Inventory of the Communications Workers of America, Local 4302 Records, 1937-1971

History of Communications Workers of America, Local 4302 Records

The Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 4302 of Akron, Ohio was originally chartered on April 24, 1937, as Local 201 of the Ohio Federation of Telephone Workers (OFTW). Due to the absence of records relative to the Union's first seven years, it is difficult to determine the degree of activity of Local 201. However, in June 1944, the Union was reorganized and received a new charter as the Akron Accounting Local of the OFTW. The new Local was affiliated with the National Federation of Telephone Workers and assumed the role of bargaining agent for its members who were employed by the Ohio Bell Telephone Company. Then, in 1950 it was reorganized as a Local of the CWA and affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations.

The CWA was formed in 1947 to remedy the major problems of the loosely confederated National Federation of Telephone Workers, which had been created in 1939 and consisted of locally autonomous unions from throughout the country. However, the lack of unity and centralization resulted in a weak and ineffective body. The reorganization which formed the CWA created a strong national union which could provide the benefits of a more unified bargaining apparatus on an industry-wide scale. After joining the CWA, this Local was number 3 in Ohio Division 12. In April 1951, Division 12 became part of District 4, which included all CWA locals in Ohio and Michigan except those that had been in Division 6 or 18. At that time the number of the Local was changed to 4302.

Sources: Material in the collection and Labor Unions, The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Institutions, edited by Gary M. Fink, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1977

Scope and Content

The records of Local 4302 of the Communications Workers of America (1937-1971) contain materials relating to the activities of Local 4302 in the Akron area and of its relationships with other CWA organizations, both within Ohio and at the national level, and with AFL-CIO affiliates.

SERIES I: ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 1937-1970

This series includes the organization's charters, constitutions, bylaws, contracts, and meeting minutes. The minutes include those for Akron Accounting Local 201 (1945-1950) and of its Executive Board (1959-1970). Covering this twenty-five year period, the minutes reflect the operations and activities of the Local.

SERIES II: OTHER CWA UNITS, 1947-1970

Series II, by far the largest group in the collection, contains material dating from 1947 to 1970 dealing with other CWA offices and their relationship with Local 4302. Many of these items are communiques and directives to a number of Locals from the District 4 Ohio office located in Cleveland and the International Headquarters in Washington, D.C. As such, they document the activities of the CWA at the regional and national levels as well as those of Local 4302 and other Locals.

SERIES III: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1951-1970

The General Correspondence Series includes documents, both incoming and outgoing, that deal more directly with the operations of Local 4302 than do many of the materials in Series II. Also included in Series III are materials of internal correspondence within the Local.

SERIES IV: FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1948-1969

The Financial Records (Series IV), dating from 1948 to 1969, include financial reports, budgets, and tax information. Some correspondence relating to financial matters is also included in this series.

SERIES V: BARGAINING AND GRIEVANCE FILES, 1948-1970

The Bargaining and Grievances files contain material from 1948 to 1970. Included in this series are reports of bargaining and negotiations as well as minutes of local and regional meetings with regard to grievances.

SERIES VI: AFL-CIO AFFILIATES, 1951-1970

Local 4302 was a member of the CIO Council of Akron which, in 1957, became the Akron Labor Council. This series includes records with regards to this organization as well as the Ohio CIO Council and the Ohio AFL-CIO from 1951 to 1970.

SERIES VII: COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, 1951-1970

Series VII (1951-1970) deals with community activities in the Akron area. Most of the materials, however, are those sent to the Local and it is difficult to determine the role played by the Local or its members in these various campaigns.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.

Restrictions on Access

No restrictions on access; except not available through interlibrary loan. Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.

Communications Workers of America. Local 4303 (Canton,Ohio)

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

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Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Communications Workers of America, Local 4302 Records, Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Donated to The University of Akron by Syd Baker, President of the Communication Workers of America, Local Number 4302 in February 1979

Detailed Description of The Collection