XI. IUE DISTRICT AND LOCAL FILES OF PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT LES FINNEGAN,, 1950-1955

Arranged numerically by district and local

Consists of reference material collated by Finnegan to document organization campaigns, representation elections, strikes, grievances, negotiations, and jurisdictional raiding involving IUE locals for the period 1950-1954. Resolution of the affairs of disaffiliated locals and NLRB elections within the GE and Westinghouse chains constitute the predominant subject matter of this series. Items include: IUE leaflets, circulars, radio and TV transcripts, correspondence and memoranda, addresses, statements, and a small amount of local financial and membership records. Anti-IUE leaflets generated by rival labor unions (UE, UAW, IAM, IBEW) and corporations (GE and Westinghouse) are included as well.

Much of the correspondence received by Finnegan took the form of cursory reports filed by IUE field representatives, organizers, and business agents. Memorandums from Finnegan to Carey, Hartnett, and IUE department heads document his extensive involvement in planning publicity for IUE organization drives and strikes. Major IUE strikes covered are: Local 101/Philco (Philadelphia, PA); Local 107/Westinghouse (Essington,PA); Local 278/Chapman Valve Co. (Indian Orchard, MA); Local 320/GE (Syracuse, NY); Local 761/GE (Appliance Park, Louisville, KY); Local 925/GE (Linton, IN); and Local 945/Vickers (Detroit, MI). There is also an extensive file of press clippings chronicling the Local 617/Westinghouse strike at Sharon, PA. during 1954.

Among the important organizational campaigns and elections featured are: Locals 201/GE (Lynn and Taunton,MA); Local 301/GE (Schenectady, NY); Local 901/GE (Forty Wayne, IN) and Canadian District Five/CGE campaign (Peterborough, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec). The District Five files contain important correspondence between Carey and Charles H. Millard (National Organizing Director-United Steelworkers of America) highlighting the complex organizational and political issues confronting the IUE and affiliates of the CIO-Canadian Congress of Labor in the drive to eradicate the UE from Canadian plants of GE and Westinghouse.