Missouri State University Libraries
Records of the United Garment Workers of America (UGW), Local 216
Collection Number: LA 9
Volume: 13.5 linear feet
Dates: 1936-1982 (Bulk: 1955-1978)
Provenance:
The records of UGW, Local 216 were transferred by International Representative Earl Carroll to the Ozarks Labor Union Archives on March 11, 1982. The collection was processed in 2000 by Carolyn Schweighauser and Trina Yeckley.
Copyright
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).Access
The collection is unrestricted. Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be obtained from the Ozarks Labor Union Archives. Citations should be as follows: Identification of the item, box and folder number, United Garment Workers, Local 216, Ozarks Labor Union Archives, Missouri State University.
Organizational History
United Garment Workers, Local 216 represented the workers who manufactured men’s clothing in Springfield, MO. The union was chartered on November 22, 1935. At its peak during World War II the UGW had almost 1200 members sewing uniforms for the armed forces.
Local 216 represented the employees of Oberman Manufacturing Company, E. S. Laurie Manufacturing Company, Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company, Quality Tailoring Company, Springfield Garment Company, and Calvert’s (later Black Manufacturing Company). The union’s relationships with the clothing manufacturers was generally smooth with only a few incidents standing out. Ted Oberman of Oberman Manufacturing Company tried to oust the UGW in 1937. Workers staged a sit-down strike after Oberman fired over 60 employees for union activities and formed a company union, the Springfield Oberman Employees. The UGW filed charges with the NLRB and the employees were reinstated, receiving $22,000 in back pay. In 1962, employees of Quality Tailoring Company voted to join the union. In response, the company began laying off employees and refused to bargain. The UGW filed charges in June of 1962, and the company soon decided to bargain. By August, the first agreement was signed.
The garment industry in Springfield tended to be piecework with one person manufacturing a section of the completed garment, such as a shirt collar. Until the 1950s, the work day was nine hours long with a six day work week. Wages were determined by production quotas. The union representatives and plant managers established the quotas. If management and the union could not reach an agreement on quotas, an independent third party was brought in to conduct a time and motion study. Factors such as the quality of the equipment, the type of fabric, and the difficulty of each task were evaluated to set the wage.
By the 1970s, the Springfield garment industry was in crisis. Production was moving to China, South Korea, and other locations with inexpensive labor costs. The Springfield factories were no longer competitive. By 1981 the last clothing manufacturer in Springfield, Black Manufacturing Co., had closed its factory. UGW, Local 216 surrendered its charter in March of 1982.
Scope and Content
The collection contains the records of the United Garment Workers, Local 216 which represented the workers of Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company, Quality Tailoring Company, and Calvert’s (later Black Manufacturing Company) in Springfield, MO. The collection is organized into six series: I. Constitutions & By-laws (1960,1973); II. Minutes (1956-1960, 1971-1979); III. Shop Files (1953-1979); IV. General Files (1936-1982); V. Financial Records (1956-1982); VI. Membership Records (1936-1982).Series I: Constitution and By-laws, 1960, 1973
1960 By-Laws, and Constitution and By-Laws for the year 1973.
Series II: Minutes, 1956-1960, 1971-1979
Minutes for Local 216, arranged in chronological order.
Series III: Shop Files, 1953-1979
Records include correspondence, grievances, orders and receipts, agreements
and propositions and time studies for the following companies:
- Black Manufacturing Company, 1970-1979
- Calvert’s Manufacturing Company, 1953-1975
- Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company, 1956-1978
- Quality Tailoring Company, 1962-1974
Also contains similar files for unidentified companies. Arranged in alphabetical order by shop and subject, and chronological order within each folder.
Series IV: General Files, 1936-1982
This series contains records pertaining to the day to day activities of
the union including membership and clearance cards, Equal Employment Opportunity
forms, correspondence, convention materials, publications, and news clippings.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically within each folder.
Series V: Financial Records, 1956-1982
Ledgers, Permits, Quarterly Audits, and related correspondence arranged
in chronological order.
Series VI: Membership Records, 1936-1982
Membership and dues books arranged in chronological order. Some
of the records include the name of the next of kin or beneficiary.
Related Materials in OLUA
Ruth Shannon oral history, December, 16, 1985 is located in the OLUA audio-visual collection.
Three audio recordings of UGW members reminiscing at March 11 & June 2, 1982 gatherings are located in
the OLUA audio-visual collection.
Container List
| Series I: Constitutions and By-laws | |||
| Box 1 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Local 216 | 1960, 1973 | |
| Series II: Minutes | |||
| Box 1 | Folder | ||
| 2 | Local 216 | Dec.1957- Dec. 1960 | |
| 3 | Local 216 | Jan. 1971- Nov. 1979 | |
| Series III: Shop Files | |||
| Box 1 | Folder | ||
| 4 | Black Manufacturing Company-Employee Warning Notices | 1975-1977 | |
| 5 | Black Manufacturing Company-Grievances | 1974-1977 | |
| 6 | Black Manufacturing Company-Orders and Receipts | 1970-1979 | |
| 7 | Black Manufacturing Company-Quarterly Averages | 1974-1975 | |
| 8 | Black Manufacturing Company-Sick Leave | 1975-1976 | |
| 9 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Agreements and Proposals | 1956-1974 | |
| 10 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Average Earnings Report | 1973-1974 | |
| 11 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Grievances | 1964-1975 | |
| 12 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Insurance | 1967 | |
| 13 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Miscellaneous | 1964-1975 | |
| 14 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Orders and Receipts | 1956-1978 | |
| 15 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Sick Leave (Folder 1 of 2) | 1957-1968 | |
| 16 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Sick Leave (Folder 2 of 2) | 1969-1975 | |
| 17 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1964-1966 | |
| 18 | Calverts Manufacturing Company-Time Study | n.d. | |
| 19 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Contract Proposals and Negotiations | 1963-1975 | |
| 20 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Correspondence | 1958-1975 | |
| 21 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Grievances | 1953, 1967-1969 | |
| 22 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Orders and Receipts | 1967 | |
| 23 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Sick Leave | 1973-1974 | |
| 24 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1956-1963 | |
| 25 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 1 of 2) | 1959-1960 | |
| 26 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 2 of 2) | 1959-1960 | |
| 27 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1960-1967 | |
| 28 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 1 of 2) | 1960-1968 | |
| 29 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 2 of 2) | 1960-1968 | |
| 30 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1962 | |
| 31 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1963 | |
| 32 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 1 of 2) | 1964 | |
| Box 2 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 2 of 2) | 1964 | |
| 2 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1966 | |
| 3 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 1 of 2) | 1967 | |
| 4 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study (Folder 2 of 2) | 1967 | |
| 5 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1968 | |
| 6 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1969 | |
| 7 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | 1972-1973 | |
| 8 | Jeth-Roe Manufacturing Company-Time Study | n.d. | |
| 9 | Quality Tailoring Company-Agreements and Proposals | 1966-1968 | |
| 10 | Quality Tailoring Company-Collective Bargaining | 1962 | |
| 11 | Quality Tailoring Company-Correspondence | 1964 | |
| 12 | Quality Tailoring Company-Grievances | 1962-1964 | |
| 13 | Quality Tailoring Company-Time Study | 1964-1967 | |
| 14 | Quality Tailoring Company-Time Study | 1967-1969 | |
| 15 | Quality Tailoring Company-Time Study | 1974-1976 | |
| 16 | Quality Tailoring Company-Job Standards | 1968 | |
| 17 | Quality Tailoring Company-Worksheets and Agreed Productions | 1967-1968 | |
| 18 | Miscellaneous | 1967 | |
| 19 | Orders and Receipts (companies not identified) | 1974-1981 | |
| 20 | S.A.M. Conversion to Dozens | 1968 | |
| 21 | Time Studies (companies not identified) | 1962-1967 | |
| 22 | Time Study (company not identified) Birmingham, Alabama (Folder 1 of 2) | 1966 | |
| 23 | Time Study (company not identified) Birmingham, Alabama (Folder 2 of 2) | 1966 | |
| Series IV: General Files | |||
| Box 2 | Folder | ||
| 24 | AFL-CIO Certificate of Affiliation | 1956 | |
| 25 | Boot and Shoe Workers Union | 1936 | |
| 26 | Clearance Cards | 1957-1974 | |
| 27 | Clippings | 1966-1973 | |
| 28 | Convention-Seattle, Washington (Minutes) | 1957 | |
| 29 | Convention-Seattle, Washington (Souvenir Program) | 1957 | |
| 30 | Convention-St. Louis, Missouri (Proceedings) | 1967 | |
| 31 | Convention-Tacoma, Washington (Minutes) | 1972 | |
| 32 | Convention-Tacoma, Washington (Minutes) | 1972 | |
| 33 | Convention-Tacoma, Washington (Proceedings) | 1972 | |
| 34 | Convention-Tacoma, Washington (Resolutions) | 1972 | |
| 35 | Convention-Kansas City, Missouri | 1977 | |
| Box 3 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Correspondence | 1958-1982 | |
| 2 | Employee Warning Notices | n.d. | |
| 3 | Equal Employment Opportunity | 1973 | |
| 4 | Insurance | n.d. | |
| 5 | Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act | 1959 | |
| 6 | MDA-Citation of Merit | 1979 | |
| 7 | Mailing Lists | n.d. | |
| 8 | Maine State Federation of Labor | n.d. | |
| 9 | Mediation Forms | 1970-1973 | |
| 10 | Membership Cards | 1962-1971 | |
| 11 | Missouri Workmen's Compensation Law | 1969 | |
| 12 | National Labor Relations Board-Rules and Regulations | 1965 | |
| 13 | Petition-Auto Workers | n.d. | |
| 14 | Publication-Affirmative Action and Equal Employment (Guidebook) | 1974 | |
| 15 | Publication-Bias | 1953 | |
| 16 | Publication-The Disaffiliation of the UAW | 1968 | |
| 17 | Publication-Electing Union Officers | 1961 | |
| 18 | Publication-Important Events in American Labor History, 1778-1964 | 1965 | |
| 19 | Publication-Why Unions? | 1969 | |
| 20 | Right-To-Work | n.d. | |
| Series V: Financial Records | |||
| Box 3 | Folder | ||
| 21 | Correspondence | 1969-1982 | |
| 22 | Labor Organization Reports | 1960-1980 | |
| 23 | Ledgers | Jan. 1956-Feb. 1962 | |
| 24 | Ledgers | March 1962-Feb. 1966 | |
| 25 | Ledgers | March 1966-March 1970 | |
| 26 | Ledgers | April 1970-March 1974 | |
| 27 | Ledgers | April 1974-Jan. 1979 | |
| 28 | Ledgers | Jan. 1979-Nov. 1981 | |
| 29 | Permits | Jan. 1956-June 1966 | |
| 30 | Permits | Jan. 1969-May 1976 | |
| 31 | Quarterly Audits | 1974-1981 | |
| Series VI: Membership Records | |||
| Box 4 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1936-1937 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | 1939-1940 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | 1941-1942 | |
| Box 5 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1943-1944 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | 1945-1946 | |
| Box 6 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1947-1948 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | 1949-1950 | |
| Box 7 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1951-1952 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | 1953-1954 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | Dec. 1955-Oct. 1956 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | 1956-1957 | |
| 5 | Roster / Dues Book | 1956-1957 | |
| 6 | Roster / Dues Book | Nov. 1956-July 1957 | |
| 7 | Roster / Dues Book | July 1957-Feb. 1958 | |
| Box 8 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1957-1959 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | March-Oct. 1958 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | Oct. 1958-June 1959 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | July-Dec. 1959 | |
| 5 | Roster / Dues Book | Jan.-Aug. 1960 | |
| Box 9 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1959-1961 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | Sept. 1960-March 1961 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | 1961-1963 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | April-Nov. 1961 | |
| 5 | Roster / Dues Book | Nov. 1961-June 1962 | |
| 6 | Roster / Dues Book | Aug. 1962-Feb. 1963 | |
| Box 10 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1963-1965 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | March-Sept. 1963 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | Sept. 1963-March 1964 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | April - Oct. 1964 | |
| 5 | Roster / Dues Book | Oct. 1964-May 1965 | |
| 6 | Roster / Dues Book | 1965-1967 | |
| Box 11 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | May-Dec. 1965 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | Dec. 1965-July 1966 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | July-Dec. 1966 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | 1967-1969 | |
| 5 | Roster / Dues Book | Jan.-July 1967 | |
| 6 | Roster / Dues Book | Aug. 1967-Feb. 1968 | |
| 7 | Roster / Dues Book | March-Sept. 1968 | |
| 8 | Roster / Dues Book | Oct. 1968-April 1969 | |
| 9 | Roster / Dues Book | April-Dec. 1969 | |
| Box 12 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1970-1971 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | Jan.-Aug. 1970 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | Sept. 1970-April 1971 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | 1971-1973 | |
| 5 | Roster / Dues Book | Sept. 1971-June 1973 | |
| 6 | Roster / Dues Book | May-Dec. 1971 | |
| 7 | Roster / Dues Book | Jan.-Aug. 1972 | |
| 8 | Roster / Dues Book | Sept. 1972-April 1973 | |
| Box 13 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1973-1975 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | May-Dec. 1973 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | June 1973-Nov. 1975 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | Jan.-Sept. 1974 | |
| 5 | Roster / Dues Book | Sept. 1974-July 1975 | |
| 6 | Roster / Dues Book | July 1975-Jan. 1976 | |
| 7 | Roster / Dues Book | 1976 | |
| 8 | Roster / Dues Book | June 1976-June 1977 | |
| 9 | Roster / Dues Book | June 1977-May 1978 | |
| Box 14 | Folder | ||
| 1 | Roster / Dues Book | 1978 | |
| 2 | Roster / Dues Book | May 1978-May 1979 | |
| 3 | Roster / Dues Book | June 1979-July 1980 | |
| 4 | Roster / Dues Book | 1979-1982 | |