Abraham Goldwasser papers
Collection Number: 6036/078
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Title:
Abraham Goldwasser papers, 1970-1997
Collection Number:
6036/078
Creator:
Goldwasser, Abraham
International Ladies' Garment Workers'
Union
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile
Employees
Quantity:
1.5 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Articles, reprints, pamphlets, correspondence,
photographs.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives,
Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Papers of Abe Goldwasser, documenting his work with the ILGWU New
York Cloak Joint Board and the Union Health Center of the ILGWU and UNITE.
Language:
Collection material in English
Founded in 1900 by local union delegates representing about 2,000 members in cities in the
northeastern United States, the ILGWU grew in geographical scope, membership size, political
influence to become one of the most powerful forces in American organized labor by mid-century.
Representing workers in the women's garment industry, the ILGWU worked to improve working and
living conditions of its members through collective bargaining agreements, training programs,
health care facilities, cooperative housing, educational opportunities, and other efforts. In
1995, the ILGWU merged with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) to form
the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).
Abraham Goldwasser was born in 1944 in Uzbekistan, USSR. After the end of World War II, the
Goldwasser family returned to Poland, leaving for Paris in 1957. In 1961, the Goldwassers
emigrated to the United Sates settling in Baltimore, with the assistance of HIAS (Hebrew
Immigrant Aid Society). He was raised by his parents in the spirit of the Jewish Labor Bund.
After graduating from high school in 1963, Goldwasser moved to New York City and attended City
College of New York. In 1967, Goldwasser became a member of the Young People's Socialist League.
In 1970, Goldwasser married Ettie, daughter of ILGWU Vice President, Henoch Mendelsund.
After graduating from college in 1969 and until 1997, Goldwasser worked in various positions
for the ILGWU and UNITE. He was a clerk at the New York Cloak Joint Board (1969-1970), staff
member of the Health and Welfare Department (1970-1972), supervisor of the Circulation
Department, which was responsible for the distribution of Justice to ILGWU members (1972-1973),
office manager of the New York Cloak Joint Board (1974-1977), and supervisor of the Dues
Department of the New York Joint Board, created through the merger of the Cloak Joint Board,
Dress Joint Board, and the Raincoat Makers Local 20 (1977-1978).
From 1977 to 1997, Goldwasser worked at the Union Health Center in New York City. At first he
was as the supervisor of the Appointment/Reception Department (1978-1983). During this time he
participated in the conversion of the appointment system from semi manual to computerized and
creation of the beginning of a patient information system using a mini-computer.
As the supervisor of the Computer Operation Department (1983-1997), he was responsible for the
entire data processing of the Health Center including, appointments, computerized patient and
medical information systems, and services billing. During this period, hundreds of members
visited the Union Health Center every day. In the 90's, Goldwasser participated in the
discussions leading to the move of the Health Center to other floors, and a new computerized
system.
After the ILGWU's merger with ACTWU in 1995, Goldwasser left the Union Health Center. Since
1997, he has been employed at Teamsters Local 237.
The collection documents Abraham Goldwasser's work for the ILGWU's Circulation Department, New
York Cloak Joint Board, and the Union Health Center (UHC). Included in the records documenting
the New York Joint Board is material on the health and welfare fund, rules and regulations, and
correspondence.
Goldwasser's records from the Union Health Center include reports of the Union Sanatorium
Association and administrative records for Center including financial reports, job descriptions,
and office memos. Also contained in the records are reports, presentations and studies, and
various publications, the majority of which are related to group insurance and pension plans,
health and welfare benefits, death benefits, and retirement. Information on the retirement fund
encompasses the national retirement fund, the ILGWU staff retirement plan, as well as the United
Health Center staff retirement plan, and the material documents comparisons, rules and
regulations, summary descriptions, and financials of the pension plans. A large component of the
collection concerns the documentation of the UHC's automation project of the 1980s. Records
include the UHC research regarding computerization of the laboratory reports, implementation of
automation, batch data processing, procedures, and patient appointment scheduling manuals. Much
of the documents support the recommendation and planning for a new automation system for the
center.
Names:
Goldv?aser, Avraham, -- 1919-
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees.
Form and Genre Terms:
Papers
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:
Abraham Goldwasser papers #6036/078. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and
Archives, Cornell University Library.
| Series I. Circulation Department, 1973 | |
| Series II. New York Cloak Joint Board, 1972-1977 | |
| Series III. Union Health Center, | |
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | 1973 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | 1972 | |
|
Copy 1
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | 1972 | |
|
Copy 2
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | 1972-1976 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | 1976-1977 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | 1987 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | ||
|
1980s
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | ||
|
1980s
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | ||
|
1980s
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | 1996 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | 1996 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | 1997 | |
|
5-May
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | 1994-1995 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | ||
|
n.d.
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | 1983-1988 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | 1990-1994 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | 1995 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | 1995 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | 1996 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | 1997 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | 1997 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | 1970 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | 1996 | |
|
4-May-95
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | 1996 | |
|
February 29, 1996, prepared by Leader Data Processing
|
|||
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | ||
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | 1983 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | 1982-1992 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | 1976-1985 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | 1976-1984 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | 1985-1994 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 33 | 1995-1996 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | 1986-1993 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 35 | 1983 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | 1991 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 37 | 1991-1992 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 38 | 1992-1993 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 39 | 1993-1994 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 40 | 1994-1995 | |
| Box 1 | Folder 41 | 1986-1997 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | 1995-1996 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | 1995-1996 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | 1995 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | 1996 | |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | 1996 | |
|
27-Jun-96
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | 1997 | |
|
5-May-97
|
|||
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | ||