George Burt Papers

Collection

Identifier: LP000539

Staff Only

These papers are composed almost entirely of the minutes of these council meetings from 1940 to 1953, and of Burt's reports to the council. Interspersed among them are other reports to the council, and resolutions. These are followed by two folders from the council which contain its by-laws, with revisions, and a few financial reports, from 1940-1943. The remaining five folders in the collection are materials from other groups or from Burt not relating directly to council affairs.

Important subjects covered in the collection are: All Canadian Congress of Labor: CIO amalgamation Political action Postwar wage increases Regional relations with the UAW International union World War II: Industrial Disputes

Series Description: Series I, District Council 26, 1940-1953: Minutes, reports and related materials. There are also items relating to the World Federation Trade Union and the history of the UAW in Canada.

Dates

1940 - 1953

Creator

Burt, George, 1903- (Person)

Language of Materials

Material entirely in English.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Use

Refer to the Walter P. Reuther Library Rules for Use of Archival Materials.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (3 MB)

Additional Description

Abstract

George Burt served as Director of the Canadian region of the United Auto Workers from 1939 until his retirement in 1968. Mr. Burt’s papers are largely composed of council meeting minutes and Mr. Burt’s reports to the council. Also present are papers related to World War II labor issues, and the history of the UAW in Canada.

History

George Burt, born in 1903 in Ontario, was the head of the Canadian region of the UAW from 1939 until his retirement in May, 1968. He had been the first treasurer of UAW Local 222 in Oshawa, Ontario, the place where a strike in 1937 against General Motors brought, according to many, "the CIO to Canada." In addition to being the Canadian director of the UAW, Burt also became a general vice president of the Canadian Labour Congress which he represented at conferences on the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, and served for two years as president of the Ontario Federation of Labour. He was involved in every major contract negotiation with the big auto companies during his 29-year directorship, especially with the granting of union security at Ford in Windsor, 1946; of Ford pensions, 1950; of the SUB fund at GM, 1958; and of wage parity at Chrysler, 1968. Just after his retirement, Burt was given an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Windsor. The Canadian region of the UAW was originally known as District Council 26, and was chartered in 1939. This district council is the only survivor of the old UAW nomenclature, and is generally synonymous with Region 7, which comprises all of Canada. District Council 26 met every three months, and Burt, in his capacity as regional director, reported to it regularly.