Finding Aid to the Retail Store Employees Union Local 410R Records
Finding aid prepared by Luca Facchin
Labor Archives and Research Center
2022
San Francisco State University
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco 94132-1722
larc@sfsu.edu
Title: Retail Store Employees Union Local 410R Records
Date (inclusive): 1909-1989
Source:
Oswald, Diana
Creator:
Retail Store Employees Union. Local 410R
Extent:
23.75 Cubic Feet
(19 cartons)
Collection number: larc.ms.0018
Accession number: 1987/091
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
Abstract: Includes: constitution and bylaws, minutes of the membership and executive board, records of associated retail clerk organizations,
financial ledgers and statements, membership documentation, and contract negotiation files of the Retail Store Employees Union
Local 410R.
Location: Collection is available onsite.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English.
Availability
Collection is open for research
Restrictions
Some materials are in the public domain; transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed
by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be
restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.
Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility
for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Retail Store Employees Union Local 410R Records, larc.ms.0018, San Francisco State University J.
Paul Leonard Library, Special Collections and Archives
Acquisition
These records were donated by Diana Oswald, Secretary and Treasurer of the Retail Store Employees Union, Local 410R in 1987.
Records will continue to be accessioned to the collection on an ongoing basis.
Arrangement
The files of the Retail Store Employees Union (RSEU) are divided into 11 series: Series 1: History; Series 2: Minutes; Series
3: Correspondence; Series 4: Office Files; Series 5: Health and Welfare; Series 6: Membership; Series 7: Financial; Series
8: Agreements; Series 9: Reports; Series 10: Artifacts; Series 11: Unprocessed files.
Processing Information
Processed by Labor Archives and Research Center staff. Boxes 1 - 13 processed, boxes 14 - 19 contain unprocessed material
and artifacts.
Processing Information
Collection was processed by Susan Goldstein in the summer of 1988.
Biographical / Historical
Little information exists on the origin and early growth of the Retail Store Employees Union (RSEU), Local 410R. The following
account is from the Local's February 1985 newsletter. Diana Oswalt wrote this mini-history based on the recollections of
William Silverstein who was Secretary-Treasurer of Local 410 from October of 1944 to July of 1970:
The first spark of organization of Local 410 was in the year 1853, but was largely unsuccessful. Further attempts at organization
flared up from 1860 to 1900, based on six o'clock and Sunday closing. The Local was chartered as the Retail Shoe and Textile
Sales Union by the San Francisco Labor Council in May of 1900, one hundred and fifty members strong. By October of 1900,
the Local had gained fifty additional members. The six o'clock closing agreement with the merchants went along uneventfully
until January 1, 1901, when several Kearny Street merchants broke the six o'clock rule; the ensuing boycott of ten months
was really only a failure because of the great drain on our meagre treasury. Until a merger in 1902, there were actually
two locals involved: Local 432, covering clothing sales, and Local 410, which covered shoe sales. After the merger, Local
410's jurisdiction was shoe stores, clothing stores and hat shops, such as the Adams and the Lundstroms stores. This was
later extended to shoe concessions.
Organization continued throughout the Thirties. The ideas most rallied around were Union stores, Union labels and Union personnel.
After the Wagner Act passed in the mid-thirties, there occurred a rush for organizing the unorganized. Then came the 1938
strike against the Emporium, Macy's, White House, Hale's, J.C. Penney's, Sears, Roebuck & Co., and Weinstein's, among others,
for the Union shop. This was not achieved, but the strike did win for us the open shop and the protection of a seniority
clause, a step in the right direction.
In 1941, the Union struck over the Union shop and won a victory. Work weeks in independent stores were from 48-52 hours long,
and about 44 hours in department stores. Pay scales were around $25.00 per week.
In 1952, the Union negotiated health and welfare on contracts, as well as maintenance of membership, and in 1961, the first
pension benefits were negotiated.
The Union went through a number of name changes over the years. Originally organized as the Retail Store and Textile Sales
Union in 1900, it became the Retail Shoe Clerks in the 1910's, the Retail Shoe Salesman Association in 1922, the Retail Shoe
and Textile Union in 1944, the Retail Shoe and Textile Salesman's Union in 1948, and, finally, the Retail Store Employees
Union in 1971. The Union was initially chartered by the Retail Clerks International Association (RCIA) on July 10, 1906 and
was subsequently chartered by the United Food and Commercial Workers, UFCW, of the AFL-CIO in 1982. Over the years, Local
410R has been affiliated with the following organizations: the Retailer's Council, the San Francisco Labor Council, the Bay
Area Joint Council of Retail Clerks, the California State Council of Retail Clerks, and the AFL Joint Council of Department
Store Employees.
As mentioned above, Local 410's jurisdiction covered shoe stores, shoe departments in larger department stores, men's clothing
stores, men's furnishings and hat stores. The Local flourished when Mission Street was a vital area of commerce, home to
now-defunct department stores such as City of Paris and the White House. In the late 1950's, Local 1100, the Department Store
Employees Union, came to prominence by organizing large department stores and chains. Although the two unions sometimes co-existed
in the same store and supported each other in strikes, Local 410 membershop declined from this point.
Local 410 was a good union for women. Women participated in the union from its founding, and equal pay for women was an important
principle in both theory and negotiations. As for leadership, Diana Oswald was one of the few female Secretary-Treasurers
in the Bay Area.
Content Description
Includes constitution and bylaws, minutes of the membership and executive board, records of affiliated retail clerk organizations,
financial ledgers and statements, membership documentation, and negotiation and contract files.
The earliest materials contained in the collection are membership applications from 1906 to 1930's. Other early materials
include minutes from 1918 to 1945 and dues ledgers from 1922 to 1939. The earliest correspondence dates from 1926 to 1939.
The most current materials are minutes and Retail Clerks International Association (RCIA) reports from 1979 to 1980 and one
store contract from 1984.
The most significant gaps are the missing membership minutes from 1934 and all the missing minutes from 1945 to 1957.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Retail Clerks International Association
Oswald, Diana
Series 1:
History
1939-1985
Physical Description: 3 folders Carton 1, folders 1-3
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
Contains a mini history of Local 410 prepared by Bill Silverstein and Diana Oswald, past and current Secretary and Treasurer's
of the Local. Also includes bylaws and constitutions adopted over the years, along with rough drafts and explanatory correspondence.
carton 1, folder 2
Retail Store Employees Union
1985
carton 1, folder 3
Bylaws and Constitution
1939-1959
Series 2:
Minutes
1918-1980
Physical Description: 37 folders Carton 1, folders 4-26; Carton 2, folders 1-14
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
Membership minutes from 1918 to 1933, 1935 to 1944, and 1958 to 1980. The minutes from 1918 to 1932 include officer lists.
Executive Board minutes from 1938 to 1944 and 1958 to 1980. Both 1934 and the years 1945 to 1957 are missing. The 1960 minutes
contain information on the big Sears' strike of that year. An article from THE STAR, November 1919, concerning the Schmitz
- Ruef scandal was removed to the print ephemera file.
carton 1, folders 4-7
Membership, Bound
1918-1932
carton 1, folders 12-26, carton 2, folders 1-14
Executive Board and Membership
1938-1980
Series 3:
Correspondence
1926-1970
Physical Description: 11 folders Carton 2, folders 15-25
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
General correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, as well as other printed materials from 1936 to 1951 and from 1968 to
1970. Includes reports and minutes from the Retail Clerks of California, District Council #2; literature from the United
Committee for Boycott of Japanese Goods and the S.F. County Council Labor's Non - Partisan League; intent to organize letters
to store owners as well as negotiations over store closing times, the central issue of the early union; and requests for and
permission-to-strike sanctions. The Retail Clerks International Association (RCIA) correspondence focuses on letters to and
from the International and contains letters from McGuire, James Suffridge, and Vernon Housewright. Some noteworthy letterheads
included in the series.
carton 2, folder 23
Retail Clerks International Association (RCIA)
1956-1963
carton 2, folder 25
RCIA Membership
1926-1966
Series 4:
Office Files
1934-1971
Physical Description: 44 folders Carton 2, folders 26-33; Carton 3, folders 1-24; Carton 4, folders 1-10
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
The bulk of this series consists of notes and records for organizations with which Local 410 was affiliated: the Retailer's
Council, Bay Area Joint Council of Retail Clerks, San Francisco Labor Council, California State Council of Retail Clerks,
Northern California Retail Clerks and the Retail Clerks International Association (RCIA). Most of the material is from the
40's, 50's, and 60's, with only a few documents dating from the 1930's. The NLRB folders contain "Affidavit of Noncommunist
Union Officer" forms as well as a 1950 deposition of William Silverstein's testimony before the NLRB.
carton 2, folders 26-27
Retailer's Council
1937-1942
carton 2, folders 28-33
Bay Area Joint Council of Retail Clerks
1957-1959
carton 3, folders 1-2
SF Labor Council
circa 1938-1979
carton 3, folders 4-11
California State Council of Retail Clerks
1955-1970
carton 3, folder 12
Northern California Retail Clerks
1965-1970
carton 3, folder 13
Western Regional Council of Retail Clerks
1942
carton 3, folder 14
AFL Joint Council of Department Store Employees
1949-1963
carton 3, folder 18
San Francisco Labor Newspaper
1967-1971
carton 3, folder 21
Bay Area Employment Opportunity
1969-1970
carton 3, folder 22
Other RCIA Locals
1960-1963
carton 3, folder 23
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
1951-1958
carton 4, folder 1
Retail Clerks International Association (RCIA)
1962-1969
carton 4, folder 5
RCIA Election Battle
1967-1968
carton 4, folder 6
RCIA Active Ballot Club
1958-1970
carton 4, folder 7
RCIA Southwest Division
1949-1969
Series 5:
Health and Welfare
1953-1972
Physical Description: 19 folders Carton 4, folders 11-20; Carton 5, folders 1-9
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
Contains contracts, financial statements, reports, publicity and pamphlets, and claims relating to the health and pension
programs established by the union in the 1950's. See related material under Series VIII, Agreements.
carton 4, folder 14
Employer's Welfare Fund
1962-1968
carton 4, folders 15-18
Financial Statements, Pension Trust Fund
1963-1970
carton 4, folders 19-20
Trustee's Reports
1953-1967
carton 5, folder 1
Trustee's Agreement
circa 1950-1959
carton 5, folder 3
Board of Trustees Minutes
1968-1971
carton 5, folders 4-5
Trust Fund Correspondence
1965-1974
carton 5, folder 6
Claims for Deceased
1960-1965
Series 6:
Membership
1909-1971
Physical Description: 27 folders Carton 5, folders 10-17; Carton 6, folders 1-19; Carton 7
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
Contains a number of materials relating to the membership: applications and transfer cards from 1909 to 1960's, membership
lists, grievance forms, meeting rosters and meeting excuses, dues ledgers from 1922 to 1939, and election tallies. The applications
have interesting demographic information concerning place of birth, previous and current employment, gender, marital status,
age, and previous union membership. The Retail Clerks International Protective Association (R.C.I.P.A.) Treasurer's Warrant
Book from 1938 records out - of - work benefits and bill payments made on behalf of unemployed members.
carton 5, folders 10-17, carton 6, folders 1-2
Applications and Transfers Cards
circa 1909-1939
carton 6, folder 3
Membership Cards
circa 1940-1959
carton 6, folder 4
Membership Lists
1935-1940
carton 6, folder 6
Roster of Voters
1939-1940
carton 6, folder 7
Meeting Rosters
1961-1970
carton 6, folder 8
Election Tallies
1939-1947
carton 6, folder 10-9
Meeting Excuses
1969-1970
carton 6, folder 11
Employees Questionnaire, National War Labor Board
1943
carton 6, folder 17
Certification of Dues Payments
1939
carton 6, folder 19
Dues Ledger, Blank
undated
carton 7, folder 0
Membership Applications, Unprocessed
circa 1940-1960
Series 7:
Financial
1923-1970
Physical Description: 38 folders Carton 8, folders 1-38
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
General financial records including ledgers, receipts, tax and audit statements. The receipts date from 1923 to 1939 and
include some nice examples of Art Deco graphics.
carton 8, folder 6
RCIPA Treasurer's Warrant Book
1938
carton 8, folder 7
Bay Area Joint Council of Retail Clerks, Receipts & Statements
1957-1960
carton 8, folder 8
Bay Area Joint Council of Retail Clerks, Reports & Statements
1957-1959
carton 8, folders 11-23
Receipts, A, B, C, D, E, G, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W
1938-1939
carton 8, folder 24
Expenses, District Council #2
1936-1939
Series 8:
Agreements
1930-1984
Physical Description: 125 folders Carton 8, folders 39-44; Carton 9, folders 1-22; Carton 10, folders 1-30; Carton 11, folders 1-22; Carton 12, folders 1-25;
Carton 13, folders 1-20
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically.
Contents
Contracts and agreements, filed alphabetically by store name. Files contain signed and blank agreements and related correspondence.
Health and Welfare agreements and records from specific stores are included in this series. The Retail Clerks International
Association (RCIA) files consist of changing Articles of Agreement with the International from 1931 to 1950.
carton 8, folder 39
Arthur's Clothing
1948-1965
carton 8, folder 40
Bally Shoes (Formerly Werner's)
1938-1972
carton 8, folder 41
Bally, Health & Welfare (H&W)
1970-1977
carton 9, folder 3
Coliseum store for Men
1964-1972
carton 9, folder 5
Edison Brothers
1938-1957
carton 9, folder 6
Emporium-Capwell
1981-1984
carton 9, folder 7
Foreman & Clark
1946-1971
carton 9, folders 8-13
Gallenkamps
Circa 1930-1972
carton 9, folder 14
Gallenkamps Arbitration
1950-1962
carton 9, folder 18
Great American Clothing, H&W
1975-1976
carton 9, folder 22
Herbs Uniform Company
1964-1967
carton 10, folder 6
Independent Shoe&Men's Clothing Store
1967
carton 10, folder 8
Kaplan's Army Surplus
1961-1968
carton 10, folder 13
Leo's Men's Wear
1959-1970
carton 10, folder 15
Levy's Liquidation, H&W
1971-1976
carton 10, folder 18
Montgomery Ward
1971-1973
carton 10, folder 20
Navy Center, H&W
1975-1976
carton 10, folder 22
New England Men's Shops
1964-1972
carton 10, folder 23
New England Men's Shops, H&W
1971-1972
carton 10, folder 24
Office Shoe Store
1961-1965
carton 10, folder 25
Office Shoe Store, H&W
1970-1976
carton 11, folder 2
Piper's Bootery, H&W
1970-1971
carton 11, folder 4
Pressler's, H&W
1970-1976
carton 11, folder 9
J Richards, H&W
1975-1976
carton 11, folders 12-13
SF Retailer' s Council
1958
carton 11, folder 14
SF Retailer' s Council
1961-1962
carton 11, folder 15
SF Retailer' s Council
1967-1971
carton 11, folder 16
SF Retailer' s Council, Bound
1952-1957
carton 11, folder 21
Shoe Cafeteria, H&W
1971-1976
carton 12, folder 4
Sommer & Kaufmann
1972-1977
carton 12, folder 6
Sportsland, H&W
1965-1972
carton 12, folder 8
Stevens for Men
1957-1968
carton 12, folder 10
Twenty-One Discount
1970-1972
carton 12, folder 11
Twenty-One Discount, H&W
1970-1972
carton 12, folder 12
United Service Exclusive (USE)
1957-1965
carton 12, folder 13
United Shoppers Exclusive
1961-1970
carton 12, folder 14
Uptown & McCormicks
1956-1965
carton 12, folder 15
Walter May Shoes
1964-1968
carton 12, folder 16
Walter May Shoes, H&W
1970-1977
carton 12, folder 18
White Front, H&W
1968-1972
carton 12, folder 20
White House Appeals
1965-1968
carton 12, folder 21
Incentive Plans
1955-1971
carton 12, folder 22
Collective Bargaining Letters
1970
carton 13, folder 2
Surveys, Wage and Organizing
1944-1957
carton 13, folder 3
RCIA Articles of Agreement
1931-1939
carton 13, folders 4-5
RCIA Articles of Agreement
1941-1950
carton 13, folder 16
Local 870
circa 1958-1969
Series 9:
Retail Clerks International Association (RCIA) Reports
1937-1979
Physical Description: 3 folders Carton 13, folders 21-23
Physical Description: 3 cartons Carton 14-16 Unfoldered
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
Monthly reports to the International contain membership additions and suspensions, reinstatements, transfers, dues payments,
and expense information.
carton 13, folders 21-23
Monthly Reports
1937-1946
carton 14
Monthly Reports, Unprocessed
1946-1957
Series 10:
Artifacts
circa 1938-1989
Physical Description: 1 carton Carton 17
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Contents
Banners, greeting cards, programs, buttons, clothing.
carton 17
Banners, Greeting Cards, Buttons
circa 1938-1989
Series 11:
Unprocessed files
Physical Description: 2 cartons Cartons 18-19 Unfoldered
