Inventory of the Automotive Machinist Union, Lodge No. 1305 Records, 1919-1970 (predominantly 1940s)
Prepared by Labor Archives and Research Center staff.
Labor Archives and Research Center
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu
© 1999, revised 2011
San Francisco State University. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Automotive Machinist Union, Lodge No. 1305 Records
Date (inclusive): 1919-1970
Date (bulk): predominantly 1940s
Collection number: larc.ms.0092
Accession numbers: 1988/18, 1989/13, 1991/21, 1991/22
Creator:
Automotive Machinist Union, Lodge No. 1305
Extent: 5.1 cubic ft. (5 cartons, 3 boxes)
Repository:
Labor Archives and Research Center
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English.
Abstract: Consists of the records of Automotive Machinist Union, Lodge No. 1305, originally founded in San Francisco and later including
Marin County, Oakland, and Eureka. The collection spans the years 1919 to 1970, and includes minutes of the executive board,
bylaws, correspondence, agreements, ledgers, a roll book, membership applications, clearance cards, organizing leaflets, legal
cases, correspondence with the Grand Lodge, and records of a sister machinists union, Lodge No. 1414.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives & Research Center. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing
to the Director of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the Labor Archives & Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be
obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Automotive Machinist Union, Lodge No. 1305 Records, larc.ms.0092, Labor Archives & Research Center,
San Francisco State University.
Separated Materials
1 AMU Lodge No. 1305 button and 59 Greyhound Strike photos, summer 1969. Removed to the labor button collection and photograph
collection respectively.
Related Collection
Related collections in the Labor History Archives includes the records of the International Association of Machinists Lodge
No. 68 and Lodge No. 284.
Acquisition
These records were donated by JB Martin, Area Director of The Automotive Machinist Union, (AMU) local No. 1305, International
Association of Machinists (IAM). The records were received on three separate occasions in 1988, 1989 and 1991 and accessioned
as numbers 1988/18, 1989/13, 1991/21, 1991/22.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Janette Martin in the summer of 1998.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog:
Labor unions--California--San Francisco.
History
Automotive Machinist Lodge (AMU) No. 1305, a local lodge of the International Association of Machinists (IAM), obtained its
charter on June 24th 1919. Local No. 1305 was originally based in San Francisco, first at 107 Valencia and then at 1750 Market
Street, until it moved in 1988 to the current location at 150 South Blvd., San Mateo. Unfortunately no printed history of
the AMU Local No. 1305 exists, but for a more general account of the IAM see Mark Perlman's
The Machinists; a New Study in American Trade Unionism (1961). Richard Prime Boyden's unpublished thesis
The San Francisco Machinists from Depression to Cold War 1930-1950, provides an account of machinists in the Bay Area.
The IAM was organized in Atlanta, Georgia in 1888 and principally centered on metal fabrication workers, initially representing
skilled craftsmen who had completed a four year apprenticeship. AMU Lodge No. 1305 chartered a little over thirty years later
and differed from the existing San Francisco machinist lodges in that it was primarily established to serve the needs of auto
mechanics. The charter of 1919 marks the founding of what was then known as the Auto Mechanic Lodge No. 1305. A survey of
the membership applications for the same year shows the candidates were young men in the auto and truck repair trade. Twenty
years later although truck and car mechanics still accounted for the bulk of members, AMU Lodge No. 1305 also represented
a diverse range of workers from bakery and brewery employees to mechanics employed on the maintenance of stevedoring machinery.
The lodge during this period used both terms "Auto Mechanic Union, Lodge No. 1305" and "Automotive Machinist Union, Lodge
No. 1305". Gradually the former name appears to have fallen into disuse as membership continued to diversify.
The labor conditions peculiar to the war years influenced membership patterns in AMU Lodge No. 1305. The most significant
change was the admission of the first women members. Their entry was eased by changes in IAM policies during the 1930s when
the recruitment policy was widened to include factory workers. These 'production workers' did not have a four year apprenticeship
and tended to be proficient in only a few procedures. Similarly, during World War II women who had not undergone the four
year apprenticeship were admitted to Lodge No. 1305 as 'specialists' or 'helpers'. Prior to World War II, women were only
encouraged to join the AMU Lodge No. 1305 sister lodge, Golden West Ladies Auxiliary No. 125, which was established in 1940.
The goal of the ladies auxiliary was to "bring within the folds of our organization every wife, mother, sister and daughter".
The Ladies Auxiliary was involved in social activities and also provided Lodge No. 1305 machinists with financial and moral
support in times of industrial strife.
In the post war years trade jurisdiction for Lodge No. 1305 covered an array of moving equipment (forklifts, buses, automobiles,
container carriers, lifts and cranes) vital to industries ranging from car rental to container shipping. Lodge No. 1305 also
represented the City and County automotive workers of San Francisco, Golden Gate Ferries, Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate
Transit. In 1956 the AMU Lodge No. 1305 successfully sued the city in the Martin shop case which challenged the legality of
the city's pay scales and vacation terms. The major employers of union members besides the city and county of San Francisco
included Greyhound, UPS and Matson Terminal in Oakland. The geographic catchment area of Lodge No. 1305 was San Francisco,
Eureka, Marin County and Oakland.
The history of a number of San Francisco and Bay Area machinist Lodges are interwoven with that of Lodge No. 1305 through
merger or as a result of Lodge No. 1305 organizing. For instance, AMU Lodge No. 1305 organized Peninsula Auto Mechanics Lodge,
AMU Lodge No. 1414. This local, chartered on June 9th 1936, was originally located in Redwood city before it moved in 1956
to San Mateo to share an office with local No. 1305. Similarly AMU Lodge No. 1305 organized Lodge No. 1101 of San Jose. By
the mid 1970s Lodge No. 1305 had absorbed the automotive units of Lodge No. 238, a mixed local. In employer association agreements
negotiated during World War II Lodge No. 1546, East Bay Automotive Machinist Lodge often acted in conjunction with Lodge
No. 1305 and Lodge No. 1414.
Unlike other Bay Area machinist locals, such as the militant Lodge No. 284 in Oakland and Lodge No. 68 of San Francisco,
AMU Lodge No. 1305 enjoyed peaceful relations with the Grand Lodge and in the war years especially, good relations with Bay
Area employers. Notable events and achievements over the years include the elimination of piece work in the late 1930s, the
1965 motor car dealer strike and the 1969 Greyhound Strike. The Greyhound strike occurred in the summer of 1969 and involved
three San Francisco locals, AMU No. 1305, IBT No. 665 and IBT No. 241. The AMU local No. 1305 was also involved in San Francisco
politics including the election campaign for Harvey Milk
Over the years AMU Lodge No. 1305 has been affiliated with the following organizations: California Conference of Machinists,
Northern California Machinists Automotive Trades District 190, Marin Labor Council, San Francisco Labor Council, California
Federation of Labor and San Francisco Automotive Trade Council. Lodge No. 1305 also enjoyed close cooperation with San Francisco
and East Bay Teamster locals, in particular, The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local No. 665, Garage and Service
Station Employees and Local IBT No. 241.
Scope and Contents
Consists of the records of Automotive Machinist Union, Lodge No. 1305, originally founded in San Francisco and later including
Marin County, Oakland, and Eureka. The collection spans the years 1919 to 1970, and includes minutes of the executive board,
bylaws, correspondence, agreements, ledgers, a roll book, membership applications, clearance cards, organizing leaflets, legal
cases, correspondence with the Grand Lodge, and records of a sister machinists union, Lodge No. 1414.
The earliest materials contained in the collection are membership applications from 1919-1925 (predominantly from 1919). Other
early material includes a Dues Ledger of 1919-1930, a list of members transferred, died or retired 1919-1926 and several Agreements
with Bay Area employers during the 1930s. A ballot paper for a Lodge AMU No. 1305 executive election held in 1970 is the most
current material. There are no agreements or correspondence from the period of the 1920s. The bulk of the collection dates
from the 1940s and is comprised of agreements and related correspondence.
A button from AMU Lodge No. 1305 and photographs relating to the 1969 Greyhound Strike have been moved to the button and photograph
collection respectively. No textual records concerning the Greyhound Strike are found in the collection, however the processor
compiled a brief account of the 1969 Greyhound Strike which can be found in the Labor Archive ephemera collection, folder
" Machinists, International Association of"
Arrangement
The files of the AMU Lodge No. 1305 are divided into 9 series: Minutes, Membership, Correspondence, Agreements, City Shop
Cases, Health and Welfare, Elections, Law and Legislative Committee. Artifacts were removed to related collections.
Series I:
Minutes
1931-1943
Physical Description:
3 folders
Scope and Content Note
Includes attendance records of officers 1938-1943 and minutes of the executive board meeting 1931-1932 and 1936-1938. Executive
board meetings for 1932-1936 are missing.
Box-folder 1/01
Meeting of the Executive Board, Minutes
1931-1932
Box-folder 1/02
Meeting of the Executive Board, Minutes
1936-1938
Box-folder 1/03
Records of Officers Attendance
1938-1943
Series II:
Membership
1919-1961
Physical Description:
35 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains a number of materials relating to membership including: 1919-1920 membership application forms, a 1925 membership
application belonging to F. L. Martin (a key figure who during his working life held every executive office at Lodge No. 1305),
World War II clearance cards 1942-1943, (over half belong to women unionists), eight bound volumes of membership clearances
1942-1961, a dues ledger kept by the financial secretary 1919-1930, roll book 1943- 1961, (the inner leaf lists the 14 point
agenda of meetings and the names of officers assigned as delegates to the San Francisco Labor Council etc.), thirty pages
of a 1919-1926 ledger detailing members who had retired, transferred out, died or become reinstated, one honory retirement
card issued in 1945 along with correspondence detailing why it was withdrawn in 1949, dues books and withdrawal cards 1934-1943,
(belonging to the IBT local No. 665, Garage and Service Station employees).
Material in this series includes interesting demographic information concerning place of birth, previous and current employment,
gender, age, and previous union membership.
Box-folder 1/04
Dues Ledger, Financial Secretary
1919-1930
Box-folder 1/05
Retired/died/transferred out & Reinstatements
1919-1926
Box-folder 1/06
Dues Books & Withdrawal Cards (IBT No. 665)
1934-1943
Box-folder 1/07
Clearance Cards
1942-1943
Box-folder 1/08
Membership Clearances
1942-1943
Box-folder 1/09
Membership Clearances
1945-1946
Box-folder 1/10
Membership Clearances
1952-1954
Box-folder 1/11
Membership Clearances
1954
Box-folder 1/12
Membership Clearances
1955
Box-folder 1/13
Membership Clearances
1956
Box-folder 1/14
Membership Clearances
1957
Box-folder 2/01
Membership Clearances
1961
Box-folder 2/03
Honory Service Retirement Card
1945-1949
Box-folder 3/01
Application for Membership, 'A'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/02
Application for Membership, 'B'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/03
Application for Membership, 'C'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/04
Application for Membership, 'D'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/05
Application for Membership, 'E'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/06
Application for Membership, 'F'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/07
Application for Membership, 'G'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/08
Application for Membership, 'H'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/09
Application for Membership, 'J'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/10
Application for Membership, 'K'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/11
Application for Membership, 'L'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/12
Application for Membership, 'M'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/13
Application for Membership, 'N'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/14
Application for Membership, 'O'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/15
Application for Membership, 'P'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/16
Application for Membership, 'R'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/17
Application for Membership, 'S'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/18
Application for Membership, 'U-V'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/19
Application for Membership, 'W'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/20
Application for Membership, 'X-Z'
1919-1920
Box-folder 3/21
Application for Membership, F L Martin
1925
Series III:
Correspondence
1924-1948
Physical Description:
7 folders
Scope and Content Note
Includes general correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, between AMU Lodge No. 1305 and the IAM Grand Lodge, as well as
material from the National War Labor Board, miscellaneous World War II era literature, IAM organizing leaflets and strike
sanctions 1924-1937. One letter written in 1936 requests skilled auto mechanics. The most interesting material in this series
are telegrams which concern the 1934 San Francisco and General Waterfront Strike.
Box-folder 4/01
Strike Sanctions
1924-1937
Box-folder 4/02
Communications Lodge No. 1305
1925-1930
Box-folder 4/03
Communications Lodge No. 1305
1931-1947
Box-folder 4/04
Telegrams Re: 1934 San Francisco & General Waterfront Strike
1934
Box-folder 4/05
Correspondence Re: Employment Opportunities for Mechanics
1936
Box-folder 4/06
IAM Organizing Leaflets
1947-1948
Box-folder 4/07
NWLB & Misc. World War II Era Material
1941-1944
Series IV:
Agreements
1930-1951
Physical Description:
51 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains agreements and related correspondence, between Lodge No. 1305 and Bay Area employers and trade associations. Seven
files from the 1940s are arranged alphabetically by independent shop or employer association. Twelve files of 1940s independent
shop agreements are also arranged alphabetically by shop name. The remaining 31 agreements from the 1930s-1940s are arranged
alphabetically by employer association. The majority of agreements date from the war years and also include correspondence
with the National War Labor Board, (NWLB). Much of the correspondence between San Francisco employers, Lodge No. 1305 and
the NWLB concerns requests to raise the prevailing wage rates to combat the shortage of skilled machinists. The agreement
and related correspondence between the automobile dealers of San Mateo and Lodge No. 1414, also describe the extent of union
organization on the peninsula in 1939.
Seven large files, 1935-1947, contain agreements and negotiations with the motor car dealers, which indicates the large number
of auto mechanics who were members of Lodge No. 1305.
Box-folder 4/08
List of Agreements
1945-1946
Box-folder 4/09
Independent Shops/ Trade Associations, 'A'
1945-1947
Box-folder 4/10
Independent Shops/ Trade Associations, 'B-C'
1945-1947
Box-folder 4/11
Independent Shops/ Trade Associations, 'D-H'
1945-1947
Box-folder 4/12
Independent Shops/ Trade Associations, 'I-M'
1945-1947
Box-folder 4/13
Independent Shops/ Trade Associations, 'N-R'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/01
Independent Shops/ Trade Associations, 'S'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/02
Independent Shops/ Trade Associations, 'T-Z'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/03
Independent Shops, 'A'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/04
Independent Shops, 'B'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/05
Independent Shops, 'C'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/06
Independent Shops, 'D-E'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/07
Independent Shops, 'F-G'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/08
Independent Shops, 'H-K'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/09
Independent Shops, 'L-N'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/10
Independent Shops, 'O-Q'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/11
Independent Shops, 'R'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/12
Independent Shops, 'S'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/13
Independent Shops, 'T-U'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/14
Independent Shops, 'V-Z'
1945-1947
Box-folder 5/15
Automotive Council Inc.
1937-1949
Box-folder 5/16
Automobile Dealers, San Mateo, Lodge No. 1414
1939
Box-folder 5/17
Bakery Employers
1930-1949
Box-folder 5/18
Body Builders, CA Metal Trade Association
1937-1943
Box-folder 5/19
Body Builders, CA Metal Trade Association
1944-1947
Box-folder 6/01
Breweries, CA State Brewers Institute
1941-1947
Box-folder 6/02
Building Material Dealers Association
1937-1947
Box-folder 6/03
California Bakers Association
1932
Box-folder 6/04
Challenge Cream & Butter Association
1940-1947
Box-folder 6/05
Draymens Association
1936-1947
Box-folder 6/06
San Francisco Employers Council
1942-1945
Box-folder 6/07
San Francisco Employers Council, before the 10
th Regional War Labor Board
1944
Box-folder 6/08
San Francisco Employers Council
1946-1947
Box-folder 6/09
Milk Dealers Association
1940-1942
Box-folder 6/10
Motor Car Dealers
1935-1942
Box-folder 6/11
Motor Car Dealers
1941-1944
Box-folder 6/12
Motor Car Dealers
1941-1947
Box-folder 6/13
Motor Car Dealers includes, Presidents Report of the Motor Car Dealers Association
1941-1947
Box-folder 6/14
Motor Car Dealers
1941-1947
Box-folder 6/15
Motor Car Dealers
1941-1947
Box-folder 6/16
Motor Car Dealers
1948-1950
Box-folder 6/17
Motorcycle Dealers
1938-1947
Box-folder 6/18
Out of Town Contracts
1940-1951
Box-folder 6/19
Rubber Institute
1939-1947
Box-folder 6/20
Truck Owners Association
1938-1947
Box-folder 6/21
United Parcel Service
1949
Box-folder 6/22
Waterfront Employers Association
1937-1942
Box-folder 6/23
Waterfront Employers Association
1943-1947
Series V:
City Shop Cases
1946-1956
Physical Description:
8 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains the legal transcripts and correspondence with the union lawyer, Milton Marks, on five cases involving the union suing
the City of San Francisco over pay and working conditions for its members. Newspapers clippings follow the court battles,
all of which had a successful out come.
Box-folder 7/01
Case No. 359,886, Legal Documents, Part I
1946-1947
Box-folder 7/02
Case No. 259,886, Legal Documents, Part II
1947
Box-folder 7/03
Case No. 362,422 & No.13,556, Legal Documents
1946-1948
Box-folder 7/04
Case No. 13,556 Legal Transcripts
1947-1948
Box-folder 7/05
Case No. 381,550, Adams V City of San Francisco
1948
Box-folder 7/06
Case No 17,925, Martin V City of San Francisco
1956
Box-folder 7/07
City Shop Case Correspondence
1946-1948
Box-folder 7/08
City Shop Cases, Newspaper Clippings
1946-1947
Series VI:
Health and Welfare
1924-1949
Physical Description:
3 folders
Scope and Content Note
Includes a 1924 IAM circular on safety in garage and automobile shops, a 1949 life insurance plan for members employed by
Four Brake Services, and 5 booklets on "group insurance programs", which describe health and insurance plans offered by East
Bay and San Francisco employers of car mechanics. See also material under series VIII, law and legislative committee, 1939.
Box-folder 7/09
IAM Circular : Recommendations for Controlling Health & Hazards in Garage and Automobile Shops
1924
Box-folder 7/10
Proposed Health and Life Insurance Plans
(Employer Scheme, Four Brake Service)
1949
Box-folder 7/11
Group Insurance Programs, Car Mechanics
(Various Employer Schemes)
1949
Series VII:
Elections
1925-1970
Physical Description:
3 folders
Scope and Content Note
Contains a number of ballots for local executive elections, many of which are annotated with the numbers of vote cast for
each candidate, 1925-1970. Also includes the official ballot for amendments at the 24th IAM Convention which was held in San
Francisco in 1956. The series includes more general political material relating to union sponsored politicians.
Box-folder 7/12
Ballots, Annual Election of No. 1305 Executive Officers
1925-1970
Box-folder 7/13
Election Material, Poll Guides, 'How Your Representative Voted' Etc.
1956-1957
Box-folder 7/14
Official Ballot on Amendments to the Constitution, 24th IAM Convention, SF 4-13 Sept
1956.
Series VIII:
Law & Legislative Committee
1926-1960
Physical Description:
23 folders
Scope and Content Note
Primarily concerns the annual update of bylaws and includes detailed correspondence between Lodge No. 1305 and the Grand Lodge.
However, the scope of the Law and Legislative Committee was broad. The series includes interesting material on salaries, health
insurance, sick benefits, holiday pay, and vacations alongside inventive measures to boost attendance at meetings. For instance
the folder "Law and Legislative 1939", includes correspondence to and from the Grand Lodge concerning the wisdom of conducting
raffles with cash prizes of $5.00, $10.00 and $15.00 at every Lodge meeting. Many files in this series contain correspondence
from the Ladies Auxiliary, Golden West Lodge No. 125. Other significant files include Bylaws Master copy 1926- 1938 and the
1939 Sick Benefit Bylaws. The series also includes a number of bound membership copies of the local bylaws.
Box-folder 7/15
Auto Mechanics Union Lodge No. 1414, Bylaws
1937
Box-folder 7/16
Automotive Trade Union Council District No. 1
1937-1938
Box-folder 7/17
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws, Master Copy
1926-1938
Box-folder 7/18
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1928-1938
Box-folder 7/19
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1927-1939
Box-folder 7/20
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1939
Box-folder 7/21
Law & Legislative Committee, Sick Benefits
1939
Box-folder 7/22
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1940
Box-folder 7/23
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1941
Box-folder 7/24
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1944-1945
Box-folder 7/25
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1946
Box-folder 7/26
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1947
Box-folder 7/27
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1948
Box-folder 7/28
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1950
Box-folder 7/29
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1951
Box-folder 7/30
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1952
Box-folder 7/31
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1953
Box-folder 7/32
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1954
Box-folder 7/33
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1955
Box-folder 7/34
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1956
Box-folder 7/35
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1957
Box-folder 7/36
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1958
Box-folder 7/37
Law & Legislative Committee Bylaws
1960