The IUEC Stands Strong
Although the IUEC sent their first delegate to the International
Convention of the American Federation of Labor in 1902, it was
clear by the 1903 IUEC convention that the road ahead was to
be filled with jurisdictional disputes within and without the
labor movement. The stand of the union was made clear first
in early discussions with manufacturers in December of 1902.
"The IUEC is determined not to surrender any portion of
elevator work. New techniques have been developed and elevator
constructors are the only ones who can take care of them."
The early meetings with the manufacturers produced a letter
of mutual agreement between the manufacturers and the union
that stated that only one union, the IUEC, would construct elevators.
This agreement was recognized when the American Federation of
Labor granted its charter to the IUEC in June 1903. The union
was chartered in the Building Trades Department, but this did
not prevent the rise of jurisdictional disputes and they continued
in full force until 1914.
The most persistent difficulties were with the Association
of Mechanics. The President of the AFL at the time, the legendary
Samuel Gompers, recommended that the Association of Mechanics
amalgamate with the Elevator Constructors. The recommendation
was sent to the locals involved, and it was initially rejected.
The amalgamation did not come about.
The heated jurisdictional dispute with the Association of
Mechanics was not resolved until 1914 at the AFL National Convention.
In a dramatic floor fight, the IUEC position carried the day.
It had proved itself capable of representing the rights and
interests of all elevator constructors. Its jurisdictional victory
was recognition of that fact.
The union won against overwhelming odds. Going into the fight,
the elevator constructors had only one delegate on the floor
and 27 votes they could count on against 754 Machinists who
also claimed over six hundred other union votes from related
trades. There were four national presidents against the IUEC,
a unanimous vote against them by the adjustment committee, and
a ban had been instituted against the union resulting from several
decisions of the Executive Council of the AFL.
But the IUEC had its own weapons in the floor fight - good
information, records, documents, letters, telegrams and a willingness
to devote a lot of plain hard work to the task. IUEC leaders
also honed in on President Gompers, pressing him for fair play
against the many national and international unions wanting to
divide the IUEC members among themselves. Gompers responded
initially by allotting to the single IUEC delegate, Frank Feeney
of Philadelphia, speaking time equaling all of the opponents
of the IUEC together.
Frank Feeney stood before the convention while a handful of
his brothers in the IUEC funneled him information. His arguments
turned the tide. One by one, union officers rose in support
of the IUEC. The case for the Elevator Constructors had been
compelling. The critical support came from P. H. McCarthy, a
former mayor of San Francisco and a member of the Carpenters
and Joiners. He was persuaded of the merits of the elevator
constructors' position because his union stood to lose in an
IUEC victory. McCarthy spoke up on behalf of IUEC: "Elevators
are an absolute necessity to the highest achievement of the
American building industry. Now, it may be true that elevator
constructors do the work of electricians, ironworkers, ornamental
ironworkers and so on. But capital, before it invests in elevators
which make skyscrapers possible, has a right to the assurance
that the elevators will be safe, practical, and feasible as
an investment. How are you going to fix responsibility if you
are going to divide up the work among five or six different
trades?" IUEC's Brother Feeney continued from the rostrum,
with his union's case picking up momentum as the debate went
on. Everyone in the hall knew what the IUEC had done for building
trade unions on job sites across the country, tying up jobs
until building contractors were awarded to appropriate trade
unions. Even the Sheet Metal Workers delegates confirmed the
IUEC's invaluable assistance to their fellow trade unionists.
After the convention listened to several other speakers, Feeney
rose to demand the first roll call vote of the convention. The
IUEC position carried the day; a victory for the International
that had only one delegate on the floor!
Despite its victory at the 1914 AFL convention, the problem
of jurisdictional disputes did not end. In some ways, the worst
was yet to come. Challenges came from all sides. In 1920, the
IUEC was confronted with a major challenge from the Electrical
Workers regarding electrical work for elevator construction.
Again, President Feeney represented the IUEC, this time before
the National Board for Jurisdictional Awards in the Building
Industry. And again, the IUEC succeeded in protecting its jurisdiction.
But it required constant vigilance as President Feeney made
clear: "Look ahead, and having learned our lesson in the
past as to the evolution of elevator machinery and controls,
we will ever be on our guard, defend our jurisdiction, and see
to it that we hold all the work that we now have jurisdiction
over."
Outside pressure came from employers, culminating in 1922
when the building industry in San Francisco set out to break
the union. The IUEC held a special convention across the continent
in New York City to deal with the open shop problem. The convention
was addressed by AF of L President Gompers who urged the convention
to seek "…. a greater spirit of unity, fraternity,
freedom, and humanity." The IUEC responded. The delegates
to the special convention voted to aid the struggling Local
#8 in San Francisco by sending $5,000 immediately to help strengthen
their position. An additional $2.00 per capita was levied on
all members of the IUEC to aid the embattled San Francisco local.
