mums001 Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, Local 125 Records, 1928-1984 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Anneliese Ostendarp. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA
2003

University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric S. Cartier. 2003-07-28 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mu207 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, Local 125 Records, 1928-1984 Finding Aid Manuscript Number 1 Compiled by Anneliese Ostendarp June 1985 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

2003 University of Massachusetts Amherst. All rights reserved.

 Collection Overview Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Local 125 Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, Local 125 Records 1928-1984 MS 1 17 boxes (8 linear ft.) Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Local 125 was a chapter of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA) that worked to improve wages and hours of work, to increase job security, to provide facilities for advancing cultural, educational, and recreational interests of its members, and to strengthen the labor movement. Includes constitution, by-laws, minutes, contracts, piece rate schedules, accounts, subject files, scrapbooks, newsclippings, printed materials, photographs and a phonograph record that document the history of Local 125 from its founding in 1933 to 1984, when the Local office in New Haven was closed. Included also are correspondence and case materials pertaining to grievance and arbitration proceedings (access restrictions apply). English. Historical Note

In 1933 the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA) began an organizing drive among New England garment workers. On April 29, 1933, Local 125 (New Haven, Connecticut and vicinity) was chartered by ACWA. Local governing bodies were established almost immediately; Shop Delegates Councils and the Executive Board each held their first meetings in May, 1933.

Local 125 worked to improve wages and hours of work, to increase job security, to provide facilities for advancing cultural, educational and recreational interests of its members and to strengthen the labor movement. A 5-day work week and "living wage" were prime objectives. Local ACWA social-athletic clubs were opened for members in 1934. Delegates received funding to attend labor conferences and speakers routinely addressed the Shop Delegates Council meetings on topics of labor interest.

Local 125 followed the industry's growth and decline. In 1933 the union represented 14 shops (over 2,000 workers); 1942: 19 shops; 1950: 24 shops; 1963: 18 shops; 1978: 8 shops. The local eventually represented shops both in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. At various times Bridgeport, Brandford, Danbury, Derby, Manchester, New Britain, New Haven, Shelton and Wallingford shirt factories have had ACWA representation.

Key figures in Local 125 include Aldo Cursi who, with Mamie Santora, organized the Connecticut shirtworkers. Cursi served as Manager of Local 125 from 1933 until 1954. John Laurie was the local's Business Agent from 1933 until 1963. He served as Manager of Local 125 from 1954 until his death in 1964. Nick Aiello was elected Local 125's Business Agent in 1963. In 1964 he was elected Manager of Local 125.

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

Constitution, by-laws, minutes, contracts, piece rate schedules, accounts, subject files, scrapbooks, newsclippings, printed materials, photographs and a phonograph record that document the history of Local 125 from its founding in 1933 to 1984, when the Local office in New Haven was closed. Included also are correspondence and case materials pertaining to grievance and arbitration proceedings (access restrictions apply). Early records were collected by Manager Cursi; Business Agent (and later, Manager) Laurie maintained Local 125's files through numerous office moves, and Business Agent and Manager Aiello maintained the records from 1964 until 1984.

The records are organized in five series, including Minutes, 1933-1978, Contracts and Piece Rates, 1928-1982, Subject Files, 1934-1984, Grievances and Arbitrations, 1958-1984, and Publications, Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1930-1983.

 Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into five series:

Series 1. Minutes, 1933-1978 Series 2. Contracts and Piece Rates, 1928-1982 Series 3. Subject Files, 1934-1984 Series 4. Grievances and Arbitrations, 1958-1984 Series 5. Publications, Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1930-1983

Access restrictions apply to correspondence and case materials pertaining to grievance and arbitration proceedings.

The collection is open for research.

The collection is userestricted.

 Preferred Citation

Cite as: Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, Local 125 Records (MS 1). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Acquired from Nick Aiello in 1984 and 1985

Processed by Anneliese Ostendarp, June 1985.

 Labor unions--Massachusetts. Textile industry--Massachusetts--History. Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. Account books. Series I. Minutes1933-1978

Includes very complete minutes of the Executive Board and the Shop Delegates Councils, 1933-1977. This series also includes delegate election results, names of conference representatives, grievance and dispute resolutions in addition to more routine union business. Minutes of the regional governing committee, the New England Regional Joint Board, are complete from its founding in 1973 through 1978. Local 125's political interests are documented in the minutes of the Labor Non-Partisan League (1936) and the Political Action Committee (1948-1974). Social-Athletic Club minutes (1934-1944) reveal the local's recreational interests; Amalgamated Cultural Activities in Series IV supplement these minutes. Also in this series are two typescripts of the Constitution; dated print copies are found in Series IV.

 Series 2. Contracts and Piece Rates1928-1982

Divided into two subseries.

Subseries One contains contracts between Local 125 and employers, arranged chronologically and dating from 1935 to 1955. Negotiations with the Gant Company of New Haven are well documented and extend from 1943 to 1980. Subseries Two contains piece rate schedules which are arranged chronologically and span 1928-1977. Piece rate surveys, 1939-1945, supplement the schedules.

Percentage Table for the Adjustment of Piece Rates file in Series III is also of interest.

 Series 3. Subject Files1934-1984

Files are in a topical arrangement; some headings are assigned. Shop closings are listed under name of shop (Bay Products, Interstar Mfg., New Britain, Panettieri, and Rivoli Shirtmakers).

Maintained by Aldo Cursi and, later, by Nick Aiello. Bulk dates 1964-1984. Shop dues reports (1934-1983), Financial Statements (1975-1984) and Vacation Funds Balance Sheets (1950-1971) indicate the financial workings of the local. The Subject Files also reveal Aiello's work with the New England Regional Joint Board and the Greater Hartford Labor Council.

Photographs which accompanied Import Demonstration and March (1970-1971) files were moved to Series IV.

 Series 4. Grievances and Arbitration1958-1984

Most cases are filed by name of the grievant; some are filed by name of the company.

[Access with special permission]. Restricted. Access to the material may be gained with the written permission of Local 125 (North Dartmouth, Massachusetts).

Grievance and arbitration case material includes: evidence, correspondence and decisions. Bulk dates, 1976-1979.

 Series 5. Publications and Scrapbooks1930-1983

Contains three subseries.

The first subseries, publications, consists of printed material found in Local 125's records. Of special interest are: the second issue of ACWA's newspaper Advance; Bread and Roses, the early history of ACWA and printed copies of the Constitution and By-laws. Three scrapbooks, 1930-1955, consist of newspaper clippings and ACWA and Local 125 printed materials.

A record of the sound track (with additional narration) for the 50th Anniversary film of the ACWA-AFL-CIO, CLC "The Inheritance" (stored in the phonograph records box for manuscripts collections).

 Series I. Minutes1933-1978 1 1 Constitution and By-laws n.d. 1 2 Constitution 1984 1 3 Affiliation Certificates 1938, 1945, 195- 1 4-12 Executive Board minutes 1933-1955 2 13-18 Executive Board minutes 1956-1977 2 19-21 Shop Delegate Council minutes 1933-1942 3 22-30 Shop Delegate Council minutes 1943-1974 4 31 Shop Delegate Council minutes 1975-1977 4 32 New England Regional Joint Board minutes 1973-1978 4 33 Labor Non-Partisan League minutes 1936 4 34 Political Action Committee minutes 1948-1974 4 35-36 Social-Athletic Club minutes 1934-1944 Series 2. Contracts and Piece Rates1928-1982 5 1-7 Contracts (general) 1935-1955 6 8-16 Contracts (general) 1958-1982 6 17-18 Gant Company negotiations 1947-1980 6 19 Gant Company correspondence 1964-1979 6 20 Gant Company terminations 1979-1980 6 21 Gant Company termination clippings 1979 6 22-28 Piece-Rate Schedules 1928-1960 8 29-36 Piece-Rate Schedules 1961-1977 8 37 Piece-Rate Surveys 1939-1945 Series 3. Subject Files1934-1984 9 1-2 Amalgamated Conventions 1964-1984 9 3 Anti-Import Demonstration 1974 9 4 Bank Letters 1962-1978 9 5-6 Banquets 1941-1984 9 7 Banquets Finances Reports 1963-1976 9 8 Bay Products Closing 1968 9 9 Community Health Center 1968-1969 9 10 COPE 1960-1970 9 11 Cutters' Wages 1960-1968 9 12 Dues Arrears 1964-1965 9 13-14 Dues Increase Material 1964-1977 10 15 Education Conferences 1970-1978 10 16 Equal Employment Opportunity Reports 1967-1980 10 17-22 Executive Board Correspondence 1963-1984 10 23 Executive Board Notices 1966-1969 11 24 Farah Strike Boycott 1972-1974 11 25 Farah Strike Boycott Clippings 1972-1974 11 26-27 Financial Statements 1975-1984 11 28 Folklife Festival Exhibit 1976 11 29 General Officers Elections 1966-1972 11 30 Import Protest March 1970-1971 11 31 Import Protest Picketing 1977 11 32 Insurance Complaints 1967-1969 11 33-34 Insurance Correspondence 1962-1971 11 35 Interstar Mfg. Co. Closing 1983-1984 12 36 J.P. Stevens Boycott 1976-1979 12 37-39 Leaflets 1933 12 40 Legislative Committee 1973-1974 12 41 Membership List 1966, 1970 12 42 Minimum Wage Petition 1972 12 43 Neckwear Organizing Campaign 1966-1967 12 44 New Britain Shirt Company Closing 1967-1968 12 45 New England Regional Joint Board Material 1974-1984 12 46 Officers Christmas Gifts 1964-1984 12 47 Panettieri Shirt Co. Closing 1982 12 48 Percentage Table for the Adjustment of Piece Rate 1942 12 49 Political Action Committee Finances 1949-1979 13 50 Political Action Report 1940 13 51 Political Education Conference 1964 13 52 Presidential Campaign 1972 13 53 Resolutions 1971 13 54 Rivoli Shirtmakers Closings 1968-1969 13 55 Shop Delegates 1963-1977 13 56 Shop Delegates 1967-1981 13 57-58 Shop Dues Reports 1934-1983 13 59 Shop Elections 1962-1984 13 60 Social Security Manual 1939-1942 13 61 Survey of Industry 1977 13 62 Unemployment Compensation Manual 1937-1942 14 63-65 Vacation Fund Balance Sheets 1950-1971 Series 4. Grievances and Arbitration1958-1984 15 1 Mary Andreozzi 1977 15 2 Salvatore Benevenlo 1977 15 3 Gladys Blake 1976 15 4 Sam Carter 1978 15 5 Mrs. Giuseppi Casella 1979 15 6 Sarah Ceccarell 1981 15 7 Robert James 1978 15 8 Lee Lamirande 1963-1967 15 9 Larry Langello 1978 15 10 Penny Langello 1968, 1976 15 11 Arcardo Sanchez 1984 15 12 Lindward Taylor 1976 15 13 Jennie Sacarino 1983 15 14 King Rene NamnWensi 1978 15 15 Tessie Wierzbicki 1976-1982 15 16 Amalgamated Insurance Fund 1975 15 17-18 Grant Shirtmakers 1958-1978 15 19 Panettieri 1970-1976 Series 5. Publications and Scrapbooks1930-1983 16 1 ABC's of Workman's Compensation 1972-1983 16 2 Advance 1933 16 3 Amalgamated Cultural Activities 1940 16 4 American Labor Rises to Power, 1935-1937 16 5 Bread and Roses 1933-1934 16 6 The Company Behind the Contract 16 7 Conducting Your Union Meeting 16 8 Constitution (ACWA) 1944-1980 16 9 Constitution (Connecticut State Labor Council) 16 10 Constitution (New England Regional Joint Board) 1974, 1978 16 11 Directory of Manufacturers of Men's and Boy's Apparel 16 12 Leadership Training Manual 1982 16 13 Letters for Roosevelt 16 14 Song Book (AFL-CIO) 16 15 The Story of the Constitution of the United States--Ervin 16 16 Union Rules of Order 16 17 Workers' Compensation 16 18 Farah Strike Photos 1974 16 19 Anti-Import Demonstration 1974 16 20 Import Protest-Picketing-New Haven 1977 17 21 50th Anniversary Convention (ACWA) 1964 17 22-24 Scrapbooks 1930-1955 17 Phonograph record "The Inheritance" soundtrack with additional narration from the 50th anniversary film of ACWA, AFL-CIO, CLC 1964

(see phono records storage box)