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);

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;

The Labor Temple on Market St. was home to a variety of unions with each union having a designated room. Among the many unions were the Butcher Workmen Union Local #554, the Bakers Union Local #126, Bricklayers Union Local #1 and the Motor Coach Employees Union Local #758, in addition to the Pierce County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO and United Labor Advisory Committee of Pierce County. Formerly the Hiroshimaya Hotel, the Labor Temple was purchased in 1941 by the Labor Council and completely paid for by 1943. View of members of the Plumbers and Fitters Union Local #82 who met in Room 201 of the Labor Temple; on the wall near the men are signs from other unions. Photograph ordered by the Plumbers Union.

Labor unions--Tacoma; Plumbers & Fitters Union Local No. 82 (Tacoma); Labor Temple (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

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);

Tacoma District Council. Group of 39; present and past members for the last 20 years. The man in the front holds the framed charter for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. TPL-8379

Labor unions--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Seventeen members, most of them women, of the Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Local #61 posed for a November 21, 1954, photograph, at union headquarters. The union had purchased the building at 1130 Commerce St. several years ago so that members might have a comfortable place to conduct meetings and enjoy social interaction.

Labor unions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma); Group portraits;

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;

Central Labor Council presentation of chair. An unidentified member of the labor council shakes hands with a young woman on October 5, 1953 while a young man stands next to her. The names of the couple were not listed. The Tacoma Central Labor Council was chartered by the A.F. of L. in 1907. It listed 100 affiliated organizations.

Central Labor Council (Tacoma); Chairs; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

In September of 1953, Tacoma's board of business representatives for AFL unions was photographed in front of the doors of the Labor Temple, 1355 Market Street. The labor group, which met every Wednesday for a luncheon gathering, was one of the only organizations of its kind for exchanging information and the promotion of common interests of union workers. The man seated in the front row, third from the left, is Harry S. McIlvaigh, the long time secretary-treasurer of the Tacoma Labor Council for whom McIlvaigh Middle School is named. (T.N.T. 9/4/1953, p. C5- see picture for names & C-3)

Labor unions--Tacoma; Group portraits; Labor Temple (Tacoma);

Group of 7 under A.F. of L. banner. Hodcarriers & building laborers.

Labor unions--Tacoma--1950-1960; American Federation of Labor (Tacoma); Group portraits--1950-1960; Building Laborers & Hod Carriers Union Local No. 252 (Tacoma);

Asbestos Workers Local #50 were hosts to the Western State Conference banquet held at the Top of the Ocean on February 23, 1952. TPL-745

Asbestos Workers' Union Local No. 50 (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma);

Phoenix Auxiliary, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

Women--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Auxiliary (Tacoma);

Retail Clerks Union 2nd Annual Christmas Party at Fellowship Hall. The large audience is seated facing the stage. Members of the union members' families have joined them for the December 15, 1951 festivities. (TNT 12-13-1951, C-11-article only)

Retail Clerks Union, Local 367 (Tacoma); Fellowship Hall (Tacoma); Masonic Temple (Tacoma); Christmas--Tacoma; Audiences--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 801, held an Armistice Day dinner in the Odd Fellows Temple. Members with 40+ years of service were honored with pins. View of engineers and guests in November, 1951, photograph. (TNT 11-12-51, p. 19)

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers No. 801 (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960; Odd Fellows Hall (Tacoma);

Bakers Union Banquet at the New Yorker. The banquet on March 31, 1951 celebrated the Golden Anniversary, 50 years from 1901-1951, of the BCWIU of America, Local 126 Tacoma. The evening began with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, a program and dancing. Several members with over 30 years of union membership were recognized, including the oldest living member John Moeller, who joined in 1902. (TNT 3/30/1951, pg. 16)

BCWIU of America, Local 126 (Tacoma); Banquets--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Labor unions--Tacoma--1950-1960; New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma);

25 people in auditorium for Cooks & Waiters Union. Members of the Cooks and Waiters Union are enjoying a presentation at one of their meetings. There are only a few men in the audience of nearly 100 people.

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

On January 3, 1949, Bartenders' Union members (from left): unidentified man, Ted Mason, Dale Porter with Al S.Taylor at far right reviewed materials used in the bartenders' trade--tools, glasses and bottles of liquor. The public and the Bartenders' Union would no longer have to tolerate incompetent bartenders. Initiative 171 was about to become a law which stated that bartenders had to be properly trained and must keep their bars, tools and themselves clean when serving the public. (T. Times, 1/4/49, p. 1). TPL-8849 (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Bartenders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Drinking vessels; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma); Mason, Ted; Porter, Dale; Taylor, Al S.;

Bartenders going through the Bartenders' Union bar course will be better qualified to serve their customers. Bartenders will learn a number of drinks to properly and rapidly serve, starting with the twelve most popular drinks ordered, including Manhattans, Tom Collins, Dry Martinis, Cuba Libres and Daiquiris. Left to right, Al S.Taylor, Ted Mason and Dale Porter; Ted is reading a book while trying to serve an irritated customer, played by Dale Porter. (T. Times, 1/4/49, p. 1). TPL-8851 (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Labor leaders--Tacoma; Bartenders--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cooks, Waiters, Waitresses & Bartenders Union Local No. 61 (Tacoma); Taylor, Al S.; Mason, Ted; Porter, Dale;

Bartender Ward Doucette, surrounded by the tools of his trade, studies a book on the art of mixology in this photograph from January 1949. One of the immediate results of Initiative 171, which had just passed in the November elections, was that all bartenders in Washington had to prove their knowledge of their trade by passing a test. The Bartenders' Union in Tacoma set up a school for their members to help them get past this new hurdle. (T. Times, 1/4/49, p. 1). TPL-8850 (Identification provided by a reader)

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

On Sunday April 11, 1948, 20 members of Tacoma Painters' Union, Local 64, helped to kick off the Clean-up Tacoma campaign by giving the Tacoma totem pole a fresh coat of paint. Working to the music of Max Frolic and 27 of Tacoma's union musicians, the painters finished the job in just 72 minutes. Einar Nelson, head of Tacoma's Steelworkers' Union, and his men, put up the steel scaffold used by the painters on Saturday. In comments by Mayor Fawcett, he stated: "Tacoma can well be proud of the part labor, as represented by the tree participating unions, plays in our community life". (T.Times, 4/12/1948, p.1)

Totem poles--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Urban beautification--Tacoma--1940-1950; Painting--Tacoma; Scaffolding--Tacoma;

Men painting totem pole, Times, Burt McMurtrie. It took the twenty members of Painters' Union Local 64 (AFL) 72 minutes to paint Tacoma's totem pole at 10th and A Streets as they kicked-off the Clean-up Tacoma Campaign for 1948. Max Frolic and 27 of Tacoma's union musicians played for 90 minutes finishing their performance with the Star Spangled Banner just as the painters were finishing painting the totem pole. The totem pole was a famous old landmark at this time, standing in Fireman's Park at 10th and A Streets. (T.Times, 4/12/1948, p.1)

Totem poles--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma; Urban beautification--Tacoma--1940-1950; Painting--Tacoma; Painters Union Local No. 64 (Tacoma); Scaffolding--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Labor was well represented in the Clean-up Tacoma Campaign in 1948. Twenty members of Painters' Union Local 64 (AFL) gave Tacoma's totem pole at 10th and A Streets a new look April 11 and kicked-off the campaign. The steel scaffolding needed to do the job was donated by Safeway Steel Scaffolding. Max Frolic with 27 of Tacoma's union musicians played during the kick-off ceremonies and painting. Ordered by Burt McMurtrie, Tacoma Times. (T.Times, 4/12/1948, p.1)

Totem poles--Tacoma; Labor unions--Tacoma--1940-1950; Urban beautification--Tacoma--1940-1950; Painting--Tacoma; Scaffolding--Tacoma;

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;

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;

Permanente Metals had started operations in Tacoma in late October of this year. Permanente Metals employees in plant's pot room, the white powdery substance is alumina, which is discharged into the reduction pots, the molten aluminum is siphoned from the pots into large capacity ladles, 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;

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;

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.;

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);