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Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Local 198 (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records

Notifications

Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

The Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America came into existence in January 1897. Unlike many unions, it contained both craft locals (in retail butchering) and industrial locals (in packing houses). Philadelphia meat cutters formed local unions in 1936 amid a major organizing drive by the national union. In 1939-1940, locals 195, 198, and 199 established themselves in the city and began securing collective bargaining rights.

Local 198 maintained an active interest in labor's political action, legislation and progressive policies. The local, both in its own activities and as part of the area-wide Joint Council, pursued its goals through a variety of measures and methods, including cooperation with other unions, economic pressure, and influence with employers.

This collection contains minutes, contracts, pamphlets, financial records, correspondence, publications, and other materials. The minutes of both executive board and general membership meetings document day-to-day problems of labor relations and union administration. International, Pennsylvania State and Philadelphia area joint council materials provide information on relationships with the higher levels of the union.

The collection is arranged into 5 series as follows:

Series 1: Minutes, 1944-1977
Series 2: Agreements and Printed Matter, 1947-1983
Series 3: Financial Records, 1940-1981
Series 4: International and Joint Council Material, 1947-1982, undated
Series 5: Elections, 1963-1978

Acquired in approximately 1981.

Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015.

Organization
Subject
Place

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
April 2024
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Local 198 (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Series 1, Minutes, contains the minutes of the Local 198 Executive Board, general membership and special meetings.

Executive Board, 1944-1963.
Box 1 Folder 1-7
Executive Board, 1963-1977.
Box 2 Folder 8-10
General and District Meetings and Junior Council, October 26, 1970-October 15, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 11
Special Meetings, 1960-1972.
Box 2 Folder 12-13
General Membership and Meetings, 1942-1970.
Box 3 Folder 14-20

Scope and Contents

Series 2, Agreements and Printed Matter, includes contracts, union constitutions, and various other union pamphlets.

Union, Organization Pamphlets, 1950-1983.
Box 4 Folder 1-10
Constitutions, 1960-1972.
Box 4 Folder 11
Contract Changes, 1973.
Box 4 Folder 12
Acme Increases, 1976.
Box 4 Folder 13
Agreements, 1947-1983.
Box 5 Folder 14-32

Scope and Contents

Series 3, Financial Records, contains financial statements, receipt books, stewards' receipts, and office receipts.

Financial Statements, 1961-1981.
Box 6 Folder 1
Miscellaneous Receipts, February 1, 1940-December 31, 1943.
Box 6 Folder 2
Stewards Receipts, October 1940-December 1957.
Box 6 Folder 3-4
Office Receipts, January 1944-December 1956.
Box 6 Folder 5-6
Office Receipts, January 1957-December 1976.
Box 7 Folder 7-15
International Finance Reports, 1965-1969.
Box 8 Folder 16-20
International Finance Reports, 1970-1976.
Box 9 Folder 21-25

Scope and Contents

Series 4, International and Joint Council Material, contains correspondence, minutes, memos, and published material from the Joint Council and International Union of the AMC & BW.

Meat Cutters Union Papers, 1971-1975.
Box 10 Folder 1-6
International Correspondence, 1965-1972.
Box 11 Folder 7-12
International Instructions and Literature, 1969 and 1972.
Box 11 Folder 13-14
Pennsylvania State, Federal B.W. Minutes, 1972-1976.
Box 11 Folder 15
Joint Council Strike Fund, 1947-1958.
Box 11 Folder 16
Joint Council Correspondence, 1964-1968.
Box 11 Folder 17-19
Joint Council Correspondence, 1970-1972.
Box 12 Folder 20-22
Joint Council Bulletins, 1975-1980.
Box 12 Folder 23
Joint Council Minutes, 1971-1973.
Box 12 Folder 24-25
Executive Board, 1970-1971.
Box 12 Folder 26-27
Executive Board Minutes, 1982.
Box 12 Folder 28
AMC BW Local 198, 1971-1972.
Box 12 Folder 29-30
Local 198 Notices, 1971-1972.
Box 12 Folder 31
Local 198 Meeting, April 9, 1978.
Box 12 Folder 32-33
Philadelphia Council Minutes, 1971-1979.
Box 12 Folder 34
Negotiations, 1971-1980.
Box 13 Folder 35-37
Strike Instructions and Organization Problems, undated.
Box 13 Folder 38
Listing of Members to Receive Pension booklets, 1972.
Box 13 Folder 39
AMC BW Statement to United States Senate, 1959.
Box 13 Folder 40
Merger between AMC BW and UPWA, 1968-1972.
Box 13 Folder 41
Problems (BC/BS) Miscellaneous Benefits, undated.
Box 13 Folder 42-43

Scope and Contents

Series 5, Elections, contains correspondence, ballots, memos, returns and hearings concerning elections and election irregularities.

Elections, 1963, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1978.
Box 14 Folder 1-9
Hearings Concerning Election Irregularities, 1964.
Box 14 Folder 10

Print, Suggest