Will-Grundy Building Trades Council Records

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-152

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Will-Grundy Building Trades Council records (1934-1979) are divided into three series: administrative records; pamphlets, brochures, publications, and manuals; and financial records. The administrative records comprise meeting minutes (1940-1977), annual directories, and pre-job information as well as a subseries composed of subject files. The subject files are alphabetically arranged and primarily consist of records on or about local labor unions and politics. None of the files are complete; there are gaps in the listed series and all records prior to 1934 are missing. Records in the final series document union procedures, Joliet revised codes, legislation, and Building and Construction Trades constitutions and conventions. The collection is useful for documenting the labor climate in Will and Grundy Counties. Researchers studying labor in all of northern Illinois may wish to check the other labor records held by the Center.

Dates

created: 1934-1979
Other: Date acquired: 06/02/1982

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

The Will County Building and Construction Trades Council organized in 1914 to unite the various trades and labor unions of Will County. Sometime around 1950 the council combined with Grundy County to form the Will-Grundy Building Trades Council. Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, the council strived to assist in the formation of new unions when no local had jurisdiction, to use the utmost endeavors to impress upon all fields of labor the necessity of an organization that will protect their rights and interest as wage earners, and to advance the sale of products bearing the union label. The council started publishing the Labor Record to inform the public of their endeavors, to maintain and improve the standard of living and to direct its strength for the benefit of any local belonging to the Council. The objectives of the organization, as stated in the constitution, were as follows: to assist each other in receiving fair remuneration for labor and forcing recognition of our rights as free citizens to join and participate in any organization not in violation of the laws of the land. To secure safe and sanitary conditions in places of employment. To discuss, investigate and act upon all political questions affecting the interests of organized labor and to inform all affiliated Unions of the action taken thereon.

Note written by

Extent

2.00 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

Source of Acquisition

Frederic Schwartz

Method of Acquisition

Frederic Schwartz, President, donated the Will-Grundy Building Trades Council records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on June 2, 1982.