XVII. SUBJECT FILES OF PRESIDENT JAMES B. CAREY, 1954-1965

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading. Within large subject clusters arrangement varies -- either alphabetically or chronologically -- according to the original order of the records.

Consists of extensive subject, reference, and personal files compiled by James B. Carey and his executive assistants during his tenure as president of the IUE. While the bulk of the records are of an institutional nature, a significant portion of the series documents Carey's personal itinerary, including his participation on the boards of many civic and national organizations and political action activities. Carey's subject files contain his appointment and schedule books, greetings and invitations, and correspondence with outside reform and political organizations. His national organizations files comprise one of the larger subseries contained within the series.

There is also extensive biographical and autobiographical material (transcripts and edited drafts of Carey's oral history interview for the Columbia Oral History Project), published articles and unpublished writings, typescript addresses and speeches, and collated press clippings documenting Carey's career. Carey correspondence and rebuttals with several controversial labor columnists (including Victor Riesel, Drew Pearson, and Westbrook Pegler) on a variety of labor issues can be gleaned from this series. A small portion of subject files predates the IUE era, covering Carey's rise and fall within the UE and his role as CIO Secretary-Treasurer.

Many of the institutional files contained within this series supplement records contained within other series of the President's Office records (particularly the files of Carey's executive assistants) and other IUE Department subgroups--chiefly the Secretary-Treasurer's Office. District and local files, field representatives correspondence, organization, finances (payroll, personnel, and per capita dues payments) are among the most representative institutional records contained within Carey's subject files. Collective bargaining issues and strikes are given less extensive treatment within this series, though pertinent documentation can be found within the "District", "GE", and "Westinghouse" subject files.

Two important subject clusters contained within the Carey files include the Carey-Hartnett Dispute/Recall Vote, and the IUE's administration of the affairs of Local 1282 - Olympic Mills (Puerto Rico). The former entails extensive documentation of President Carey's contentious relationship with the IUE Secretary-Treasurer Albin Hartnett that divided the union (1961-1963) and served as a prelude to the Carey-Jennings election debacle of 1964. Charges and countercharges of usurpation, disloyalty, and corruption were levelled by both men in their attempt to acquire political support among IUE Executive Board members, international officers, department heads and staff, field representatives, and district and local officers. The personal animosity and distrust between the unions top two officers brought the IUE international office to a state of paralysis by 1962. These files extensively document Carey's attempts to uncover evidence of a conspiracy involving Hartnett and James Click (President, IUE District #8) to disaffiliate IUE Locals and foment opposition to Carey's alleged dictatorial and arbitrary control of union affairs. The dispute also entailed a lawsuit filed by Hartnett to restrain Carey from interfering with the business and conduct of the executive board. Carey, with support from a majority of the board and district council presidents, succeeded in forcing a showdown by citing Hartnett's violation of the IUE constitution and initiating a recall vote in 1963. The series contains tabulations of the recall vote by district along with accompanying correspondence and memoranda.

Charges of embezzlement and expense-padding by IUE field representatives loyal to Carey were central to the dispute. Nowhere was the problem more acute than among various IUE field representatives and organizers in Puerto Rico. The Carey Subject Files contain material pertaining to the dismissal of the officers of IUE Local 1282-Olympic Mills Company, and the creation of a trusteeship to administer the affairs of the local. In addition, the Local 1282- Olympic Mills files thoroughly document the local's organizational, election, and collective bargaining activities for the period 1961-1964, chiefly covering grievances filed over arbitrary employee discharges and the company's failure to implement a dues check-off. Records include Trusteeship Reports and memoranda filed by IUE-appointed trustee, Osmero Bartelli, and Al Giordano; financial records and data; briefs and legal documents pertaining to unfair labor practices (NLRB Case 24-CA-1829); and signed representation authorization cards.