Members of the Washington National Guard are loaded up in trucks and preparing to return to downtown Tacoma from the industrial Tideflats across the Eleventh Street Bridge. The second battalion of the Guards' 161st Infantry was mobilized to Tacoma by Governor Clarence Martin when workers attempting to return to work during the Lumber workers' strike met with violence. Their job was to protect the workers and the mills. They were stationed at the Armory and patrolled the Tideflats and all bridges and roads into the area. The Eleventh Street bridge has roadblocks on all but one lane, so that vehicles could be searched. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Chief of Police Harold Bird poses with an officer of the Washington National Guard, deployed to Tacoma by Governor Clarence Martin to restore the peace during the 1935 lumber workers' strike. In June of 1935, as some workers prepared to return to the reopened mills, their efforts were met with violence. Returning workers were threatened, beaten, their homes and vehicles bombed and vandalized. Local authorities were unable to stop the violence. The Guard was called in to protect the workers and the mills. The strikers and sympathizers were joined in their protests by those who resented the armed troops in their midst. (TNT 6/24/1935, pg. 1 & 2)

Copy of the customers' drawing. The Carpenters Union Hall, for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local #470 in Tacoma. Building designed by McGuire & Muri, Architects. Built in 1954, the building was opened in April of 1955. The contractor was Concrete Construction Co.

Carpenter's Union Local No. 470 (Tacoma); Architectural drawings;

The Washington Federation of State Employees, AFL-CIO, held their 16th annual convention at the Winthrop Hotel on May 18, 1957. Members listened to speakers discussing pertinent issues of adequate wages, a state merit system, and how a state employees union meets the problems of a changing administration. View of speaker and extended microphone at podium; there is a large circular logo "American Federation State County Municipal Employees AFL-CIO" on the back of the podium. A can of Walla Walla green peas is next to a pitcher of water. Photograph ordered by Washington Federation of State Employees. (TNT 5-18-57, p. 4)

Washington Federation of State Employees (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

A man and three women, one in uniform, pose by a sedan. They were attending the grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club in June of 1942. The club, located on Market Street with side entrance at 15th, was part of the Labor Temple purchased by the unions in 1941. Entrance to the club was limited to A.F. of L. members only. (TNT 6-25-42, p. 8)

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Uniforms;

June of 1942 saw the grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club. The Tacoma Central Labor Council, representing over 60 A.F.of L. unions, had purchased the old Baker Hotel property on Market Street in 1941 and made it their new home. A guest of the Labor Temple reaches for a piece of cake from a waitress during opening day ceremonies while four others in the booth look on. The notice on the wall near the group indicates that only beer and wine could be served during specific hours; no hard liquor was allowed. The Club rooms were located on the Mezzanine floor and served as recreation rooms and as a restaurant.

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Cakes--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Guests enjoy the opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club in June of 1942. Developed for the use of A.F.of L. union members only, the club had the most modern design in the city. Located in the Labor Temple on Market Street, the site of the former Baker Hotel properties, club members used the side entrance on S. 15th. Harry "Red Carnation" Switzer was the Recreation Club manager. (TNT 6/25/1942, pg.8)

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma);

Grand opening of the Labor Temple Recreation Club was held in the summer of 1942. The club was run for the benefit of A.F.of L. union members only. Harry "Red Carnation" Switzer was the club manager; he is seated holding a clock. Mr. Switzer was celebrating his 54th anniversary which coincided with the grand opening. He had long been associated with the movie business in Tacoma, having managed the Colonial, Rialto, Broadway and Cameo theaters.

Labor Temple Recreation Club (Tacoma); Switzer, Harry; Clocks & watches;

On September 28, 1942, R.A. Boedecker, on ladder, carefully mounts a War Chest poster on a street lamp while Carl Escene offers advice from below. Both men are officers of the Billposters Union, local 49, which is volunteering labor to post the War Chest signs in the business district and outlying shopping areas. The posters are a reminder of the upcoming War Chest fund raising campaign. The War Chest was a wartime branch of the Community Chest. The street light was located at 474 Market Street. (T. Times 9/30/1942, pg. 11)

Labor Unions--Tacoma; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Billposters Union, Local 49 (Tacoma); Boedecker, R.A.; Escene, Carl; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma);

A little to the left advises Carl Escene, on ground, as R. A. Boedecker mounts a War Chest poster on a street light near 747 Market Street in September of 1942. The two men are officers of Bill Posters and Billers Union No. 49. The union is volunteering labor to mount signs reminding that the War Chest fund raising campaign is coming in October. Automobiles on street and First Baptist Church in background. (T. Times 9/30/1942, pg. 11)

Labor Unions--Tacoma; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Billposters Union, Local 49 (Tacoma); Boedecker, R.A.; Escene, Carl; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma);

R.A. Boedecker (left), the secretary of the Billposters Union, and Carl Escene, the union's business agent, hold several War Chest campaign signs in this photograph from September of 1942. The Billposters Union, Local 49, volunteered their help in posting signs throughout Tacoma's business district and in outlying shopping centers. The signs were a reminder that the War Chest campaign was in October. The Oct. 1942 goal was $385,000. The lamp post behind them, with a freshly mounted sign, is in front of the Medical Arts Building Garage at 474 Market. The 1st Baptist Church at 902 Market can be seen in the background.

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Billposters Union, Local 49 (Tacoma); Boedecker, R.A.; Escene, Carl; Community service--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charitable organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Community Chest (Tacoma);

Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Welders and Helpers Union #568 collected $700 from members to help locally during the 1942 Christmas season. The donated money was divided equally between the Elks Stocking Fillers and the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. Here a night deposit sack containing $350 is presented to the Elks to help pay for their annual Christmas morning party for needy children. Gathered around the big Stocking Fillers cash register are, from left according to the News Tribune: Harry J. Lynch, Erling O. Johnson, Fred Humbert, Carl Webb, Harry T. Salle, Carvel Leighton, Verne Johnson, Raymond T. Tarr, Paul Drake, Merrill C. Thompson and A.T. "Skipper" Delplaine. (TNT 12/22/1942, pg. 7)

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Welders and Helpers Union #568 (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gifts; Cash registers;

The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Welders and Helpers Union #568 presented a check for $350 to the Elks to be used in their December 1942 Christmas party for needy children. Fred Humbert is pictured emptying a money bag of donations into the big Elks Stocking Fillers cash register outside the Elks Temple, 565 Broadway. Watching him are Elks and union members including Harry J. Lynch, chrm. of the Elks Christmas committee (at front - left) and Erling O. Johnson, Elks secretary-manager (at extreme right.) Other names are listed in the News Tribune article dated 12-22-42. Thanks to the generosity of these union members and other caring Tacomans, 650 children enjoyed a happy Christmas morning filled with fun and gifts. (TNT 12-22-42, p. 7-alt. photograph; TNT 12-26-42, p. 9-article on party)

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Welders and Helpers Union #568 (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Holidays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gifts; Cash registers; Lynch, Harry J.;

Photographs from the Metal Trades convention for the Labor Advocate. The Metal Trades Council was the negotiating body for all the unions involved in working with metal, such as the shipyards.

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Metal Trades Council (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Labor Directory/Bulletin Board. Blackboard lists members awarded bonds. Signs over the blackboard say "These are Union Firms, They deserve your Patronage." . Dispatcher cages are also shown.

Labor unions--Tacoma; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1943. Labor Directory/Bulletin Board. Signs showing business names and Buy War Bonds, dispatcher window and Conference Room door.

Labor unions--Tacoma; War bonds & funds--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Two men standing outside the C.I.O. Hall (Congress of Industrial Organizations). The hall is in a store front with large glass windows. Both men wear business suits, one holds up a folded newspaper.

Labor unions--Tacoma; C.I.O. (Tacoma);

The above men and women, representing the cooks & assistants, waiters, waitresses and bartenders of Local No. 61, posed for a group portrait on November 26, 1971, at union headquaters, 805 Pacific Ave. Photograph ordered by the Hotel-Motel Restaurant Employees International Union, Local No. 61.

Labor unions--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Labor Center. View of massive Labor Center which had been dedicated on March 10, 1972. The three story building housed the Pierce County Labor Council, Tacoma Labor Advocate newspaper, and more than 30 unions. Photograph ordered by Dunham & Bush, Seattle.

Labor Center (Tacoma);

International Woodworkers installation of officers. Nine men stand around a podium. A framed certificate from the International Woodworkers of America leans against the podium, draped in black ribbon. Man in the middle identified as Edward Lohre by a reader.

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; International Woodworkers of America (Tacoma); Rites & ceremonies;

National President of the Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses and Bartenders Union christening new building. This new building was purchased for $68,500 and will house the new local union headquarters. The new building will have a comfortable lobby, clubroom, union hall and kitchen. The building is expected to be dedicated in December of this year. View of National president and union members outside of new building.

Labor unions--Tacoma; Organizations' facilities--Tacoma; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma);

Cooks and Waiters Union, new officers. Substantial wage increases for employees of restaurants in Tacoma and Pierce County were provided in a new agreement executed August 27, 1946, effective September 1, 1946 - June 1, 1948, between the Pierce County Division of the Washington State Restaurant Men's Association and Local #61 of the Cooks and Waiters Union. (T.Times, 8/28/1946, p.1)

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Labor leaders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma);

Al Miller, Howard Grant and Herman Tietje (left to right) were three of the first members of the Stereotypers and Electrotypers Union Local No. 91 in Tacoma, when it was organized forty years ago. These three charter members were honored for their service in the union; twenty five members attended the celebration at the New Yorker Cafe (T. Times,10/6/47, p. 3).

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Charters--Tacoma; Labor leaders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Stereotypers & Electrotypers Union Local No. 91 (Tacoma); New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Miller, Al; Grant, Howard; Tietje, Herman;

On Thursday October 9, 1947, the Tacoma Charter of Building Laborers and Hod Carriers honored three members with honorary life membership at a dinner in their union hall. D. L. McInnis became a member in 1916; Joe Collins in 1917; and Dan Avery , a member of the local in Denver, CO in 1888, helped establish the Tacoma chapter when he moved to Tacoma in 1905 and was present when it received its charter in 1911. Left to right, D. L. McInnis, Joe Collins and Dan Avery (T. Times, 10/10/47, p. 12).

Labor unions--Tacoma; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Charters--Tacoma; Aged persons--Tacoma; Building Laborers & Hod Carriers Union Local No. 252 (Tacoma); McInnis, D.L.; Collins, Joe; Avery, Dan;

The Building and Hod Carriers union celebrated with an "Old Timers' Night". The union presented three union pioneers with honorary lifetime memberships. Seated left to right are the guests of honor, D. L. McInnis, Dan Avery and Joe Collins. Standing are the union officials, Vernie Reed, Ed Younger, Lloyd Warell and Vern Johnson (T. Times, 10/10/47, p. 12).

Labor Unions--Tacoma; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Charters--Tacoma; Aged persons--Tacoma; Building Laborers & Hod Carriers Union Local No. 252 (Tacoma);

Fred Wheeler (left) and Charles McDonald congratulate each other as the two newly elected labor leaders for the Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses and Bartenders Local No. 61. The union held a special two day election, Wheeler was appointed the new Outside Business Representative and McDonald the local Secretary-Treasurer. The newly elected labor leaders will officially take over their duties on November 15, 1947.

Labor leaders--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma); McDonald, Charles E.; Wheeler, Fred T.;

United Steel Workers union was formed with the help of the United Mine Workers. The Mine Workers felt the Steel Workers needed guidance and helped them organize a committee. View of Permanente Metals employees washing their hands after a hard day at work, photo ordered by United Steel Workers of America.

Laborers--Tacoma; Washstands--Tacoma; United Steel Workers of America Union Local No. 2626 (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma; Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Permanente Metals was an aluminum producing plant, the demand for aluminum and aluminum made products had dramatically increased since the end of World War II. Aluminum products could be found in kitchens, automobiles, airplanes, luggage, homes and many other areas; aluminum offered durability yet was extremely light weight and versatile. View of Permanente Metals employee oiling a machine, photo ordered by United Steel Workers of America.

Laborers--Tacoma; United Steel Workers of America Union Local No. 2626 (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma; Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;

In June 1936 the Steel Workers Organizing Committee was formed, Phillip Murray, Vice-President of the United Mine Workers was appointed Chairman of the new committee. By the end of 1936 125,000 steel workers had joined the union. View of Permanente Metals employee working in plant, photo ordered by United Steel Workers of America.

Laborers--Tacoma; United Steel Workers of America Union Local No. 2626 (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma; Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;

The Steel Workers Organizing Committee later became known as the United Steel Workers of America, including a chapter located in Tacoma, Washington. The United Steel Workers of America Local Number 2626 had members throughout the iron, steel and metallurgical industries in Tacoma. View of Permanente Metals employees in plant, photo ordered by United Steel Workers of America.

Laborers--Tacoma; United Steel Workers of America Union Local No. 2626 (Tacoma); Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma; Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;