State Workers Organizing Committee Records

Collection

Identifier: LR001948

Staff Only

The State Workers Organizing Committee Records contains material related to SWOC and affiliated labor groups, such as the Welfare Employees Union and the Michigan State Employees Association. Material included in the collection consists mostly of paper records documenting the efforts of SWOC and the MSEA to establish local union chapters and to agitate for workers rights, including meeting and convention information, legal proceedings, promotional materials, and correspondence with various labor groups and government agencies. The collection also contains some photographic slides.

Important Subjects: Collective bargaining – Government employees Labor movement Labor unions - Mergers Labor unions – Organizing. Welfare rights movement

Important Names AFSCME Dempsey, John Gibson, Richard Michigan. Department of Social Services Michigan State Employees Association United Automobile Workers Welfare Employees Union

Dates

1973 - 1985

Creator

State Workers Organizing Committee (Organization)

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

1.75 Linear Feet (1 SB, 2 MB)

Additional Description

Abstract

The State Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) was a semi-caucus and political movement that worked within several unions, including the Welfare Employees Union (WUE), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Michigan State Employees Association (MSEA), and the United Auto Workers (UAW) in the late 1970s and early 1980s. SWOC was born from within the WEU and served as an activist organization that played a key role in establishing local union chapters, including the UAW Local 6000 and the AFSCME 1880. Additionally, SWOC took part in rallies, job actions, and legal endeavors on issues related to worker concessions, bargaining rights, layoffs, reassignments, grievances, and welfare rights. The State Workers Organizing Committee Records contains material related to SWOC and affiliated labor groups, such as the Welfare Employees Union and the Michigan State Employees Association. Material included in the collection consists mostly of paper records documenting the efforts of SWOC and the MSEA to establish local union chapters and to agitate for workers rights, including meeting and convention information, legal proceedings, promotional materials, and correspondence with various labor groups and government agencies. The collection also contains some photographic slides.

History

Arrangement of the Records

Folders are listed by their location within each box. They are not necessarily arranged, so any given subject may be dispersed throughout the entire collection.