MS – 266 International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers, AFL-CIO, Local 769

Introduction

The records of Local 769 of the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers, AFL-CIO (IUE) were accessioned into the Wright State University Department of Archives and Special Collections in October of 1994, approximately two weeks after Local 769 was disbanded in conjunction with the closing of Copeland Corporation’s West Union Plant in West Union, Ohio, on October 1, 1994. The records were donated by Kermit L. Dorsey, who was the International Representative Director of Collective Bargaining for District 7 of the IUE.

The records in the collection span the years 1973 to 1994 and fill six Hollinger Boxes. The collection is arranged into two series, as follows:

Series 1: Administrative records

Series 2: Grievances

There are no restrictions on the use of this material.

Agency History

International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers, AFL-CIO, Local 769 (IUE - 769) came into existence when Copeland Corporation opened a production facility in West Union, Ohio. Copeland Corporation’s existing plant in Sidney, Ohio had been unionized by IUE Local 725 and the company agreed, without requiring a vote among the workers, to the IUE forming a new local to represent the workers at the West Union plant. IUE-725 and IUE-769 made up the Copeland Council and jointly bargained with the Company on wage and benefit issues.

Between 1973 and 1994 the West Union facility manufactured many different styles of compressors for air conditioners. On October 1, 1994, Copeland Corp. permanently closed the West Union, Ohio, facility and IUE-769 turned its papers over to IUE District 7 headquarters and went out of existence.

Scope and Content

The records within the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture, AFLO-CIO, Local 769 (IUE-769) collection fall within two series: (1) Administrative Records and (2) Grievances.

Series 1 contains the Union Constitution, the minutes of the Executive Board 1990-1994, the Steward Council, the Membership Meetings 1990-1994, and the Copeland Council 1990-1994. Records involving the Skilled Trades Meetings include the minutes as well as records concerning the Electrician and Machine Repairman Apprentice Meetings. Also, Company/Union Meeting Minutes from 1990-1994, records dealing with arbitration, as well as Third and Fourth Step Grievance Meetings. Extensive documentation concerning the 1992 Contract Negotiations, the 1993 Birthday Rule Negotiations, and the 1994 Shutdown Negotiations document the interactions between IUE - 769 and the Copeland Corporation is also included. Series 1 also contains miscellaneous Letters 1990-1994, an Accident Report dated November 8, 1978, pamphlets used by local 769, drawings of the plant layout, and address Cards for Retired Workers.

Series 2 consists of worker grievances handled by the union. These Grievances span the years 1973-1994, with each record typically consisting of a single sheet standardized form without attachments. Most of the grievances in the collection deal with workload and monetary issues although many other subjects both serious and trivial are covered as well. Not to be missed is the case of the shop steward, the opossum, and the microwave oven.

Spanning the dates of 1973 to 1994, this collection offers insights into the working conditions and worker concerns within the manufacturing industry of central Ohio. Highlights of this collection include records relating to union efforts to moderate the impact of plant closure on the workers involved, records relating to apprenticeship programs, and the extensive collection of grievances.

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