Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Member Files

Collection Number: 6215

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library

This collection was processed with the help of generous funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Member Files, 1963-1994
Collection Number:
6215
Creator:
Speirs, Neil P.;
U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
Quantity:
0.3 linear ft.
Forms of Material:
Records (documents).
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
This collection contains the personal papers of Neil P. Speirs, former president of the Switchmen's Union of North America [SUNA], assistant president of the United Transportation Union [UTU], and labor member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Neil P. Speirs was born in Alberta, Canada, on December 25, 1912 and moved to the United States with his parents in 1919. He became a naturalized citizen in 1942. Mr. Speirs graduated from the University of Idaho in 1934, having majored in business and education.
Mr. Speirs began his railroad career with Southern Pacific Railroad, working in the railroad's train yards. He was first elected to the local Grievance Committee of Adjustment for Switchmen's Union of North America [SUNA], Local 98 (San Fansisco, CA) in 1950. In 1952 he was elected as a full- time officer, serving as chairman of the General Grievance Committee of Adjustment, Southern Pacific Railroad [SP]. Mr. Speirs served in this capacity until 1955, when he was elected to serve as SUNA International Vice-President. In 1959 he was elected to be President of SUNA and served as President until January 1, 1969.
On January 1, 1969 SUNA, along with the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen formed the United Transportation Union [UTU]. Upon the merger Mr. Speirs became Assistant President of UTU.
In 1969 President Richard Nixon appointed Mr. Speirs as the Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board. In 1974 President Gerald Ford re-appointed him to that position. He retired from the Railroad Retirement Board in 1977, but served on the Arbitration Panel of the National Mediation Board on a part-time basis until 1978.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Inclusive date range: 1963-1994
Bulk dates: 1963-1977
This collection consists of the papers of Neil P. Speirs. Included is a personal biography and newspaper clippings about his activities as a union president and member of the Railroad retirement Board. Also included is correspondence regarding his elections and appointments to various positions and honors bestowed upon him; his correspondence includes communication with the staff of three presidents: Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald Ford. Also of interest in this collection are records documeting the formation and 25th anniversary of the formation of the United Transportation Union [UTU]. These records contain pamphlets which document the history of the founding unions that united to create the UTU, reproductions of photographs, and the biographies of the various union presidents.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Speirs, Neil P.

Subjects:
Switchmen's Union of North America
United Transportation Union
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen
Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen
Railroads--Employees--Labor unions
U.S. Railroad Retirement Board

Form and Genre Terms:
Records (documents)

INFORMATION FOR USERS

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:
Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Member Files #6215. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIALS

Related Collections:
6215 MB: Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Memorabilia
6215 P: Neil P. Speirs Collection of U.S. Railroad Retirement Board Member Photographs
5034: Switchmen's Union of North America Records
5034 MB: Switchmen's Union of North America Memorabilia
5034 P: Switchmen's Union of North America Photographs
5084: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records
5405 mf: Switchmen's Union of North America Constitutions on Microfilm
5406 mf: Switchmen's Union of North America Arbitration on Microfilm
5447: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Unification Minutes and Convention Proceedings
5556: Switchmen's Union of North America Additional Records
5139: UTU Records
5139 AV: UTU Audio-Visual Material
5139 MB: UTU Memorabilia
5139 P: UTU Photographs
CONTAINER LIST

Container
Description
Date
Box 1 Folder 1
undated
Box 1 Folder 2
undated; post 1957 Supreme Court decision re free collective bargaining
Box 1 Folder 3 1965
Invitation from White House, with a request for a private thirty minute meeting between Neil Speirs and President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Box 1 Folder 4 1963-1969
Box 1 Folder 5 1968
The 33rd Convention of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT)
Box 1 Folder 6 1969
Nominated by President Richard Nixon, confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 1969.
Box 1 Folder 7 1969
Box 1 Folder 8 1971
Hot Springs, Arkansas, June 4, 1971. Contains pamphlet with a history of the UTU and its founding unions.
Box 1 Folder 9 1974
by President Gerald Ford
Box 1 Folder 10 1974
Plaque located in collection 6215 MB, Box 1, Folder 13
Box 1 Folder 11 1977
Box 1 Folder 12 1977
Pamphlet includes reproduction of photograph portrait of Neil P. Speirs
Box 1 Folder 13 1994