Guide to the John Janosco United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA)
Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: John Janosco United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA) Collection
Creator:
Janosco, John
Identifier/Call Number: URB.JJ
Extent:
2.00 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1908-1973
Abstract: John Janosco was a West Coast
Representative for the United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA) from 1949-1960. His
area of coverage included California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. Janosco through most
of his life was an active participant in the labor movement. Records included in this
collection document Janosco's activities as UPWA West Coast Representative and include
weekly field reports, correspondence with union locals, and photographs.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
John Janosco was a West Coast Representative for the United Packinghouse Workers of America
from 1949-1960. His area of coverage included California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona.
Janosco through most of his life was an active participant in the labor movement. He began
his labor involvement as a rank and file member of the Furniture Workers Union (FWU), Local
1859 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He also served as the local's financial secretary and
business representative from 1936 to 1944. After a dispute over Janosco's strong disapproval
of the Minneapolis local of the Teamsters' International, which was responsible for raiding
the Furniture Workers Union, Local 1859, Janosco was suspended. Eventually he left the Local
for private work.
His next involvement with union activities was with the United Packinghouse Workers of
America when he became their West Coast Representative in 1949, a post he served in for ten
years. During his time with UPWA, Janosco served as the field representative for District 4
and worked closely with local unions and their members. He taught classes on collective
bargaining and enforcement of labor contracts for officers and stewards. He also was
involved with arranging grievance cases for presentation before the National Labor Relations
Board's Unemployment Division, and other governmental departments. His most prominent labor
activities involved negotiating with employers for local union contracts, working out wage
scales and working conditions for various packinghouse plants and industries.
In 1957, Janosco made frontpage news when he was charged for subversive activities under
the McCarran-Walter Act. He was the first person to be charged under the Act for suspicion
that he belonged to the Socialist Workers Party. As part of the indictment Janosco was
charged with attempting to overthrow the government of the United States by the use of force
and violence. Deportation proceedings by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to his
native Hungary began in 1957. After several months, Janosco was acquitted of all charges
based on the lack of evidence.
Janosco remained with the UPWA as a field representative until 1960 when he ran for the
post of District Director during the UPWA International Convention against Joe Ollman,
Administrator of Local 667. Ollman had warned Janosco prior to the election not to run
against him. After the election, winner Ollman terminated Janosco's employment with
UPWA.
After leaving the UPWA, Janosco worked as a custodian for the Los Angeles Unified School
District until his retirement. Janosco passed away in 1973.
Scope and Contents
The
John Janosco
United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA) Collection
documents his activities as UPWA West Coast Representative. The collection includes weekly
field reports, correspondence with union locals, and photographs. A small amount of
correspondence and union bulletins document his previous membership in the Furniture Workers
Union in Minnesota. Papers in the collection document through newspaper clippings, court
proceedings, and immigration documents the attempt to charge Janosco with subversive
activities. Tax records, paycheck stubs and performance of evaluation records document
Janosco's employment with UPWA and the Los Angeles Unified School District. The collection
also contains correspondence between Janosco and his brother, Peter. It has been divided
into four series:
UPWA, Minnesota (1947-1961),
UPWA Weekly Field Reports (1951-1960),
Personal
and Family Documents
(1908-1973), and
Non-Manuscript
Material
(1911-1965).
Series I,
UPWA, Minnesota, consists of information linked to
Janosco's work with United Packinghouse Workers of America Local Union #4, which includes
credentials, correspondence for nomination and a withdraw transfer certificate.
Series II,
UWPA Weekly Field Report, consists of information
related to John Janosco's work as a United Packinghouse Workers of America representative.
The reports are categorized by year.
Series III,
Personal and Family Documents, consists of several
documents that include income taxes, property taxes, employment applications, personal
receipts, court proceedings, newspaper clippings and correspondence.
Series IV,
Non-Manuscript Material, includes ephemera,
photographs, and oversized newspaper clippings. Ephemera includes several metals and
delegate pins associated with John Janosco's work under the UPWA and personal metals. The 24
photographs are comprised of union conventions and several union meetings in which John
Janosco participated. Oversize newspaper clippings deal primary with John Janosco
deportation case.
Arrangement of Materials:
Series I: UPWA, Minnesota, 1941-1961
Series II: UPWA Weekly Field Reports, 1951-1960
Series III: Personal and Family Documents, 1908-1973
Series IV: Non-Manuscript Material, 1911-1965
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Steve Dakota, 2006
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Robert G. Marshall, Abraham Barragan; 2006
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Series I: UPWA, Minnesota, 1947-1961
Box 1, Folder 1
United Packinghouse Workers of America (UWPA) - District Council:
Credentials,
1949 July 7
Box 1, Folder 2
United Packinghouse Workers of America (UWPA) - Local 4: Correspondence
regarding Nominations for Office,
1947, 1948
Box 1, Folder 3
United Packinghouse Workers of America (UWPA) - Local 4: Personnel
Record
Box 1, Folder 4
United Packinghouse Workers of America (UWPA) - Local 4: Withdrawal or
Transfer Certificate,
1961 February 14
Series II: UPWA Weekly Field Reports, 1951-1960
Box 1, Folder 5
Field Staff: Weekly Reports and Expense Statements,
1950 March 25-December 30
Box 1, Folder 6
Field Staff: Weekly Reports and Expense Statements,
1951 January 13-December 29
Box 1, Folder 7
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1952 January 12-December 27
Box 1, Folder 8
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1953 January 3-December 26
Box 1, Folder 9
Field Staff: Weekly Reports and Expense Statements,
1954 January 2-December 25
Box 1, Folder 10
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1955 January 1-December 31
Box 1, Folder 11
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1956 January 7-December 29
Box 1, Folder 12
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1957 January 5-December 30
Box 1, Folder 13
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1954 January 4-1958 April 5
Box 1, Folder 14
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1959 December 12-26
Box 1, Folder 15
Field Staff: Weekly Reports,
1960 April 9-May 28
Box 1, Folder 16
United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA), West Coast - Elections:
Statement by John Janosco regarding Termination,
ca. 1960
Box 1, Folder 17
United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA), West Coast - Industrial
Commission of Arizona State Labor Department: Correspondence regarding Judith Ann
Janosco,
1960 August 5-1961 September 22
Series III: Personal and Family Documents, 1909-1973
Box 1, Folder 18
Deportation Case: Correspondence with Former Employers,
1942 September 28-1959 October 5
Box 1, Folder 19
Deportation Case: Deportation Proceedings,
1957 March 29
Box 1, Folder 20
Deportation Case: Deportation Proceedings,
1957 June 10
Box 1, Folder 21
Deportation Case: Deportation Proceedings,
1957 June 11
Box 1, Folder 22
Deportation Case: Deportation Proceedings,
1957 June 12
Box 2, Folder 1
Deportation Case: Newspaper Clippings,
1957 April 23-1958 March 5
Box 2, Folder 2
Furniture Workers Union, Local 1859 and Upholsterers' International Union of
North America, American Federation of Labor (AFL): Furlough Documents,
1942
Box 2, Folder 3
Janosco, Peter (Brother): Correspondence,
1961 October 12-1971 August 29
Box 2, Folder 4
Janosco, Peter (Father): Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
Declaration of Intention (Photostat),
1908
Box 2, Folder 5
Los Angeles City Schools: Letters of Sympathy from School Children to Mrs.
Janosco regarding John Janosco Passing,
1973 April 19
Box 2, Folder 6
Personal: Application for Employment,
1944 June 30, March 1961
Box 2, Folder 7
Personal: Bills and Receipts,
1942-1959
Box 2, Folder 8
Personal: Immigration Documents,
1941-1959
Box 2, Folder 9
Personal: Income Tax Audit Changes and Withholding Tax
Statements,
1955-1964
Box 2, Folder 10
Personal: Income Taxes,
1937-1949
Box 2, Folder 11
Personal: Property Taxes,
1943-1952
Box 2, Folder 12
Personal: Income Taxes,
1946-1957
Series IV: Non-Manuscript Material, 1911-1959
Box 3, Folder 1
Deportation Case: Press Release regarding Deportation
Proceedings,
1957
Box 3, Folder 2
Los Angeles City Schools: Performance Evaluations,
1962-1967
Box 4, Item 1
Pin and Ribbon: Gr. Kat. Russki Sokol, Cislo 37. V Sojedineniju, Odelenue
Sokoloch, Zalozeno April 2, 1911 Minneapolis, Minnesota,
1911
Box 4, Item 2
Delegate Pin and Ribbon: 35th Convention, Minnesota State Federation of
Labor, Hibbing,
1937 September 20-22
Box 4, Item 3
Medal: 1940 Golden Anniversary Convention, Minnesota State Federation of
Labor, St. Paul,
1940
Box 4, Item 4
Delegate Pin and Medal: Golden Anniversary, Upholsters International Union,
Chicago,
1948 June 12
Box 4, Item 5
Delegate Pin: 61st Convention, Minnesota State Federation of Labor,
Minneapolis, Floy B. Olson Memorial,
1943
Box 4, Item 6
Delegate Pin and Ribbon 23rd Biennial Convention, Upholsterers International
Union, Philadelphia,
1944
Box 4, Item 7
Pin 9th Constitutional Convention, Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
Minnesota State Council, Duluth,
1946 November 1-3
Box 4, Item 8
Badge. 10th Constitutional Convention, Congress of Industrial Organizations
(CIO) Minnesota State Council. Hibbing, Memorial Building,
1947 October 31-November
Box 4, Item 9
Delegate Pin and Ribbon: 5th Constitutional Convention, United Packinghouse
Workers of America, CIO, Boston, Massachusetts,
1948 April 5-8
Box 4, Item 10
Delegate Pin and Ribbon: 11th Constitutional Convention, Minnesota State
Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) Council, Winona,
1948 December 11-12
Box 4, Item 11
Guest Pin and Ribbon: 12th Constitutional Convention, United Packinghouse
Workers of America (UPWA) St. Paul,
1949 September 9-11
Box 4, Item 12
Guest Pin and Ribbon: 7th National Constitutional Convention, United
Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA), Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO),
Minneapolis,
1950 May 25-29
Box 4, Item 13
Guest Pin and Ribbon: 2nd Annual Convention, California Congress of
Industrial Organizations (CIO) Council, San Francisco,
1951 July 26-29
Box 4, Item 14
Guest Pin and Ribbon: 8th Constitutional Convention, United Packinghouse
Workers of America (UPWA), Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) Cosmopolitan
Hotel, Denver Colorado
Box 4, Item 15
Delegate Pin and Ribbon 4th Annual Convention, California Congress of
Industrial Organizations (CIO) Council, San Diego, California,
1953 November
Box 4, Item 16
Guest Pin and Ribbon: 9th Constitutional Convention, United Packinghouse
Workers of America (UPWA) Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), Sioux
City,
1954 May 3-7
Box 4, Item 17
Delegate Pin and Ribbon: 10th Constitutional Convention, United Packinghouse
Workers of America (UPWA), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial
Organizations (AFL-CIO), Cincinnati Music Hall,
1956 June 18-22
Box 4, Item 18
Delegate Pin and Ribbon: Convention, California Industrial Union Council and
California Congress of Industrial Organizations CIO-COPE, San Francisco,
December 1958
Box 4, Item 19
Delegate Pin and Ribbon: 57th Convention, Minnesota State Federation of Labor
Duluth,
1959 September 11-13
Box 4, Item 20
Delegate Pin and Medal: 1st Annual Convention, California Labor Federation,
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
(AFL-CIO),
1958
Box 4, Item 21
Pin: I Am A Member of U.P.W.A. CIO Are You
Box 4, Item 22
Pin: United Packinghouse Workers of America, Congress of Industrial
Organizations (CIO)
Box 4, Item 23
Pin: United Packinghouse Workers of America, American Federation of Labor and
Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
Folder 1
Oversize Newspaper Clippings,
1942-1968
Box 5, Item 1
Photographic Material: California Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)
Council - 2nd & 4th Annual Convention (CIO),
1951, 1953
Box 5, Item 2
Photographic Material: John Janosco - Union Speech
Box 5, Item 3
Photographic Material: Portrait of John Janosco,
1965
Box 5, Item 4
Photographic Material: Santa Barbara - United Packinghouse Workers of America
(UPWA) Political Action Committee,
1954
Box 5, Item 5
Photographic Material: Upholsterers' International Union of North America,
American Federation of Labor (AFL UIU) - 23rd Biennial Convention,
1944
Box 5, Item 6
Photographic Material: United Packinghouse Workers of America - West Coast -
Group Pictures
Box 5, Item 7
Photographic Material: United Packinghouse Workers of America - West Coast -
Union Convention,
1954, 1956
Box 5, Item 8
Photographic Material: United Packinghouse Workers of America - West Coast -
Union Dinner
Box 5, Item 9
Photographic Material: United Packinghouse Workers of America - West Coast -
Union Meetings
Box 5, Item 10
Photographic Material: United Packinghouse Workers of America - West Coast -
Union Meetings: Group Pictures
Box 5, Item 11
Photographic Material: United Packinghouse Workers of America - West Coast -
Union Negotiations,
1960
Box 5, Item 12
Photographic Material: United Packinghouse Workers of America - West Coast -
Union Negotiations
