District 15
A Legacy of Progress
Since it’s founding on April 30, 1893, District 15 has been a
groundbreaking force in the labor movement in America. At the
turn of the last century, District 15 was a key player in
establishing many of the working conditions that we take for
granted today. Now, as we head into a new century, your
District is facing new challenges in the American workplace. As
many companies attempt to downsize, export and outsource jobs
at the expense of the American worker, District 15 is fighting
to protect what we have gained over the past century while
opening new opportunities in industries that have yet to enjoy
the benefits of union power. We hope that this brief history of
the early years of the District will make you proud of the
legacy that you have created as a member of District 15 of the
IAMAW.
The Machinists Union was founded when Thomas Wilson Talbot
organized a small group of southern railroad machinists in
1888. By the early 1890’s, several local lodges had been
chartered in the New York metropolitan area and District 15 was
created when eight lodges from New York and New Jersey united
to further empower their members. At this time, the average
machinist in New York City earned between $1.80 and $2.50 a day
for a 6 day, 72 hour week. Sanitary and safety conditions in
the shops were abominable and vacation, holidays and sick pay
were unheard of. The progress that we have made from this point
is not something that just happened naturally: indeed, the
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
and District 15 played a key role in achieving it.
One of the earliest campaigns in District history was the fight
for the nine-hour workday without a loss in pay. As early as
1896, the IAM had agreed to take the lead for the entire labor
movement on this critical issue. District 15, in turn, led the
struggle within the IAM and after a successful strike by 3,500
workers in 1901, the 12,000 machinists in the area took this
important step forward.
Within ten years, the leaders and members of District 15 had
set their sights on the 8-hour workday. Once again, the
District was given the lead role in the fight and the Grand
Lodge provided support with extra organizers and a
Vice-President assigned specifically to the campaign. Eureka
Lodge 434 emerged as the most effective and active lodge, led
by "8-hour George" Stilgenbauer. More than 10,000 workers were
on strike at various times but the workers kept their eyes on
the prize. By 1911, the vast majority of District 15’s
machinists had achieved the eight-hour day and had led the way
for other unions and industries.
Another kind of labor progress led by District 15 began in 1913 when the union began picketing New York locations of the Duplex Printing Press Company. District 15 was supporting a strike by Duplex workers in Michigan but the company successfully obtained a court injunction that barred the District from picketing. The District fought all the way to the Supreme Court but lost the decision 6 to 3 in 1921. Eleven years later, the dissenting opinion of Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis in that case became the basis of a sweeping new law that greatly curtailed the ability of the courts to issue injunctions against labor: the Norris-La Guardia Act. Today, that Act is a cornerstone of pro-labor legislation.
In past years, under the leadership of John Scarfi and Jimmy
Conigliaro, District 15 is working to break new ground in the
labor movement. As corporate America were finding new methods
to avoid responsibility for their employees well being, workers
in many industries were seeking the advantages of union
representation. One clear indication of the widespread impact
of the irresponsible labor policies in many corporations today
was illustrated by looking at two of the groups working closely
with District 15's Past Director of Organizing Kevin Lynch:
limousine drivers and physicians.
Interestingly, the members of these radically different
professions shared many similarities in their current
situations. Physicians and limo drivers had been considered
"independent contractors", meaning they work for themselves. In
reality, these workers are anything but self-employed:
limousine drivers’ compensation and working conditions are
tightly controlled by the radio base that they work for while
physicians are increasingly working for HMO’s that dictate
medical care and set nonnegotiable reimbursement rates.
As many of you know, the District made great strides in these
groundbreaking campaigns. After District Counsel Craig
Livingston won a groundbreaking NLRB decision, the vast
majority of limousine drivers now have the right to join the
union and collectively bargain for better pay and working
conditions. As the union drivers of the organized limousine
companies know, it is only a matter of time before all 12,000
limousine drivers in New York will enjoy the benefits,
compensation and dignity provided by a union contract.
Today, District 15 with DBR Jim Conigliaro continue to grow and
continue to succeed both legislatively and economically for
their members. They now look at Director of Organizing, Vinny
Addeo to aid in this long haul of "Organizing the Unorganized".
Also a part of the team at District 15 is Assistant Directing
Business Representative Mike Walsh, Business Manager Robert
Motisi and the many other cherished Business Representatives.
The leaders of District 15 believe that by working to gain the
right to unionize these workers, we are fighting a battle that
protects all of our members and, indeed, all working people. By
standing together with these workers, we are sending a clear
message to the bosses that we will not tolerate a labor market
in which corporations can ignore the rights of the people that
provide their profits.
District 15 has also become one of the largest donors in the
Machinists Union to the "Guide Dogs of America" Foundation. In
2006, they raised over $130,000 for the foundation which topped
last year's donation.
As of 2007, District 15 is still working hard to live up to
it’s reputation as a leader in the fight to protect the
American Worker. The district finds itself at the top of
Northeastern region with approximately 12,000 members. We hope
that you, our members, take special pride in your contribution
to this continuing legacy.
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History of the Labor Movement
GOD BLESS THE
