Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Contents | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The records of the American Postal Workers Union Local 534 of Sandusky, Ohio, date from 1912-1978. The collection consists of one half linear foot of minutes, correspondence, agreements, and miscellaneous printed material.

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. Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public, and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and scholarly research. The register was prepared by Jill Morse, a graduate assistant at Bowling Green State University in April 1981.

Agency History

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. The Local's current office is located at the U.S. Post Office in Sandusky, Ohio.

Scope and Content

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.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES
May 1912-August 1919, December 1929, July 1945, March 1946
Arranged chronologically
Includes motions, amendments, resolutions, and repots. Also in the back of the volume, membership dues records are listed from 1919 to 1940.

CONSTITUTION
August 1954, n.d.
Contains articles related to goals, membership, elections, and procedures of both the National Federation of Post Office Clerks and the Sandusky Local.

MANUAL OF RITUAL AND PROCEDURE
n.d.
Includes procedures for initiation of new members, opening and closing of meetings, and installation of officers.

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE
1943-1953
Arranged chronologically
Contains outgoing and incoming correspondence pertaining to local business and problems in obtaining annual vacation time.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

AGREEMENTS/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
1963-1978
Arranged chronologically
Includes agreeing parties and articles and amendments of agreement.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

FINANCIAL REPORTS - LOCAL 330
1962-1972
Arranged chronologically
Includes reports on membership and per capita tax levied by National and one income tax report for 1970.

PRINTED MATERIAL

HANDBOOKS - WOMAN'S AUXILIARY OF UNITED FEDERATION OF POSTAL CLERKS
January 1963, n.d.
Includes handbooks on sample programs, history of Auxiliary, recommended activities and actions.

MISCELLANEOUS PRINTED MATERIAL
1945, 1950, 1965, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Includes pamphlets on writing your congressman and analysis of salary act and Union bulletins.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Minutes (235), May 1912-August 1919; December 1929
2. Minutes (534), July 29, 1945; March 31, 1946
3. Constitution and By-laws of Sandusky Local of American Postal Workers Union, n.d.
4. Manual of Ritual and Procedure for Locals of the National Federation of Post Office Clerks, n.d.
5. Correspondence, 1943-1953
6. Agreement - U.S. Post Office Department and Local 534, 1963-1964
7. Agreement - U.S. Post Office Department and United Federation of Postal Clerks, 1968
8. Agreement - U.S. Postal Service and American Postal Workers Union, 1971-1973
9. Memorandum of Understanding - U.S. Postal Service and American Postal Workers Union, 1973
10. Agreement - U.S. Postal Service and American Postal Workers Union, National Association of Letter Carriers, etc, 1973-1975
11. Memorandum of Understanding - U.S. Postal Service and American Postal Workers Union, 1975
12. Proposed Agreement - U.S. Postal Service and American Postal Workers Union, 1975-1978
13. Financial reports, 1962-1972
14. Woman's Auxiliary - Handbook of Information and Sample Program, January 1963, n.d.
15. "Brief Analysis of Burch-Mead Postal Salary Act", 1945
16. When, Why, and How to Write to Your Congressman, n.d.
17. Federation News Service, March 31, 1950
18. Postal Bulletin--Interpretation of 1964 National Agreement, July 23, 1965

Manuscripts by Subject | Labor Collections