American Postal Workers Union, Local 534 records

Collection – Box: 1

Identifier: MS-0154

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The records of the American Postal Workers Union Local 534 of Sandusky, Ohio date from 1912-1978 and contain correspondence, agreements, and miscellaneous printed material.

Dates

Creation: 1912-1978

Extent

0.46 Cubic Feet (1 legal archive box)

Creator

American Postal Workers Union. Local 534 (Sandusky, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The minutes of Postal Workers Local 534 are very incomplete as they include only the time period between 1912 and 1919 with a few scattered minutes available for 1929, 1945, and 1946. Although the earliest minutes document the beginnings of the Local (as Branch 235), they provide little insight into the workings of the Union. Similarly, the correspondence is scattered (1943-1953) and primarily pertains to the attempts of the Union to obtain annual leave time. The most complete series is the agreements (1963-1978) between the U. S. Postal Service and the National Union which outline the job descriptions, salaries, working conditions, and benefits of the postal workers.

Also of interest in this collection are handbooks of the Woman's Auxiliary to the United Federation of Postal Clerks and a variety of miscellaneous printed material on Union matters.

Biographical / Historical

The American Postal Workers Union first was chartered under the American Federation of Labor as a craft union with seven chartered locals in 1907. In 1912, postal clerks gained the right to petition Congress for such benefits as an eight-hour work day and compensatory time for Sunday work. In 1917, a Woman's Auxiliary to the now named United Federation of Postal Clerks was formed to aid the Union in securing better working conditions.

On May 26, 1912, Branch 235 of the American Postal Workers Union was organized in Sandusky, Ohio. Later, this Branch became Local 534. In January 1972, Post Office and General Services Maintenance Local 330 in Sandusky, officially dissolved and merged with Local 534.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records of the Postal Workers 534 were donated to the Center for Archival Collections in the summer of 1980 through the cooperation of David Gray, Field Representative for the Ohio Labor History Project, and Paul Yon, Associate Director of the Center for Archival Collections.