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Container
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Title
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April 18, 1977 Session
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
00:50
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Background of Joseph Hueter and His Parents
: Born June 1, 1907 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Parents born in Germany, came to the United States on their wedding trip, and never returned to Germany. Father had been a paperhanger in Germany; in the United States he became a butcher in a slaughterhouse.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
02:40
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Anecdote about His Father's Arrest for Passing Out Union Literature
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
03:35
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Education, Marriage, Children
: Eighth grade education at Catholic school in Philadelphia. Married first time in 1928; two sons.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
04:45
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Jobs Held
: Delivery boy for butcher shop; soda jerk; baker; stock room at large Philadelphia department store.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
05:55
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First Job in Textile Industry - Collins and Aikman Company
: At age 20, mid-1926, went to work as apprentice weaver making pile fabric. Piece work. 11½ hours a night, 5 nights a week. Second week already on his own loom; made $57. Soon was averaging about $100 per week.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
09:45
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Rivalry Between Loom Fixers and Weavers
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
11:10
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Lack of Unionization Amongst Weavers
: No union; no seniority. High earnings made unionizing infeasible. Those with high earning ability, like Hueter, able to remain working in midst of layoffs during slack periods. Discontent did not develop until technological changes brought increased workloads and employee layoffs. Slack period in 1933 brought “wage cut” so that weavers were making only $16 per week.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
15:15
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Hueter and Two Others Call Meeting to Organize Union
: Only 35 out of more than 1,000 attended; officers elected. One officer fired; entire plant walked out. Strike lasted from May to October 1933; was very successful.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
20:15
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Hueter Elected Business Agent of Newly-Formed Union
: Included other shops of the pile fabric division organized during the strike. No knowledge of union work at that time. All affiliated themselves with the United Textile Workers (UTW) to form Local 1741 (later Local 33 - TWUA).
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
25:30
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Dispute over Granting of UTW Charter to Local 1741
: William Pollock, business agent for Local 25 (Upholsterers), challenged Local 1741's right to a UTW charter. Dispute settled and Local 1741 rented office space from Local 25.
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Tape/Side
1/1
Time
28:40
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Textile Strike of 1934 as It Affected Philadelphia
: Both union and nonunion workers walked off their jobs; many appeared at Hueter's office asking to be organized.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:00
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Introduction
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
00:30
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Anecdotes Relating to 1933 Collins and Aikman Strike
: Local 1741 leadership duped into holding mass meeting at Communist hall. Gimmick to avoid ruling against mass picketing. Picket line incident - Collins and Aikman's Chairman of the Board got an umbrella in his face.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
07:10
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Textile Strike of 1934
: Very effective in Philadelphia; Philadelphia business agents attempted to persuade UTW Executive Council not to call off the strike. Many nonunion employers refused to rehire striking employees after the strike. (See 17:55 of this Tape 1, Side 2; strike did not have adverse effect on organized plants.) Organizing severely affected for many years as a result.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
10:55
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Very Few Textile Locals Had Written Contracts in 1930s
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
11:25
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Role of Hosiery Workers and Dyers in 1934 Strike
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
14:15
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1934 Convention Decision to Strike
: Emil Rieve opposed strike in woolen-worsted industry because of financial condition of UTW.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
15:40
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Hueter's Opinion of 1934 Strike
: Being new to union activities, felt strike could be run effectively without finances, both on local and international level.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
17:00
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Strike Vote at the Convention
: Very few people against going on strike, despite finances.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
18:05
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Dues-Paying Procedures within the Local
: No checkoff systems. Dues not paid regularly.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
19:45
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First Written Contract in Local 1741 Won by Chance
: With LaFrance Industries, 1936-37. Dues not being paid by LaFrance union members; local threatened to strike for a checkoff system. Internal problems of LaFrance Industries left it in no position to suffer a strike, so company gave in and granted written contract with ten percent wage increase, closed shop, and the checkoff. Others soon fell in line.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
24:20
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Collins and Aikman's Association with the Union
: By matching wages and conditions of union shops as well as setting up internal grievance procedure, Collins and Aikman able to eliminate the union. Strike of 1934 served to again unionize Collins and Aikman; but Collins and Aikman again matched the union shops and employees once again dropped from the union.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
26:10
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1936 UTW Convention
: UTW officers ineffective; opposition controlled the convention. Federations spearheaded drive to join with CIO.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
27:55
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Francis Gorman
: Most effective officer in UTW; had ability and was respected by membership.
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Tape/Side
1/2
Time
29:50
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James Starr
: Active only in role as Secretary-Treasurer.
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