The Warren Consolidated Industries (WCI) Steel Strike Scrapbooks are divided into two volumes. Assembled by Deborah Chaney, the scrapbook includes news articles concerning WCI Steel and information leading up to and including the strike.Volume one begins with a list of strike unit leaders, strike ephemera, and an index of newspaper articles dealing with the strike. Articles from the union newsletter are included in the scrapbook as are copies of photographs taken inside the plant and at the strike lines. A short history of the 1937 Republic Steel strike is included as a comparison to the pre-strike WCI workers complaints. Details of Labor spokesman, Gus Hall's visit to the area are captured in union newsletter articles and local newspaper articles. The scrapbook contains information detailing the negotiations, management and union proposals, and detailed benefits packages offered by the company. As the negotiations continued, news articles are included which report on the day to day meetings between the union and management. On 31 August 1995 talks broke down. The scrapbook includes all information concerning the debate as to whether the work stoppage was a strike by labor or a lockout by management. The programs and benefits offered by the union to employees is also included. Strike fund and benefits information is outlined as news articles report on the conditions at the strike lines. Covering the events of the strike, the scrapbook chronicles events into September 1995. Volume one ends with a transcript of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services Unemployment Compensation Division hearing between WCI and USWA Local 1375.
Volume two begins with the concluding transcript of the above hearing. The volume also contains letters, photograph copies, and local information of the strike as a proposal was tentatively agreed upon in late October 1995. A second hearing before the Ohio Bureau of Employment was held and the transcript of the hearing is included in the scrapbook. The workers voted on an agreement and passed it on 25 October 1995, ended the two month work stoppage. Volume two concludes with information detailing the beleaguered economic status of WCI steel and its standing in steel output worldwide and union strike photographs taken during the seven and one half week long work stoppage. A list of employees is including at the end of volume two.
The Ohio Historical Society acquired the WCI Steel Strike Scrapbooks as a gift from United Steel Workers of America Local 1375 through John Russo, Youngstown State University on April 26, 1996. Kim Weitzman processed the collection in August 1996. The Ohio Historical Society holds the property rights to this collection and what copyrights the donor possessed have been dedicated to the public. Consideration of all other copyrights is the responsibility of the researcher. This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio Historical Society and Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor. In citing the collection in research, the collection name, the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, and Ohio Historical Society should be noted.
Container 1
Contents:
Volume one
Volume two