International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers artifact collection |
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International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers:
A Guide to Its Artifact Collection at Georgia State University Library
Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Special Collections and Archives
100 Decatur St., SE
Atlanta, GA 30303-3202
404-413-2880
Fax: 404-413-2881
archives@gsu.edu
June 2007
Profile Description | |
| Creation: | EAD version 1.0 finding aid created in XMetaL 4.5 by Kira Homo, June 2007. |
| Language: | English |
Collection Summary | |
| Repository: | Georgia State University Library, Special Collections and Archives, Atlanta |
| Creator: | International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers |
| Title: | International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers artifact collection |
| Dates: | 1886-circa 2000 |
| Quantity: | 41.62 linear ft. (in 4 boxes, 1 half-box, 1 5x3 card file, 4 clamshell boxes, 1 artifact box, 10 oversize boxes, 1 posters box, 3 textile boxes, and 1 hat box) |
| Identification: | L1992-14A |
| Language | English. |
Scope and Content of the Collection
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Artifact collection comprises a wide variety of artifacts, including charters, photographs, paintings, posters, banners, certificates, and tool kits, 1888-circa 2000. The items were created or received by IAMAW's officers, headquarters, and local lodges. The collection includes the contents of the "Time Capsule of 1955" placed in the cornerstone of the union's then headquarters.
History of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Founded in 1888 as the United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers of America, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of the largest trade unions in North America. The organization has been known as the National Association of Machinists (1889-1891) and the International Association of Machinists (1891-1965).
Chronology of the IAMAW
| Date | ||
| 1888 | 19 machinists meet in a locomotive pit at Atlanta, GA, and vote to form a trade union. Machinists earn 20 to 25 cents an hour for a 10-hour workday. | |
| 1889 | 34 locals represented at the first Machinists convention, held in Georgia State Senate Chamber, elect Tom Talbot as Grand Master Machinist. A monthly journal is started. | |
| 1890 | First Canadian local chartered at Stratford, Ontario. The union is named the International Association of Machinists. Headquarters are set up in Richmond, Virginia, and membership is at 4,000. | |
| 1891 | IAM Local 145 asks $3 for a 10-hour workday. | |
| 1892 | First railroad agreement signed with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. | |
| 1895 | The IAM joins American Federation of Labor (AFL), and moves its headquarters to Chicago, Illinois. |
| 1898 | IAM Local 52, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania conducts the first successful strike for a 9-hour workday. | |
| 1899 | Time-and-a-half pay for overtime work has become a prevalent practice for Machinist wage earners. Headquarters are moved to Washington, D.C. | |
| 1903 | Specialists are admitted to membership, and the drive begins for an 8-hour workday. | |
| 1905 | Apprentices are admitted to membership. There are 769 locals with Railroad machinists earning 36 to 43 cents an hour for a 9-hour workday. | |
| 1908 | The Metal Trades Department is established within the American Federation of Labor (AFL) with IAM President James O'Connell as its president. | |
| 1911 | Women are admitted to IAM membership with equal rights. | |
| 1912 | Railway Employees Department is established within the American Federation of Labor with IAM President A. O. Wharton as President. | |
| 1914 | Congress passes the Clayton Act limiting use of injunctions in labor disputes and making picketing legal. | |
| 1915 | The IAM wins the 8-hour workday in many shops and factories, and the union affiliates with the International Metalworkers Federation. | |
| 1916 | Auto mechanics are admitted to IAM membership. | |
| 1918 | IAM membership reaches 331,000. | |
| 1920 | Headquarters moved to the first Machinists Building, at 9th and Mt. Vernon Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. British Amalgamated Engineering Union cedes its North American locals to the IAM. | |
| 1920 | Machinists earn 72 to 90 cents an hour for a 44-hour workweek. | |
| 1922 | 79,000 railroad machinists pin shopmen's strike against second post-war wage cut. Membership declines to 148,000. | |
| 1924 | The IAM convention endorses Robert M. LaFollette, Sr., for President. | |
| 1926 | Congress passes the Railway Labor Act requiring carriers to bargain, and forbidding discrimination against union members. | |
| 1927 | IAM urges ratification of the Child Labor Amendments to the U.S. Constitution; 2,500,000 children under 16 are working at substandard wages. | |
| 1928 | 250 delegates at the 18th IAM convention urge a 5-day workweek to alleviate unemployment. | |
| 1929 | Depression layoffs cut IAM membership to 70,000. | |
| 1932 | Congress passes Norris LaGuardia Act banning the use of court injunctions in labor disputes. Wisconsin adopts first unemployment insurance act. Nearly 30% of union members are jobless. | |
| 1933 | The IAM backs National Recovery drive and a 40-hour workweek. President Franklin Roosevelt picks IAM Vice President Robert Fechner to head new Civilian Conservation Corps. Membership sinks to 56,000. | |
| 1934 | The IAM establishes the Research Department. | |
| 1935 | Congress adopts the National Labor Relations Act establishing the right to organize and requiring employers to bargain in good faith. The IAM opens a drive to organize the aircraft industry. | |
| 1936 | The first industrial union agreement is signed with Boeing of Seattle, Washington. The IAM convention endorses Franklin D. Roosevelt for President, and membership climbs to 130,000. | |
| 1937 | The Social Security and Railroad Retirement Acts are now in effect, and IAM negotiates paid vacations in 26% of its agreements. | |
| 1939 | IAM signs first union agreement in air transport industry with Eastern Airlines. | |
| 1940 | Machinists' rates average 80 cents an hour, and the IAM pledges full support to National Defense program. IAM membership climbs to 188,000. | |
| 1941 | The IAM pledges support to win the war (WWII), including making a no-strike pledge. | |
| 1944 | 76,000 IAM members serve in the armed forces, and the total membership is now at 776,000. | |
| 1945 | The first agreement is signed with Remington Rand. The IAM convention votes to publish a weekly newspaper, plus establishes the Education Department. Widespread layoffs follow the end of World War II. | |
| 1946 | 88% of IAM agreements now provide for paid vacations. | |
| 1947 | Congress enacts the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act. Machinists Non-Partisan Political League is founded. The IAM Legal Department is established. Machinists average $1.56 an hour. | |
| 1948 | IAM membership is opened to all regardless of race. The IAM convention endorses Harry S Truman for President. | |
| 1949 | Railroad machinists win a 40-hour week. Membership is now down to 501,000. | |
| 1950 | The IAM joins International Transport Workers Federation. Machinists now average $1.82 an hour. | |
| 1951 | The IAM pledges full support of United Nations action in Korea. | |
| 1952 | Employees on 85% of airlines are now protected by IAM agreements. 92% of IAM contracts provide for paid holidays. | |
| 1953 | The IAM has contracts fixing wages and working conditions with 13,500 employers. The IAM Atomic Energy Conference is organized. | |
| 1955 | The American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) merge, Machinist Al Hayes is elected Vice President and chairman of Ethical Practices Committee. 70% of IAM contracts now have health and welfare provisions, and Machinists average $2.33 an hour. | |
| 1956 | 2,000th active local is chartered, and a new ten-story Machinists Building is dedicated at 1300 Connecticut Ave., Washington, DC. | |
| 1958 | The IAM convention establishes a strike fund, which was approved by the membership in a referendum vote. IAM membership now tops 903,000. | |
| 1959 | The United States Congress enacts the anti-union Landrum-Griffin Act. | |
| 1960 | The IAM convention endorses John F. Kennedy for President after personal visits from both Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The IAM convention establishes a college scholarship program. The IAM establishes a Labor Management Pension Fund. | |
| 1962 | The IAM Electronics Conference is established. John F. Kennedy issues an Executive Order giving Federal employees a limited right to collective bargaining. Machinists now average $3.10 an hour. | |
| 1964 | After a personal appearance, the IAM convention endorses Lyndon B. Johnson for President. Delegates vote to change the union's name to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and membership is at 800,000. | |
| 1966 | IAM members strike five major airlines and finally break through unfair 3.2% limit on wage increases. The first dental care plan is negotiated with Aerojet General. | |
| 1967 | Railroad Machinists lead shopcrafts against the nation's railroad, and the United States Congress forces a return to work and arbitration. | |
| 1968 | IAM membership tops 1,000,000. Machinists average S3.44 an hour. | |
| 1969 | IAM member, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin, the first space mechanic, walks on the moon. | |
| 1970 | Congress votes the first Federal Occupational Safety and Health law. IAM is one of 19 unions in the first successful coordinated bargaining effort against General Electric. | |
| 1971 | IAM wins largest back pay award in history, more than $54,500,00 for 1,000 members locked out illegally by National Airlines. IAM establishes the Job Safety and Health Department. | |
| 1972 | IAM membership drops to 902,000 as a result of recession and layoffs in defense industries. IAM President Floyd Smith quits U.S. Pay Board to protest unfair economic policies. IAM convention endorses Senator George McGovern for President. | |
| 1973 | IAM and United Auto Workers hold first joint Legislative Conference with 1,000 delegates in attendance. Machinists average $4.71 an hour. Membership rises to 927,000. | |
| 1974 | The Watergate scandal casts its shadow over labor unions along with the rest of the country. When President Nixon resigns, IAM wires President Gerald Ford, "You can count on our support and cooperation in your efforts to bring America back to the principles upon which it was founded." | |
| 1976 | IAM convention endorses Jimmy Carter for U.S. President. Delegates vote to set up the Civil Rights and Organizing departments and expand the community services program. | |
| 1977 | William W. Winpisinger is sworn in as the IAM's 11th president. | |
| 1979 | Citizen/Labor Energy Coalition launches first Stop Big Oil day to protest obscene profits by oil conglomerates while American workers' paychecks continue to shrink. | |
| 1980 | IAM media project begins. Thousands of IAM members and their families monitor prime-time TV to determine the media's portrayal of working people and unions. | |
| 1981 | Older Workers and Retired Members Department is established at the Grand Lodge. | |
| 1982 | "Reaganomics" grips the nation. Individual and corporate bankruptcies reach epidemic proportions. IAM membership begins drop to 820,211. | |
| 1983 | IAM introduces "Rebuilding America" act to Congress as an alternative to Reaganomics and to rebuild nation's industrial base. | |
| 1984 | The IAM convention in Seattle, Washington, endorses Walter Mondale for U.S. President. Delegates vote funding for the Placid Harbor Education Center to improve the level of understanding of workers in an ever-changing world. | |
| 1987 | IAM Executive Council establishes a new Organizing Department, the first ever to be headed by a Vice President. The first IAM Communications Conference is convened in Kansas City, Missouri. | |
| 1988 | IAM celebrates its 100th anniversary in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 5. | |
| 1989 | George J. Kourpias sworn in as the IAM's 12th president. | |
| 1992 | IAM moves to new state-of-the-art headquarters building in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to keep pace with technological changes and serve members' needs well into the 21st Century; IAM convenes 33rd convention at Montreal, Quebec, Canada. | |
| 1994 | International Woodworkers of America ratify merger agreement. More than 20,000 members join the IAM family. Some 8,000 USAir fleet service workers say "IAM Yes." Machinist newspaper bids fond farewell, reborn as IAM Journal magazine. | |
| 1995 | The IAM, Auto and Steelworker unions debate plans for unification by year 2000. Unity plan sparks solidarity. Plan would create largest, most diverse union in North America, with more than 2,000,000 active members, 1,400,000 retirees. Sixty-nine day strike brings major victory in new contract at Boeing. Members air their views during first round of Town Hall meetings. | |
| 1996 | "Fighting Machinists" spearhead political battle for worker rights. Union efforts provide winning edge in Clinton-Gore presidential victory. Meeting in Chicago, the IAM Convention delegates build bridge to the 21st century. Delegates establish IAM Women's Department. | |
| 1997 | On July 1, Robert Thomas Buffenbarger, 46, takes office as 13th International president in 109-year IAM history, moves quickly to reshape the Union to reflect the growing diversity, interests, concerns of IAM members. Former IAM President Winpisinger dies December 11. | |
| 1998 | New Blue Ribbon Commission empanelled to provide membership forum to voice opinions. Placid Harbor facility renamed Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to honor this visionary union leader, who brought the facility into being. | |
| 1999 | General Vice President William Scheri retires; Robert Roach, Jr. takes over the Transportation Department. IAM Shares mutual fund created; allows members to put money to work in a fund that invests in IAM-represented companies. The National Federation of Federal Employees affiliates with the IAM. Unification effort with the Steelworkers and UAW ends because of major philosophical differences; the three unions vow to work together, however. | |
| 2000 | The IAM endorses Al Gore for President. The AFL-CIO launches its New Alliance campaign, Grand Lodge Convention delegates respond with mandate that all IAM local and district lodges affiliate with their state AFL-CIO labor councils. The IAM meets in San Francisco for the 35th Grand Lodge Convention. The delegates establish Communicator and Educator positions. | |
| 2001 | IAM Communications revamped with relaunch of website, online streaming of video, and repositioning of the IAM Journal as an advocacy magazine. IAM Executive Council re-elected. William W. Winpisinger Education & Technology Center increases capacity by 50%. IAM dedicates memorial to fallen members. IAM members perish in September 11 attacks. The IAM volunteers to help in war against terrorism and to help America rebuild. | |
| 2002 | The IAM establishes the Automotive Department and sets in place dozens of organizing blitzes. LL 2710's Gary Blanke wins the IAM's first photography contest. Members speak out at the 2002 Blue Ribbon Commission town hall meetings. Everyday Heroes, an IAM documentary, tells the story of the workers who risked their lives in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, goes on sale. The proceeds go to treat rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero. The Transportation Department ignites a nationwide Day of Action to urge passengers back onto trains and airplanes. IAM members join with other U.S. union members for the biggest midterm election turnout ever. | |
| 2003 | The IAM creates the Department of Employment Services to help members cope with the worst recession in years; Tony Chapman named its director. IAM leaders meet in Cincinnati, Ohio. IP Buffenbarger vows "No more business as usual." Presidential candidates Howard Dean and Richard Gephardt address the IAM leaders; Gephardt endorsed for president. GVP George Hooper passes away. Robert Martinez named Southern Territory GVP. ST Don Wharton Retires, Eastern Territory GVP Warren Mart succeeds Wharton. Lynn Tucker takes over as the Eastern GVP. James Brown takes over the Midwest Territory with the retirement of Alex Bay. | |
| 2004 | The IAM Executive Council marches with thousands of trade unionists in Miami to protest Free Trade Area of the Americas. President George W. Bush's "Wall of Shame" tours Iowa during that state's presidential caucuses to bring job losses onto the national radar screen. CyberLodge, the innovative, open-source initiative to organize information technology workers opens for business. Former IAM President William W. Winpisinger is inducted into the International Labor Hall of Fame. The 36th Grand Lodge Convention convenes in Cincinnati and salutes North America's Might. Vice presidential candidate Senator John Edwards from North Carolina appears at a convention rally after a unanimous endorsement of Senator John Kerry and Senator Edwards by the delegates. |
Source: "History of the IAM," IAMAW website (<http://www.goiam.org/content.cfm?cID=868>;)
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Georgia State University Library online catalog (GIL). Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Hayes, Albert J. (Albert John), 1900-1981
Winpisinger, William W.
International Association of
Machinists
International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Labor leaders--United States
Machinists--Labor unions--United States
account books
agreements
badges
banners
books
bumper stickers
charters
correspondence
minutes
paintings (visual works)
photographs
placards
plaques (flat objects)
posters
prints (visual works)
proclamations
stamps (tools)
tools
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
Unrestricted access. Most of the items are in remote storage; allow 24 hours for retrieval.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the Worldwide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original. All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.
Administrative Information
Citation
[item], International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Artifact Collection, L-Artifacts, Archives of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University, Atlanta.
Acquisition Information
Items donated by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Processing Information
Processed by Kira Homo and Special Collections staff, circa 1988-2007.
Related Material
Related materials in this repository: See Southern Labor Archives' International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers website.