Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers, Local 7-346 records

The Local 7-346 collection spans the two decades following its inception in 1937, both as a unit of the Oil Workers International Union and its subsequent merger with the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union in 1955.

A major part of the material consists of the Contractual Agreements, Amendments, and Stipulations entered into between the Toledo area oil refineries and the Union. They contain the labor concerns and issues both won and lost by either side. A large amount of correspondence further reveals the negotiations process between Union and Management.

One major issue fought over was the recognition of seniority for employees. At least one strike and several grievances resulting in arbitration before the National Labor Relations Board centered on this dispute.

The strong support and participation of workers at the Pure Oil Company in Local 7-346 is reflected in the substantial correspondence and agreements included with these manuscripts. The equivalent records of the Gulf Refining and Standard Oil Companies reveal their significant participation in the local Union as well.

Intimate details of union-breaking activities at the Pure Oil Company in 1938 are recorded in a series of depositions or interviews. Personalities and attitudes on both sides of the argument are particularly evident in the recollections of conversations between the protagonists.

Some strike activities by the Union are included, but in general this aspect of Union history is lacking considering the extent and number of shutdowns in this industry in the Toledo area. Information on wages, remuneration, and benefits are well-recorded in both the contracts and job ratings extant in this collection. Often these records are tied closely with the volatile issue of seniority as already described.

The many and varied activities of the Union are well-represented but must be mined from a fairly large amount of correspondence. These include not only the basic labor issues, but also related concerns such as insurance and hospital benefits. This collection provides an interesting review of labor's early struggles and victories as well as participation during the war years.

UNION/MANAGEMENT MEETING MINUTES. 1937-1939 (Pure Oil Company). 1942-1957 (Standard Oil Company). Arranged chronologically. Consists of written notes composed during meetings held between company management and Local 346 Union officials, as well as typed reports of meetings for general distribution.

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES. 1949,undated. Arranged chronologically. Typed reports of the Oil Workers International Union Fifth District Council Executive Board meeting minutes. Reports, resolutions, and financial statements of this body are described. Also contains a list of local unions arranged alphabetically.

LOCAL 346 NOTEBOOK. 1937-1943. No discernible arrangement. A notebook of unidentified origin with typed records in the first pages, and handwritten minutes of Board Meetings in later pages. Contains information on Local 346 organization procedures, and activities of this Local.

GRIEVANCES. 1937-1938, 1940, 1942-1944, 1948-1949, 1952-1955, undated. Arranged chronologically. Contains the reports and correspondence detailing various grievance cases at the Pure Oil Company. Of note is the volatile issue of seniority at this refinery in 1938 which generated many reports and much correspondence.

(Note: one file is listed as undated but certainly belongs with a 1938 companion file.) This series also contains one case at the Gulf Toledo Refinery, and a grievance originating from Local 395 of the Oil Workers International Union. Unfortunately many of these case files do not contain the outcome of the arbitration process.

CLYDE S. SHAMBLEN. 1936, 1938-1940. Arranged chronologically. The incoming and outgoing correspondence of Clyde S. Shamblen, President of the Oil Workers International Union Local 346, which details his and the Locals activities during these years. The one item from 1936 is a reference letter from his former employer: The Pennsylvania Railroad.

GENERAL - LOCAL 346. 1937-1952, 1954-1956. Arranged chronologically. Contains incoming and outgoing correspondence relating to Union matters and negotiations with the several oil companies that employed Local 346 members.

OIL COMPANIES. 1937-1957. Arranged alphabetically by company name. The incoming and outgoing correspondence between Local 346 and the various oil companies where its members were employed. These files supplement the information contained in the General - Local 346 files.

CITIES SERVICE NATIONWIDE COUNCIL. 1950. The Constitution and By-Laws of the National Council of the Oil Workers International Union, C.I.O.; serving all those who are in the employ of the Cities Service Company.

GULF REFINING COMPANY. 1937, 1939-1941, 1944, 1949, 1951-1953, 1955-1956. Arranged by subject and within chronologically. A collection of files detailing committee reports, and identifying employees seniority within the company. Wage rates for the different jobs at the Toledo Refinery are included. Also information on the Taylor and Elby Hospital Funds contributions.

NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD. 1937, 1939-1940, 1942-1943, 1950-1954, 1957, undated. Arranged by company and within chronologically. Includes case files and correspondence of Local 346 with Gulf, Pure Oil, Standard Oil, and the National Labor Relations Board which served as an arbitrator.

NATIONAL WAR LABOR BOARD. 1943-1945. Arranged by company and within chronologically. The National War Labor Board also served as an arbitrator in disputes between Local 346 and various oil companies during the war years. Specifically, this series includes arbitration proceedings with Gulf and Standard Oil.

PURE OIL COMPANY. 1937, 1938, 1944, 1947, 1950, 1958, undated. Arranged by subject and within chronologically. Includes various committee and council reports, identification of employees, and a 1937 petition demanding that Local 346 be the only recognized collective bargaining agency to represent them to the company. Also a 1938 proposal submitted by the Union to the company during the contract negotiations for that year.

STANDARD OIL COMPANY. 1947, 1949-1953, undated. Arranged chronologically. Contains identification of employees, seniority lists, and membership cards.

STRIKES. 1938, 1953. Arranged by subject and company and within chronologically. The activities at the Standard Oil Refinery at Toledo immediately prior to the beginning of the strike in 1938 are described by a number of depositions made by employees. This series also includes a great amount of correspondence and picketing schedules which detail the Local's participation in the 1953 Gulf Refinery strike.

TOLEDO REFINERY EMPLOYEES' MUTUAL HOSPITAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION. undated. The constitution and By-Laws of this organization established to provide health and accident benefits for its members.

WAGES. 1937, 1939, 1941, 1947-1952, undated. Arranged by subject and within chronologically. Information on job descriptions and accompanying wages at various oil refineries served by Local 346. Also a file of Local 346 dealings with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage Stabilization Board.

AGREEMENTS 1937-1957, undated. Arranged by company and within chronologically. A collection of contracts, agreements, amendments, and stipulations entered into between Local 346 and the various oil companies who employed its members. Some examples of other Union Locals are included, as well as an Agreement made with the United Office and Professional Workers of America, Local 29.

COURT DOCUMENTS. 1937-1938, 1945-1946, 1951-1953, 1957. Arranged by company and within chronologically. Includes correspondence, Court Journal Entries, Court Petitions, and other documents from the Court of Common Pleas, Lucas County, Ohio, dealing with legal actions between Local 346 and various oil companies.

A collection of correspondence, expense reports, and memos from the Local 346 files.

AGREEMENTS. 1939, 1948-1950, 1952-1953, 1956-1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1967. Arranged by company. Published booklets of contractual agreements between Local 346 and the various oil companies who employed its members. Local 228 is also represented.

INDUSTRY AND UNION MATERIALS. 1939, 1941-1944, 1948, 1950-1951, 1954, undated. Arranged by subject. Includes a miscellany of union, government, and industry publications dealing with insurance and retirement plans, credit unions, union membership materials (cards) and a "Steward's Bible."