United Steelworkers of America Local 2070 records

Collection

Identifier: Coll 1006

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of the records of United Steelworkers of America Local 2070, a labor union that represented workers at the American Can Company's plant in Portland, Oregon. The records were compiled by Jack Heathman, who served as the local's president and as chair of the grievance committee in the 1950s. The records include meeting minutes, grievance reports and related records and correspondence, records relating to wage rates and job classifications, seniority lists, a roster of the local's officers for 1954, and a copy of the agreement between Local 2070 and the American Can Company for 1946-1947. Other materials in the collection include publications describing pension plans, insurance plans, and unemployment benefits provided by the American Can Company; materials relating to the United Steelworkers of America's national organization, including agreements with the American Can Company and the text of an address by President David J. McDonald; and publications relating to labor law.

Dates

1945-1960

Creator

United Steelworkers of America. Local 2070 (Portland, Or.) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative History

United Steelworkers of America Local 2070 represented workers at the American Can Company's plant in Portland, Oregon, beginning in 1938. The plant closed in early 1960 when the American Can Company decided to relocate its manufacuturing facility to Eugene, Oregon.

Sources: Articles in the Oregonian and Oregon Journal, 1953-1960.

Biographical Note

Jack Ellis Heathman (1911-1994) was president of United Steelworkers of America Local 2070 of Portland, Oregon, in the 1950s. He worked at the American Can Company, whose workers were represented by Local 2070. He was also chair of the local's grievance committee in the later 1950s.

Sources: Articles in the Oregonian and Oregon Journal, 1953-1958; vital and census records on Ancestry.com.

Extent

0.9 Cubic Feet (2 legal document cases)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Records of United Steelworkers of America Local 2070 of Portland, Oregon, compiled by Jack Heathman (1911-1994), who served as the local's president and as chair of the grievance committee. Local 2070 represented workers at the American Can Company's plant in Portland from 1938 until 1960, when the plant relocated to Eugene, Oregon.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Dennis Golik, December 2004 (Lib. Acc. 25611).

Processing Information

Records, correspondence, and newsletters that had been filed in an accordion folder with dividers were rehoused for preservation purposes, but were kept in original order. The labels of the original dividing tabs were described in new folder titles after rehousing.