Description
The International Longshore and
Warehouse Union (ILWU) primarily represents dock workers on the West Coast of the United
States. The union was established in 1937 and the Los Angeles Chapter, Local 13, was
established shortly thereafter. The collection documents the establishment and development
of the local as well as many of the goals and achievements of unionism on the Pacific Coast.
Topics of interest include labor/management relations, labor conditions on the waterfront,
the sudden effects of mechanization on the longshore labor force, and the day-to-day
administration of this longshore union.
Background
In 1892, members of the longshore union met in Detroit, Michigan to christen their
organization as the National Longshoremen's Association of the United States. The new union
quickly became an official arm of the trade unionist movement by joining with the American
Federation of Labor (AFL). With successful expansion into ports on the east and west coasts,
including several Canadian ports by 1895, the union changed its name to the International
Longshoremen's Association (ILA).
Restrictions
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of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.
Availability
The collection is open for research use.