International Woodworkers of America, Local 5-313 Records
1961-79

East Tennessee State University
Archives of Appalachia
Box 70295
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614

E-mail: archives@etsu.edu
Telephone: (423) 439-4338

INTRODUCTION

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance: The records of Local 5-313 of the International Woodworkers of America were donated to the Archives of Appalachia on November 30, 1979 by Local 50313 president, Jack Sams.

Access: The records are open for research.

Processing Information: The collection was opened for research in March 1980. Marie Tedesco revised the Finding Aid in 1999.

HISTORICAL NOTE

In 1962, Magnavox leased its plant building from the City of Johnson City, after the building’s previous occupant, Imperial Furniture, ceased operation The following year, Homer Hartzog led a successful organizing campaign which resulted in the National Labor Relations Board certifying, on November 30, 1963, Local 5-313 of the International Woodworkers of America as the bargaining agent for Magnavox’s production workers. The local already represented workers at Empire Furniture in Johnson City. In April, 1967, Local 5-313 members struck in protest of Magnavox’s increasing the production required of each worker. Both management and international leadership agreed that the strike was illegal because it violated the local’s contract with the company. The international office advised Local 5-313 that although it could not support the April strike, it would support a legal strike. When the local’s contract with the company expired on June 15, 1967, the workers struck again. The strike lasted for fifteen weeks, and was not resolved until September, 1967.

At its height, Local 5-313 had almost 500 members from both Magnavox and Empire Furniture. When the Magnavox plant shut down in 1979, the local did not enough members to remain viable, and thus was dissolved.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection contains documents produced by the international office of the woodworkers union, and by Magnavox, but it consists primarily of Local 5-313 records. Included are contracts between the local and company; negotiation session notes taken by local members; membership and financial records; grievance reports; photographs; international publications; court transcripts; and news clippings, mainly on the 1967 strike.

ORganization: The collection is divided into four series: Series I, Local 5-313 Records, 1961-79, and undated; Series II, International Office Records, 1965-78 and undated; Series III, Magnavox Records, 1967-76 and undated; and Series IV, Other Materials, 1967-79 and undated. An Index follows the Box and Folder List.

Important subjects and persons covered include:

American Arbitration Association
Industries—Tennessee—Johnson City
International Woodworkers of America
International Woodworkers of America. Local 5-313 (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Magnavox Company of Tennessee
Sams, Jack
Shell, Paige
Sites, Byron D.
Strikes and lockouts—Furniture industry and trade—Tennessee—Johnson City
Trade unions—Furniture workers—Tennessee—Johnson City

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Series I, Local 5-313 Records, 1961-79 and undated, Boxes 1-7.

Included in Series I are records which document the activities of Local 5-313 of the International Woodworkers of America. Records contained in the series include agreements (contracts) between the local and Magnavox, membership lists, union dues authorizations, incoming and outgoing correspondence, and financial documents. The series is subdivided into subseries according to types of documentation as follows: Subseries I-A, Agreements, 1965-78, Box 1; Subseries I-B, Membership Records, 1961-78 and undated, Boxes 2-3; Subseries I-C, Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1966-79 and undated, Box 3; Subseries I-D, Financial Records, 1965-79 and undated, Boxes 3-7; Subseries I-E, Grievance, Arbitration, and Mediation Reports and Cases, 1964-79, Box 6; and I-F, Other Materials, 1966-73, and undated, Box 6.

Subseries I-A, Agreements, 1965-78, Box 1.

Includes contract negotiation notes taken by local representatives; contract revisions; and final agreements between Local 5-313 and Magnavox. Arrangement is chronological, with notes preceding agreement revisions. Final agreements have been placed at the end of the subseries.

Subseries I-B, Membership Records, 1961-78 and undated, Boxes 2-3.

Contained in the subseries are; meeting minutes and attendance records; resignations from the union; union dues authorizations; and membership memorabilia. Meeting minutes and attendance records have been placed first, and arranged chronologically. Other types of documentation follow, arranged alphabetically by type of documentation, and within categories, arranged chronologically. (For example, union dues authorizations alphabetically have been placed last, but the documents then are arranged chronologically.)

Subseries I-C, Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1966-79 and undated, Box 3.

Included incoming and outgoing correspondence of Local 5-313 members. Incoming correspondence has been placed first, and arranged chronologically. Outgoing correspondence follows, and also is arranged chronologically.

Subseries I-D, Financial Records, 1965-79 and undated, Boxes 3-7.

Included are bank statements for Local 5-313 accounts; monthly reports to the international office; Federal tax records; monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts; strike expenditures; and union dues deduction lists. Materials are arranged first alphabetically by type of document, and second, chronologically within each category.

Subseries I-E, Grievance, Arbitration, and Mediation Documents, 1964-79, Box 6.

Contained in the subseries are grievances filed against foremen of Magnavox by union members; reports of step meetings on the filed grievances; arbitration case reports; and National Labor Relations Board unfair labor case records. Grievances filed against foremen have been placed first, and arranged alphabetically according to the surname of the foreman. Other materials follow, arranged alphabetically by type of documentation.

Subseries I-F, Other Documents, 1966-73 and undated, Box 6.

Included are a Local 5-313 Tri-Cities buyers’ guide; job classification memos; and miscellaneous memos and correspondence. Materials are arranged alphabetically by type of documents.

Subseries I-G, Photographs, 1966-67, Small Photograph Collections, Box 1.

Included are nine snapshots of IWA members in North Carolina, and of Local 5-313 members. Included are photos of striking 5-313 members. Depicted are Paige Shell, Jack Sams, Homer Hartzog, and others. Arrangement is chronological, with 1966 photographs placed before 1967 photographs. [Stored in Special Environment Room]

Series II, International Office Records, 1965-78 and undated, Box 6.

Series II contains materials produced by the international office of the International Woodworkers of America (IWA). Included are a quarterly audit of the IWA; an IWA plant directory; and the proceedings of the 29^th Constitutional Convention. Documents are arranged alphabetically by type of document.

Series III, Magnavox Records, 1967-78 and undated, Box 8.

Series III contains company records, produced by the local Magnavox plant, by Magnavox of Tennessee, and by the national office of the company. Included are warnings to employees, plant rules and regulations, personnel office bid notices for jobs; payroll records; and the transcript of a suit initiated by Magnavox against Local 5-313. Materials are arranged alphabetically by type of document and/or topic.

Series IV, Other Materials, 1967-79 and undated, Box 8.

Series IV contains a variety of materials, including documents produced by the AFL-CIO, and by Region V of the IWA. Newspaper clippings on the 1967 strike by Local 5-313, as well as regional IWA activities have been placed in Series IV. Also included is a copy of legal documents produced in a suit instituted by Magnavox Company of Tennessee against Local 5-339, an IWA local located in western North Carolina.

BOX AND FOLDER LIST

Series I, Local 5-313 Records, 1961-79 and undated, Boxes 1-7.

Subseries I-A. Agreements, 1965-78, Box 1.

Box 1

1. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313, negotiation notes and accompanying documents, September-December, 1969.
2. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313 [mimeographed copy], 1969.
3. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313, negotiating notes and accompanying documents, November-December, 1972.
4. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313, revisions, 1972.
5. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313, mimeographed copy, 1972.
6. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313, revisions, 1975.
7. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313, negotiation notes and accompanying documents, November, 1975-January, 1976 and undated.
8. Agreement: Magnavox and Local 5-313, negotiation notes and accompanying documents, March-December, 1978.
9. Final agreements, 1965-78.

Subseries I-B, Membership Records, 1961-78 and undated, Boxes 1-3.

Box 1

10. Meeting minutes and attendance records, January 20, 1964-November 17, 1966

Box 2

1. Meeting minutes and attendance records, November 17, 1966-June 14, 1979.
2. Meeting minutes, loose, 1974-75, 1978
3. Membership chart, undated
4. Membership memorabilia: forms and booklets, undated.
5. Resignations from Local 5-313, 1967 and undated [copies, Empire Furniture Company]
6. Resignations from Local 5-313, 1968 [Magnavox, union original]
7. Resignations from Local 5-313, 1969-70 [Magnavox, union original]
8. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, 1961-64 [union copy]
9. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, 1965 [union copy]
10. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, 1966-67 [union copy]
11. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, 1968 [union copy]
12. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, 1969 [union copy]

Box 3

1. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, 1970 [union copy]
2. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, 1971-72 [union copy]
3. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, undated, 1 of 2 [union copy]
4. Union dues authorizations: individual, Magnavox, undated, 2 of 2 [union copy]

Subseries I-C, Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1966-79 and undated, Box 3.

Box 3

5. Incoming: Jordan, James R., re: quality of workmanship, March-April, 1979 [includes company copies]
6. Incoming: local member, August 25, 1967
7. Incoming: Magnavox, 1969-79
8. Incoming: Sams, Jack and Homer Hartzog, April, 1967
9. Incoming: Southern States Regional Council, Region V, 1967-78
10. Outgoing: International Office, 1966-69
11. Outgoing: International Office, undated
12. Outgoing: International Woodworkers circulation department, undated
13. Outgoing: Jordan, James R., re: quality of workmanship, March, 1979
14. Outgoing: Magnavox, 1969-74 and undated
15. Outgoing: Southern States Regional Council, Region V, undated

Subseries I-D, Financial Records, 1965-79 and undated, Boxes 3-7.

Box 3

16. Annual audits of Local 5-313, 1969-78
17. Bank statements: account 400-919-3, 1971-78
18. Bank statements: account 402-047-2 [strike fund], 1971-76
19. Bank statements: account 411-56-4536, 1977-78
20. "Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Return," 1970-78
21. "Employer’s Quarterly Contribution Report" (Tennessee Department of Employment Security, 1965-79
22. "Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return," 1965-79
23. Internal Revenue Service memos and statement corrections, 1966-73

Box 4

1. "Labor Organization Annual Report," U.S. Department of Labor, 1968-78
2. Local monthly and quarterly financial report, 1965-70 and undated
3. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, 1963-78 [removed and placed in oversize Box 5]
4. Monthly reports to the International Office, 1966-68 [local copy]
5. Monthly reports to the International Office, 1969-70 [local copy]
6. Monthly reports to the International Office, 1970-71 [local copy]
7. Monthly reports to the International Office, 1973-75 [local copy]
8. Monthly reports to the International Office, 1976-79 [local copy]
9. New 5-313 members: dues deductions, Magnavox, 1967-69
10. New 5-313 members: dues deductions, Magnavox, 1970-71
11. New 5-313 members: dues deductions, Magnavox, 1972
12. New 5-313 members: dues deductions, Magnavox, 1973-75
13. New 5-313 members: dues deductions, Magnavox, 1977
14. Receipts, 1967-71 and undated
15. Reimbursements to Local 5-313 officers by the International Office, 1968
16. Reimbursements to Local 5-313 officers by the International Office, 1969-70
17. Reimbursements to Local 5-313 officers by the International Office, 1971
18. Reimbursements to Local 5-313 officers by the International Office, 1973 and undated
19. Remittances from Southern States Regional Council: Region V to Local 5-313, 1967-78
20. "Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax" [federal], 1965-77

Box 5 [oversize]

1. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, September-October, 1963 to August, 1966
2. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, September, 1968-August, 1969
3. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, September, 1971-August, 1972
4. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, September, 1973-August, 1974
5. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, September, 1975-August, 1976
6. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, September, 1976-August, 1977
7. Monthly balance sheets of expenditures and receipts, September, 1977-August, 1978

Box 6

1. Strike expenditures: letters acknowledging strike assistance order and payment of order, July-August, 1967 [copies]
2. Strike expenditures: recipients of groceries, first through sixteenth weeks, 1967
3. Union dues authorization lists, Empire Furniture, 1965-68 [company payroll]
4. Union dues deduction listing, Magnavox, 1967-76 [placed in oversize Box 7]

Box 7 [oversize]

1. Union dues deduction listing, Magnavox, 1967
2. Union dues deduction listing, Magnavox, January-August, 1968
3. Union dues deduction listing, Magnavox, January-August, 1976

Subseries I-E, Grievance, Arbitration, and Mediation Documents, 1964-79.

Box 6

5. Grievance reports, Step II, against Bob Anderson, 1978
6. Grievance reports, Step II, against James Avery, 1972-73
7. Grievance reports, Step II, against Phil Birchfield, 1966-74
8. Grievance reports, Step II, against Ewen Blake, 1964-72
9. Grievance reports, Step II, against Pete Cartozza, 1967-78
10. Grievance reports, Step II, against Ralph Cooper, 1966-73
11. Grievance reports, Step II, against Jack Hopson, 1964-74
12. Grievance reports, Step II, against Ed Kinser, 1966-75 13.
13. Grievance reports, Step II, against Bob McCurry, 1973 14.
14. Grievance reports, Step II, against Carroll Tipton, 1968-76
15. Grievance reports, Step II, against Don Tittle, 1967-69
16. Grievance meetings, Steps III and IV, Magnavox, 1968-79
17. Arbitration cases, Magnavox, 1968-71
18. Grievance: Case #010-152, 1967 [Magnavox]
19. National Labor Relations Board Unfair Labor Case #10-CB-2149, 1972
20Notices to mediation agencies, 1969-78 [Magnavox]

Box 6

21. Annual Buyers’ Guide and Union Directory [for Tri-Cities region], undated
22. Job classification matters, Magnavox, 1967-68 23.
23. Miscellaneous reports, correspondence, and memos, 1967-73 and undated
24. U. S. Department of Labor correspondence and forms, 1966-72

Subseries I-G, Photographs, 1966-67, Small Photograph Collections, Box 1.

Series II, International Office Records, 1965-78 and undated.

Series III, Magnavox Records, 1967-78 and undated, Box 7-8.

Box 8

1. Company group insurance plan for hourly employees, 1976
2. Company pension plan for hourly employees, 1978
3. Form letters: Magnavox to all employees, 1967-76
4. Individual payroll record, 1965, 1969 and January-June, no year listed [stored in Box 7, Oversize]
5. Magnavox vs. Local 5-313, complaint filed April 14, 1967
6. Personnel office bid notices for jobs, June-October, 1967
7. Plant rules and regulations, undated
8. Warnings to employees, 1967-69

Series IV, Other Materials, 1967-79 and undated, Box 8.

Box 8

9. Industrial Union Department, AFL-Union: Report on Magnavox Company, September 22, 1967
10. Magnavox vs. Local 5-339 et al, Response to cross-motion for summary judgment, November 1967
11. News releases and letters to the editor, 1967, 1979
12. Newspaper clippings, 1967; 1970-72; and undated
13. Region V, International Woodworkers of America: Executive Board Meeting Reports, Minutes, and Motions, 1967-68
14. Southern States Regional Council, Region V Financial Statement, Third Quarter, 1972

INDEX*

* Notation after index entry refer to box and folder number.
"Small Photo" refers to Small Photograph Collections, stored separately in the Special Environment Room.

American Arbitration Association: 6:17
Arbitration: 1-2, 4, 5, 8, 9; 6:17
Bales, Charles: 3-10, 11
Botkin, William: 3-10,11
Collins, A. M.: 6-1

Contract negotiations: 1-1 through 8
Discharge of workers: 1-1, 2, 5, 8, 9
Discipline of workers: 1-1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
Emmert, Roy: 8-12; small photo, Box 1
Empire Furniture Company: 2-5; 6-3

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service: 6:20
Final agreements between Local 5-313 and Magnavox: 1-9
Grievance procedures: 1-1 through 9
Grievance reports and meetings: 6-5 through 16
Hardin, Richard H.: 1-10

Hartzog, Homer: 3-8; small photo, Box 1
Holidays: 1-1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9
Hours and overtime: 1-through 9
International office, International Woodworkers of America: 3-10-11
International Woodworkers of America -- history: 6:25;
plant directory: 6:27;
29th Constitutional Convention: 6:28

Internal Revenue Service: 3-20 through 23
International Woodworker: 3:12
Job classifications: 6-22
Job upgrades and transfers: 1-2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9
Jordan, James R.: 3-5, 13

Layoffs and recall: 1-2, 5, 8, 9
Leaves of absence: 1-2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9
Local 5-313 -- attendance at union meetings: 1-10;
audits: 3-16;
bank statements: 17 through 19;
election of officers: 1-10;
financial reports: 4-2 through 8; 7-1 through 5;
membership list: 2-3;
members’ dues deductions: 4-9 through 13; 6-4; 7-1, 2, 3;
minutes of meetings: 2-1;
resignations from local: 2-5 through 7;
votes on new contracts: 1-10

Local 5-339 (Andrews, NC): 8-10, 12
Maganvox, Johnson City -- letters to employees: 8-3;
plant rules and regulations: 8-7
unfair labor charges against: 6-17, 19

Magnavox Company of Tennessee - suit against Local 5-313: 8-5
Maternity leaves of absence: 1-2, 3, 5, 8, 9
National Labor Relations Board: 6-19
Pension and benefits: 1-1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Phillips, Chancellor Dayton: 8-12

Sams, Jack: 1-10; 3-4, 8; 6-17; 8-12; small photo, Box 1
Seniority: 1-1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Stewards’ meetings: 1-10;
shift meetings: 1-10
Shell, Paige: 3-7; 8-12; small photo, Box 1
Sites, Byron: 3-7; 6:17; 8:3

Southern States Regional Council, Region V: 3-9; 8-14
Strikes -- agreement not to strike: 1:2, 5, 9;
1967 strike: 3-8; 6-1, 2; 8-3, 11, 12; small photo, Box 1
Union dues authorizations: 2-8 through 12; 3-1 through 4
Union dues check-off: 1-2, 5, 8, 9
Union recognition: 1-2, 5, 6, 9

Vacation time: 1-1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9
Wages: 1-2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Workmen’s Compensation laws: 3-10

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