Collection ID: C398
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Communications Workers of America. Local 4730 (Bloomington, Ind.)
Abstract:
Since 1993, the Communications Workers of America has represented Indiana University's clerical and technical workers. The collection consists of newsletters, brochures, fliers, memos, press releases and newspaper clippings.
Extent:
.4 cubic feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Communications Workers of America Local 4730 records, Collection C398, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

In the late 1980s, Indiana University's clerical and technical employees began investigating the possibility of establishing a union in hopes it would help better address salary equity, job security, health insurance, child care, retirement and pensions. The organizing committee thoroughly researched clerical unions and ultimately decided it wanted to bring the Communications Workers of America to the campus.

With backing from many campus support staff, the group watched closely as House Bill 1307 (Collective Bargaining Bill) made it through the state house and senate. The bill, if passed, would grant all public employees the right to collectively bargain and to form and join employee organizations. Regardless of the bill outcome, IU employees had the right to unionize under IU's "Conditions of Cooperation," but the bill would nonetheless give IU-CWA additional backing. The bill did not pass, but IU-CWA pushed forward. Organizers on campus continued work to gain the support of the campus, publishing a regular newsletter and hosting brown bag lunches to provide further information on CWA.

In spring 1992, IU-CWA sent a letter to the Board of Trustees informing them it would like to poll support staff to determine whether they would support the right to formally organize the union on campus. The Conditions of Cooperation governing the elections stated that CWA must win the majority of all those eligible to vote rather than winning the majority of the votes cast. Feeling this was both unfair and undemocratic, CWA worked with university Trustees and Human Resources to get the policy altered. It also requested that clericals and technical staff should have separate votes. CWA hired an outside arbitrator to work on its behalf, and this person ruled in the union's favor to hold separate elections for the two groups. In April 1993, the Trustees voted to adopt the recommendation of the arbitrator, but the election policy remained the same. That same month, the American Arbitration Association mailed ballots to all employees eligible to vote. 75% of eligible voters cast votes affirming the union's presence on campus to represent IU's clerical and technical employees, which was enough for approval of a union on campus.

Scope and Content:

This collection consists primarily of copies of "Solidarity Now!", the IU-CWA's newsletter, and brochures, fliers, press releases and newspaper clippings created and collected by campus organizers during the years the group was working to be established on campus. The collection is arranged chronologically.

Acquisition information:
Accession Information: 2010/053
Custodial history:

Deposited with the Archives by Linda Harl, June 2010.

Processing information:

Processed by Dina M. Kellams.

Completed in 2010

Arrangement:

Collection is organized into a single series, Administrative files. Files are arranged chronologically.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Communications Workers of America Local 4730 records, Collection C398, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu