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Title: SEIU INTERNATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT COLLECTION Genre: Papers, Date : 1938-1981 (Predominantly, 1950s-1970s) Size : 19 linear feet ID #: 1542-seiu-intl_vp OCLC: ©Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs HEFA.01c.update |
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Scope & Contents
SEIU (Service Employees International Union) placed the International Vice-Presidents collection in the Library of Labor and Urban Affairs in February, 1994. The papers were opened for research in August, 1996.
The Vice-Presidents collection is composed of files which chronicle the involvement of certain Vice-Presidents of the International in the operation of the Locals.
Although the Vice-Presidents were working for the International, they were based in their own Locals and they handled their Vice-Presidential duties in addition to their Local duties. Thus, these men did “double duty” working in their Locals and for the International. Their involvement in Locals other than their own as Vice-Presidents took several forms: gathering materials from various Locals on a common topic with which the Locals were concerned (such as racing), acting as Trustee for a Local, mediating disputes between Locals, or interceding on behalf of a Local if issues arose with an outside Union.
Several Vice-Presidents have files in this collection. The key figures include David Sullivan, Thomas Shortman, George Hardy, and John J. Sweeney. The collection shows their involvement in Union affairs over the span of their careers. The collection also contains Presidential correspondence, much from William L. McFetridge. In addition, many individuals who rose to prominence in the Union from the Local level are represented in these papers including George E. Fairchild, Albert Hearn, Peter Ottley, John Sorbie, Richard W. Cordtz, Arthur Harckham, Anthony G. Weinlein, Aime Gohier, Henry F. Chartier, Irving Kurash, Edward T. Sullivan, Rosemary Trump, William Stodghill, Walter J. Butler, and John Kraemer.
The collection is arranged in two series. The subject files are in Series I. These files cover a range of topics, including SEIU in Canada and the possibility of Canadian secession, organizing efforts in Florida, racing, and the Marina City project. These files are arranged alphabetically. Within each folder, materials are arranged chronologically.
Series II are the Local Union files. The material is arranged by Local. Each folder lists the subject and/or type of material within, which is arranged chronologically. Almost every folder contains correspondence (abbreviated as corres.). Correspondence is listed on the folder title only when the majority of the material in the folder is unrelated correspondence.
Abbreviations frequently used in the collection are as follows:
AFSCME-American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
NLRB-National Labor Relations Board
Teamsters (or IBT)-International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, and Helpers of America
Canada Negotiations
Elections Nursing home organizing
Financial issues Organizing
Florida Racing
Jurisdictional Disputes Security guard organizing
Marina City Trusteeships
Mergers of Locals
Walter J. Butler John Kraemer
Nicholas Caprio Peter Ottley
Richard W. Cordtz William Platow
George E. Fairchild Thomas Shortman
Paul J. Godaire David Sullivan
Aime Gohier John J. Sweeney
George Hardy Anthony G. Weinlein
Series I: Subject Files, 1954-1981, Boxes 1-5 To Series I Box List
Series II: Local Union Files, 1938-1981, Boxes 5-19 To
Series II Box List