January and February, 1956, 1956

During 1956 the union became involved in protracted negotiations with the AFL-CIO leadership in an effort to secure financial help for a major organizing drive among farm workers; see Mitchell's memorandum to AFL-CIO Organization Director John W. Livingston (Jan. 12), an exchange between Mitchell and AMC Secretary-Treasurer Pat Gorman on the attitude of George Meany toward the NAWU (Jan. 19, 27), and a memorandum on a conversation between Galarza and Walter P. Reuther on the union's future plans (Feb. 22). There are two different versions of Mitchell's preliminary report on White Citizens Councils and their ties with anti-labor forces (Jan 25, 30); see also the letters from A. Philip Randolph (Jan 10, 23) and AFL-CIO Region VIII Director Paul R. Christopher (Feb 29) on the same subject. The papers contain a report by Milton Plumb, Secretary of the US Section of the Joint US-Mexican Trade Union Committee, on the British West Indies Labor Program (Jan 11), the minutes of two special meetings of the United Sugar Workers, Local 1422, at which the local voted for NAWU affiliation (Feb 9, 16), and three letters from AFL-CIO Southern Director J.L. Rhodeson organizing Florida citrus workers (Jan 30, Feb 15, 21)