clothing industry,
was founded in New York City in 1914 as a breakaway movement from the United Garment Workers. Radical and immigrant workers
in the tailors’ and cutters’ locals were the core of the seceding group, which advocated industrial unionism and economic
strikes in opposition to the UGW’s craft organization, which they saw as conservative and timid. Their diverging views had
come to the fore during the historic 1910 dispute at the Chicago firm Hart, Schaffner, and Marx. The opposition called the
strike against the UGW leadership’s advice, and reached a path-breaking agreement with management that established an arbitration
system to settle disputes.
Members flocked to the new union. Around 50,000 strong at its founding, by 1920 the ACWA counted about 170,000 members. Initially
composed mostly of immigrants of Jewish European descent with Socialist leanings, the ACWA quickly welcomed members of a great
number of nationalities and diverse backgrounds. Like in other garment unions, most workers and many members were women, but
the leadership was predominantly male, a situation that did not change for many decades. Early on the union adopted a centralized
administrative structure combined with industrial unionism, with the joint boards’ by-laws having precedence over those of
locals.
Espousing a philosophy perhaps brought over by its early immigrant socialist members, the Amalgamated went beyond bread and
butter issues and adopted a distinctive form of social unionism that was largely absent in the American labor movement. Starting
in the 1920s, it provided educational opportunities and recreational facilities for its members, as well as services such
as an insurance plan, banks offering personal loans at low interest rates, low-cost housing cooperatives, medical clinics,
and even union-owned restaurants.
Sidney Hillman was the first president of the new union and the most important officer in its history. He applied his experience
as bargaining representative in Chicago to the whole industry. Under his leadership the union made significant strides in
securing better wages and working conditions for its members, and at the same time it consolidated gains and provided stability
to the industry through the widespread adoption of the arbitration system tested at Hart, Schaffner, and Marx. Hillman paid
close attention to industry issues, such as production, pricing, and marketing. In order to help management meet the competition
of non-union firms, the union conducted studies of efficiency, work methods, and factory costs. Letters to the official publication
of the union, Advance, document the controversy that ensued within the union over what was perceived to be collaboration with
management.
Hillman also understood the importance of labor’s involvement in national affairs and political action. In the 1920s the ACWA
sent delegates to the Conference for Progressive Political Action and to the Farmer-labor party conventions. Although many
members and officers were Socialists, the union stopped short of officially endorsing the party. Communist attempts at gaining
influence within the union were firmly curbed. Hillman’s participation in national affairs and politics became prominent during
the New Deal, when he became a close advisor to Franklin D. Roosevelt on labor and economic issues. He also served on the
board of the National Recovery Administration. Later, during World War II, he helped establish the Labor’s Non Partisan League.
He was also named associate director of the Office of Production Management, which assisted in mobilizing the nation's resources
for the war effort. Hillman’s prestige perhaps reflected the healthy condition of his union, which by the
end of the conflict was strong and stable.
During the post World War II period the union faced a number of significant challenges. Membership continued to grow (peaking
at 395,000 in 1968), but the union’s political influence and visibility in national affairs declined. In their never ending
pursuit of lower production costs, many firms relocated to the South, forcing the union to engage in large organizing efforts.
Simultaneously, signs began to appear of changes that would lead to the almost complete demise of the domestic apparel industry
and, ultimately, to the erosion of union membership. Foreign imports of cheap clothing goods steadily grew in the 1950s and
1960s, and mushroomed in the following two decades, plunging employment in the apparel sector into a steady decline. Union
efforts to stem the tide included Buy American campaigns and extensive lobbying in Congress, but they were to no avail. In
1976, the ACWA merged with the Textile Workers of America to become the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers
Union. Despite successful and much publicized nationwide actions such as the Farah boycott and the J.P. Stevens corporate
campaign, the woes threatening the union’s existence continued unabated. The fate of the domestic industry was sealed in the
late 1970s and the 1980s by the flight of firms chasing tax breaks and cheap labor abroad. By 1995, when ACTWU voted to merge
with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, their combined membership was 350,000. The new Union of Needletrades,
Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE!) seemed poised to infuse new life in a troubled union.
Names:
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union --Archives
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union. Research Department --Archives
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union --Archives
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees --Archives
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees. Research Department--Archives
UNITE HERE (Organization) --Archives
Subjects:
Textile workers--Labor unions--New York (State)
Clothing workers--Labor unions--New York (State)
Form and Genre Terms:
Records
Correspondence
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:
ACTWU's Research Department Correspondence Chronological Files, #5619/013. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related collections:
5619: Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
5619/012: ACTWU's Research Department Company Records
5619/016: ACTWU's Research Department Records
5619/021: ACTWU's Research Department's Industrial Union Department Company Records
All other 5619 collections
6000/003: UNITE's Research Department Historic Files
6000/014: UNITE's Research Department Correspondence Chronological Files
and 6000/020: UNITE's Research Department Records
5619: Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
5619/012: ACTWU's Research Department Company Records
5619/016: ACTWU's Research Department Records
5619/021: ACTWU's Research Department's Industrial Union Department Company Records
All other 5619 collections
6000/003: UNITE's Research Department Historic Files
6000/014: UNITE's Research Department Correspondence Chronological Files
and 6000/020: UNITE's Research Department Records
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 1 - 12.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 13 - 28.
|
1978 |
Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 1 - 15.
|
1979 |
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 16 - 31.
|
1979 |
Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 1 - 16.
|
1979 |
Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 20 - 28.
|
1979 |
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 1 - 12.
|
1979 |
Box 1 | Folder 19 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 13 - 30.
|
1979 |
Box 1 | Folder 20 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July 2 - 9.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July 19 - 31.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 1 - 13.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 14 - 31.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 1 - 12.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 13 - 29.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October 1 - 12.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October 15 - 31.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 1 - 5.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 7 - 18.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 19 - 28.
|
1979 |
Box 2 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 1 - 8.
|
1980 |
Box 2 | Folder 16 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 9 - 22.
|
1980 |
Box 2 | Folder 17 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 23 - 31.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 1 - 11.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 13 - 29.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 1 - 14.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 17 - 31.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 1 - 10.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 11 - 30.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 1 - 8.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 11 - 31.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 1 - 17.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 18 - 30.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1980 |
Box 3 | Folder 16 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December.
|
1980 |
Box 4 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 1 - 11.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 11 - 27.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 1 - 17.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 18 - 31.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 1 - 15.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 16 - 30.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 1 - 8.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 11 - 29.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1981 |
Box 4 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1981 |
Box 5 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December
|
1981 |
Box 5 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 1 - 20.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 21 - 29.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April. 1 - 19.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 20 - 21.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July 1 - 21.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July 21 - 26.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1982 |
Box 5 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1982 |
Box 6 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December.
|
1982 |
Box 6 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 1 - 24.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 25 - 31.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 1 - 12.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 13 - 31.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June 1 - 14.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June 15 - 30.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 1 - 16.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 15 - 30.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 1 - 15.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 16 - 30.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 16 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 17 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 18 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December.
|
1983 |
Box 6 | Folder 19 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 1 - 18.
|
1984 |
Box 6 | Folder 20 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 19 - 31.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December.
|
1984 |
Box 7 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January.
|
1985 |
Box 7 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 1 - 15.
|
1985 |
Box 7 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 16 - 28.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 1 - 13.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 14 - 31.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 1 - 11.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 11 - 31.
|
1985 |
Box 8 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 4 - 10.
|
1986 |
Box 8 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January 11 - 31.
|
1986 |
Box 8 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 3 - 18.
|
1986 |
Box 8 | Folder 16 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February 19 - 28.
|
1986 |
Box 8 | Folder 17 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 1 - 21.
|
1986 |
Box 8 | Folder 18 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 24 - 31.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 1 - 14.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 14 - 22.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April 23 - 30.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 1 - 13.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 14 - 31.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June 2 - 5.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June 5 - 14.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June 16 - 30.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July 1 - 18.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July 21 - 31.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 1 - 20.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September 22 - 29.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October 1 - 18.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October 20 - 27.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 16 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October 27 - 31.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 17 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November 3 - 14.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 18 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November 17 - 28.
|
1986 |
Box 9 | Folder 19 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 1 - 12.
|
1986 |
Box 10 | Folder 1 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 12 - 19.
|
1986 |
Box 10 | Folder 2 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 22 - 31.
|
1986 |
Box 10 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. January.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 4 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. February.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 5 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 1 - 14.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 6 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. March 16 - 31.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 7 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. April.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 8 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 1 - 9.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 9 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. May 11 - 30.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 10 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June 1 - 20.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 11 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. June 22 - 30.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 12 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. July.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 13 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 1 - 18.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 14 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. August 18 - 31.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 15 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. September.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 16 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. October.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 17 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November 1 - 14.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 18 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. November 16 - 30.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 19 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 1 - 21.
|
1987 |
Box 10 | Folder 20 |
Outgoing Correspondence. General. December 22 - 31.
|
1987 |