ACTWU's Conventions Records 1972-1987
Collection Number: 5619/028
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Cornell University Library
Title:
ACTWU's Conventions Records, 1972-1987
Collection Number:
5619/028
Creator:
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
Textile Workers' Union of America
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
Textile Workers' Union of America
Quantity:
3.3 linear feet
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, reports, publications.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
This collection consists of convention transcripts and other convention material from the 1972
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America convention, the 1974 Textile Workers' Union of America convention, the 1976 Amalgamate
Clothing and
Textile Workers' Union merger convention, and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers' Union triennial conventions
for 1978, 1981, 1984, and 1987.
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 Workers of America --Archives
Textile Workers' Union of America --Archives
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union --Archives
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) --Archives
UNITE HERE (Organization) --Archives
Subjects:
Textile industry--New York (State)--New York
Textile workers--Labor unions--New York (State)--New York
Clothing trade--New York (State)--New York
Clothing workers--Labor unions--New York (State)--New York
Form and Genre Terms:
Records
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 Conventions Records #5619/028. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Resolutions Correspondence
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Miscellaneous Material
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Statements on Staff
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Sergeants-At-Arms
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Tellers
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Committee Distributions Lists
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Committee Designations Correspondence
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Committee Final Lists
|
1972 |
See also Box 4 for more information on Committee Members
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Resolutions From Affiliates
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Resolutions. A: Amalgamated Insurance Program. Notes
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Resolutions. A: Amalgamated Insurance Program.
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Resolutions. A: Amalgamated Pension Program. Notes
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 13 |
Resolutions. A: Amalgamated Pension Program.
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Resolutions. A: Industrial Matters
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Resolutions. A: Law and Constitution
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Resolutions. A1: Report to the GEB
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Resolutions. A2: Organization
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
Resolutions. A3: Union Label
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 19 |
Resolutions. A4: Amalgamated Medical Care
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 20 |
Resolutions. A5: Amalgamated Day Care Centers
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 21 |
Resolutions. A6: Amalgamated Education Program
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 22 |
Resolutions. A8: Amalgamated Housing
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 23 |
Resolutions. A9: Amalgamated Retiree Services
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 24 |
Resolutions. B: Farm Workers
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 25 |
Resolutions. B: Martin Luther King Legislation
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 26 |
Resolutions. B: Miscellaneous
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 27 |
Resolutions. B1: Statement on Education
|
1972 |
Includes Wage-Price Freeze
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 28 |
Resolutions. B2: Fair Labor Standards Act
|
1972 |
Includes 4 day, 40 Hour Week
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 29 |
Resolutions. B4: Social Security
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 30 |
Resolutions. B5: Workmen's Compensation
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 31 |
Resolutions. B7: Political Education
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 32 |
Resolutions. B8: Crisis of the Cities
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 33 |
Resolutions. B9: Education
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 34 |
Resolutions. B10: The Environment
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 35 |
Resolutions. B11: NLRB and Taft-Hartley
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 36 |
Resolutions. B12: Women Workers
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 37 |
Resolutions. B13: Nation's Health
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 38 |
Resolutions. B14: Consumer Protection
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 39 |
Resolutions. B15: Civil Rights
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 40 |
Resolutions. B18: Occupational Safety and Health
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 41 |
Resolutions. B19: Unemployment Insurance
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 42 |
Resolutions. C2: Imports
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 43 |
Resolutions. C3: Foreign Policy
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 44 |
Resolutions. C4: Boys and Girls Town of Italy
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 45 |
Resolutions. C6: Italian-American Labor Council
|
1972 |
Box 1 | Folder 46 |
Resolutions. C9: Israel and Histadrut
|
1972 |
Box 2 | Folder 1 |
TWUA Convention. Decorations
|
1974 |
Box 2 | Folder 2 |
TWUA Convention. Entertainment
|
1974 |
Box 2 | Folder 3 |
TWUA Convention. Agenda
|
1974 |
Box 2 | Folder 4 |
TWUA Convention. Manncraft
|
1974 |
Box 2 | Folder 5 |
TWUA Convention. Electing the Slate
|
1974 |
Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Merger Committee
|
1974-1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Merger. Salaries
|
1975 |
Box 2 | Folder 8 |
Merger. Agreement and Plan
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 9 |
Merger. Correspondence
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 10 |
Merger Convention. Agenda
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 11 |
Merger Convention. Committees
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 12 |
Merger Convention. Decorations
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 13 |
Merger Convention. Delegates
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 14 |
Merger Convention. Dramatization. Owen Tapper
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 15 |
Merger Convention. Entertainment
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 16 |
Merger Convention. Exhibits
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 17 |
Merger Convention. Hargrove
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 18 |
Merger Convention. Marvin Himmel
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 19 |
Merger Convention. Hotel Arrangements
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 20 |
Merger Convention. Hotel Confirmation
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 21 |
Merger Convention. Memorial
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 22 |
Merger Convention. Rules for Elections and Voting on Merger
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 23 |
Merger Convention. Simultaneous Translation
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 24 |
Merger Convention. Staff Letters and Assignments
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 25 |
Merger Convention. Staff Meeting
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 26 |
Merger Convention. TWUA-ACWA Joint Meeting
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 27 |
Merger Convention. To Do Folder. Pre-Convention
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 28 |
Merger Convention. Bruce Raynor
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 29 |
Merger Convention. Usher Management
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 30 |
Merger Convention. Visual Aid Electronics. Bill Whalen
|
1976 |
Box 2 | Folder 31 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. September 25, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 2 | Folder 32 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. September 26, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 2 | Folder 33 |
Convention Transcript. Afternoon Session. September 26, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 2 | Folder 34 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. September 27, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 2 | Folder 35 |
Convention Transcript. Afternoon Session. September 27, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 2 | Folder 36 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. September 28, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 2 | Folder 37 |
Convention Transcript. Afternoon Session. September 28, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 2 | Folder 38 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. September 29, 1978
|
1978 |
Box 3 | Folder 1 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. June 3, 1981
|
1981 |
Box 3 | Folder 2 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. June 4, 1981
|
1981 |
Box 3 | Folder 3 |
Convention Transcript. Morning Session. June 5, 1981
|
1981 |
Box 3 | Folder 4 |
Convention Committees and Sergeants-At-Arms
|
1984 |
Box 3 | Folder 5 |
Proposed Amendments to Constitution
|
1984 |
Box 3 | Folder 6 |
Proposed Resolutions
|
1984 |
Box 3 | Folder 7 |
Proposed Resolutions
|
1984 |
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 8 |
Convention Unity
|
1984 |
June 11-15, 1984
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 9 |
Convention Transcript. June 11, 1984
|
1984 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 10 |
Convention Transcript. June 11, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 11 |
Convention Transcript. June 11, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 12 |
Convention Transcript. June 12, 1984
|
1984 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 13 |
Convention Transcript. June 12, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 14 |
Convention Transcript. June 12, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 15 |
Convention Transcript. June 13, 1984
|
1984 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 16 |
Convention Transcript. June 13, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 17 |
Convention Transcript. June 13, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 18 |
Convention Transcript. June 14, 1984
|
1984 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 19 |
Convention Transcript. June 14, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 20 |
Convention Transcript. June 14, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 21 |
Convention Transcript. June 15, 1984
|
1984 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 22 |
Convention Transcript. June 15, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 23 |
Convention Transcript. June 15, 1984
|
1984 |
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 24 |
Proposed Amendments to Constitution
|
1987 |
Box 3 | Folder 25 |
Proposed Resolutions
|
1987 |
Box 3 | Folder 26 |
Convention Committees and Sergeants-At-Arms
|
1987 |
Box 3 | Folder 27 |
Convention Unity
|
1987 |
June 15-19, 1987
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 28 |
Burt Beck. A Commitment to Progress
|
1987 |
Box 3 | Folder 29 |
Convention. Handouts
|
1987 |
Box 3 | Folder 30 |
Convention. Credentials
|
1987 |
Box 3 | Folder 31 |
Convention Transcript. Fisrt Session. June 15, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 32 |
Convention Transcript. First Session. June 15, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 33 |
Convention Transcript. Second Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 34 |
Convention Transcript. Second Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 35 |
Convention Transcript. Third Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 36 |
Convention Transcript. Third Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 37 |
Convention Transcript. Fourth Session. June 17, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 38 |
Convention Transcript. Fourth Session. June 17, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 39 |
Convention Transcript. Fifth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 40 |
Convention Transcript. Fifth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 41 |
Convention Transcript. Sixth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 42 |
Convention Transcript. Sixth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 43 |
Convention Transcript. Seventh Session. June 19, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 44 |
Convention Transcript. Seventh Session. June 19, 1987
|
1987 |
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 4 | Folder 1 |
Index File of Convention Committee Members
|
1972 |
See also Box 1, Folder 19
|