Correspondence, General Grievance Committee, 1963

Inclusive date range: 1911-1988

Bulk dates: 1959-1979



This collection consists of the files of William J. McLane, Local Chairman of BLFE Lodge 807 (Auburn, NY), Local Chairman of UTU Local 810 (Sayre, PA), and finally Local Chairman of BLE Division 380 (Sayre, PA) for the Auburn and Cortland, New York area employees of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. It primarily documents the history of Lodge 807, but its files also document the transitions its members went through during the downsizing and consolidation of both the carriers and of the operating brotherhoods. The records in this collection amply document the effects union consolidations and mergers had on the general membership.



The collection contains historical records from the founding of Lodge 807, including documentation of the founding of a new Lodge, the transfer of existing BLFE members from other Lodges into the newly formed Auburn, New York Lodge, the applications of Lehigh Valley Railroad Company [LVRR] Auburn Division to join Lodge 807, and correspondence with the Grand Lodge for guidance. Membership lists are attached to these pieces of correspondence. Of particular interest is a Ritual Book from 1945, offering instruction to members on how all ceremonies were to be performed in the Lodge.



This collection contains extensive records on the daily operations of a BLFE Lodge from the first half of the 20th century. Financial filings from 1958-1967 and the financial secretary's cashbook from 1937-1967 offer an in depth view of the Lodge's activities as well as complete membership rosters, and in the cases of insurance plans, the member's family and next of kin. These records, along with the seniority rosters for the railroad facilities, make this a rich resource for genealogists.



This collection also contains numerous case files resulting from grievances file by employees. The case files are instructive in that there are both those cases settled at the local level as well as cases that had to be forwarded to the sitting general chairman of the Grievance Committee to be further addressed. The correspondence that resulted from these cases extensively documents the relations between members at various levels in the BLFE's hierarchy.



This collection also documents the effect the crew consist dispute and the final decision of Arbitration Board No. 282 had on firemen and engineers.



Finally, this collection contains documentation of the effects the bankruptcies and consolidations of the carriers had on their employees and the unions that represented them.