UE Subject Files

The UE Subject Files consist of loosely grouped files organized by subject content and format. This subseries contains UE convention material (resolutions, reports, and truncated proceedings) for the years 1936-1948 inclusive, and General Executive Board minutes, 1945-1947. Bound UE financial reports (1936-1947) provide insight into the fiscal affairs of various UE locals and districts. Such information was valuable in assessing the financial strengths and weaknesses of the UE by the Carey-Block faction. Finnegan and Carey compiled these files to monitor the internal affairs of the UE.

Other subject headings include: Corporations, Legal Cases, Personal, Political, Publicity, Statistics, and Strikes. The Personal files include James Matles' correspondence regarding criticism of John Frey's testimony before the Dies Committee (1938) and a 1937 proposal to Philip Murray to organize heavy metal machinery workers under the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) and small tools and machinery workers under the UE. The Sam Basmajian affair is also extensively documented within one file. This case involved Carey's testimony before the Kersten Committee hearings on communism that a UE shop steward had been unfairly dismissed by RCA (Camden, UE Local 103) because of alleged anti-communist activities. Left-wing UE leaders dismissed Carey's charge that the UE and RCA had acted in collusion.

Deposited within the Political files are editorials and newsclippings relating to the UE's stand on foreign policy issues; a report condemning the American Labor Party and Congressman Casta Cassia's role in sabotaging repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act; and an affidavit regarding the UE's withholding of Political Action Committee (CI0-PAC) funds from the CIO. UE strike files, consisting mainly of scattered press clippings, provide general information on the following strikes: Crossley, Cincinnati (1935); Univis, Dayton, Ohio (1943); and GE, RCA, Sunbeam, and Singer (1949).