ACTWU's Conventions Records, 1972-1987
Collection Number: 5619/028
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
ACTWU's Conventions Records, 1972-1987
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5619/028
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.
Creator:
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
Textile Workers Union of America
Quanitities:
3.25 cubic feet
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.
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
ACTWU's Conventions Records #5619/028. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related collections: 5619: Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America And all other 5619 collections.
Names:
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
CONTAINER LIST
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 |
Scope and Contents
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 |
Scope and Contents
Includes Wage-Price Freeze
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 28 |
Resolutions. B2: Fair Labor Standards Act
|
1972 |
Scope and Contents
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 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 8 |
Convention Unity
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
June 11-15, 1984
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 9 |
Convention Transcript. June 11, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 10 |
Convention Transcript. June 11, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 11 |
Convention Transcript. June 11, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 12 |
Convention Transcript. June 12, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 13 |
Convention Transcript. June 12, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 14 |
Convention Transcript. June 12, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 15 |
Convention Transcript. June 13, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 16 |
Convention Transcript. June 13, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 17 |
Convention Transcript. June 13, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 18 |
Convention Transcript. June 14, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 19 |
Convention Transcript. June 14, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 20 |
Convention Transcript. June 14, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 3
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 21 |
Convention Transcript. June 15, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 22 |
Convention Transcript. June 15, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 23 |
Convention Transcript. June 15, 1984
|
1984 |
Scope and Contents
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 |
Scope and Contents
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 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 32 |
Convention Transcript. First Session. June 15, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 33 |
Convention Transcript. Second Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 34 |
Convention Transcript. Second Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 35 |
Convention Transcript. Third Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 36 |
Convention Transcript. Third Session. June 16, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 37 |
Convention Transcript. Fourth Session. June 17, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 38 |
Convention Transcript. Fourth Session. June 17, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 39 |
Convention Transcript. Fifth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 40 |
Convention Transcript. Fifth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 41 |
Convention Transcript. Sixth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 42 |
Convention Transcript. Sixth Session. June 18, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 43 |
Convention Transcript. Seventh Session. June 19, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited
|
|||
Box 3 | Folder 44 |
Convention Transcript. Seventh Session. June 19, 1987
|
1987 |
Scope and Contents
Unedited. Copy 2
|
|||
Box 4 | Folder 1 |
Index File of Convention Committee Members
|
1972 |
Scope and Contents
See also Box 1, Folder 19
|