IAM Local 48

1934: IAM establishes Research Department. 1935: Congress adopts National Labor Relations Act establishing right to organize and requiring employers to bargain in good faith. IAM opens drive to organize aircraft Industry. 1936: First industrial union agreement signed with Boeing, Seattle. IAM convention endorses FDR for President. Membership climbs... to 130,000. 1937: Social Security and Railroad Retirement Acts now in operation. IAM negotiates paid vacations in 26% of its agreements. 1939: IAM signs first union agreement in air transport industry with Eastern. 1940: Machinists rates average 80 cents an hour. IAM pledges full support to National Defense program. IAM membership climbs to 188,000. 1941: IAM pledges hail support to win the war including no-strike pledge. 1944: 76,000 IAM members serve in armed forces. Total membership now 776,000. 1945: First agreement with Remington Rand. IAM convention votes to establish weekly newspaper, education department. Widespread layoffs follow end of World War II. 1946: 88% of IAM agreements now provide for paid vacations. 1947: Congress enacts anti-union Taft-Hartley Act. Machinists Non-Partisan Political League founded. IAM Legal Department established. Machinists average $1.56 an hour. 1948: IAM membership opened to all regardless of race or color.IAM convention endorses Harry Truman for President. 1949: Railroad machinists win 40 hour week. Membership down to 501,000. 1950: IAM joins International Transport Workers Federation. Machinists now average $1.82 an hour. 1951: IAM pledges full support of UN action in Korea. 1952: Employees on 85% of airlines now protected by IAM agreements. 92% of IAM contracts provide for paid holidays. 1953: IAM has contracts fixing wages and working conditions with 13,500 employers. IAM Atomic Energy Conference organized. 1955: AFL and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) merge, Machinist Al Hayes elected Vice President and chairman of Ethical Practices Committee. 70% of IAM contracts now have health and welfare provisions. ...Read More