Collection ID: BHC-MSS 0202

Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Daniels, Andrew
Date:
1941-1982
Abstract:
Andrew Daniels was active in Fairfield county labor unions and causes from 1941 until his death in 1982. Starting as a secretary for the Aluminum Workers of America, he went on to sit as a part of the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration. His papers chart his labor career and provide insight into negotiations and changes in the Connecticut landscape as labor unions began a decline in the 1970s and 1980s.
Extent:
2.3 Linear Feet
Language:
English .

Background

Acquisition information:
1982.27, gift of Daniels' estate
Scope and Content:

Material provides a close charting of Daniel's career in labor with specific regard to contract negotiation and arbitration. Given that in the 1970s and into the 1980s there was a general decline of labor unions in America, the documentation within the collection provides key insight into what labor unions were active in the state of Connecticut, the concerns of employees, and the clashes with employers. This is especially true in series IV which features cases from the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, where many of the cases deal with municipal employee unions or the Teamster locals.

Biographical / Historical:

Andrew Daniels was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on June 11, 1910, but spent most of his life in Fairfield County, Connective. Active in labor unions most of his life, starting as the recording secretary for the Aluminum Workers of America local 324 in 1941. The local merged with United Steelworkers, and headed that local as president in 1944 where he remained until 1952, when he was promoted by Philip Murphy. The promotion to staff meant that he helped locals throughout the State of Connecticut with tasks including contract negotiations, grievances, and arbitration cases.

Daniels went on to serve as a part of the State Board of Mediation and Arbitration thanks to his role with United Steelworkers, where his cases were weighted heavily towards municipal government employees rather than industries – although his case records show some industrial work as well as various arbitration work wit different Teamster locals.

In addition to labor work, Daniels was an active member of the Democratic Town Committee of Fairfield, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the United Fund of Eastern Fairfield County (now the United Way.) His wife was Bertha Petchkis. Together they had two sons and two daughters.

Daniels died on June 4, 1982 in Fairfield.

Arrangement:

Material appears to have been processed by David Palmquist, who assigned it four series – general, labor, politics, and State Board of Mediation and Arbitration. Series I contains a brief biography of Daniels along with photographs and family information. Series II, labor, covers his early career and working as a part of the staff for United Steelworkers, helping with contract negotiations and arbitration. The contracts are located in subseries 2, with all other material listed as "general" in subseries 1. Both subseries are arranged alphabetically. Series III, politics, reflects local Fairfield politics which Daniels was active in, the original order (generally chronological) has been kept.

Series IV, State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, is split into subseries I, general which is arranged alphabetically, and subseries 2, cases. The cases are arranged by the town name first, then the union's name and local.

Access

LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
925 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604, USA
Link to repository site
CONTACT:
203-576-7400, #7
hclibrarian@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org