THE HERITAGE OF AN INDUSTRY & THE PEOPLE WHO FORGED IT

The USW Local Union #1537 began in 1937 with the Steelworkers Organization Committee (SWOC) as a local union comprised of active and retired members who worked for a single company - Latrobe Steel Company. Today, we are an Amalgamated and much stronger Local Union comprised of different units whose members are employed with different companies, some of which produce a product quite different than steel.

Before the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, organizing was nearly impossible. The United Steelworkers, along with 8 former AFL affiliated unions formed the CIO in November 1935. The CIO created the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) with a loan of $500,000 to organize workers employed in the steel industry. By January 1, 1937 the SWOC had organized 125,000 members in 154 local unions. On March 17, 1937, the United States Steel Corporation (Carnegie Steel Co.) signed a one year contract with the SWOC covering its 125,000 workers. The contract provided for a minimum $5.00 per day wages and a 40 hour week. However, 7 other major steel companies refused to negotiate with the SWOC even though an overwhelming majority of their employees signed union cards. The 78,000 workers employed at the 7 "Little Steel" companies went on strike. And, at a Memorial Day rally in Chicago in 1937, 13 strikers were killed. This event became known as the Memorial Day Massacre.

During this same tumultuous period of American labor history, the 700 steelworkers employed at the Latrobe Electric Steel Company (LESCO), were also seeking union recognition. However, the Latrobe Steel Company, just as the 7 Little Steel Companies, was proving to be just as difficult to bargain union recognition. To impress upon the workers and community their resolve in keeping the Union out of the Latrobe Steel Company, the Company employed the services of the infamous Coal and Iron Police. Needless to say, their services were acquired not to uphold the spirit of the law, which obviously was, that workers had a legal and unrestricted "right" to belong to a labor union. They were employed to provoke, intimidate and when necessary, even obstruct the workers by whatever means necessary, legal or otherwise.


On April 15, 1937, workers at the Latrobe Steel Company, under the guidance of field organizer Chick Thompson from the SWOC conducted the lodges "first meeting" at the Latrobe Eagles Hall. At this meeting, Officer's were elected to represent the membership.

Those "founding" officers included:

Thomas Caslin - President
James Rugh - Vice President
Ralph Bowser - Recording Secretary
Foster Ferenberg - Financial Secretary
Charles Kintz - Treasurer
Charles Alexander - Guide
Thomas Johnson - Inside Guard
Don Akerson - Outside Guard

Shortly after the lodge conducted their election, they would become chartered by the SWOC as LOCAL 1537, but, not before the workers and community would incur the effects of the Coal and Iron Police that had been hired by the Company.
Even before the SWOC and Local 1537 would negotiate the first labor agreement with the Latrobe Steel Company, the workers would be forced to strike the Company to gain recognition. When the workers struck peacefully, the Company immediately "opened-the-gates" trying to test the resolve of the workers and their young union. The strike itself lasted just 2 weeks, enough time for the tragic death of a 17 year old Latrobe youth, Paul Mehalic to occur. Young Mehalic was struck and killed by a bullet fired by the Company's Coal & Iron Police while observing a strike demonstration for the workers. The Company finally agreed to recognize the SWOC as the bargaining representative for the hourly workers.

While the strike itself was quite short, the effects were long lasting. The Company's "open-the-gate" policy resulted in many workers who would not scab and cross the picket line, losing their jobs. Many of those who did, actually were driven across the picket line by hiding in the trunks or back seats of supervisory automobiles. While they may have had a job, they had little else including self respect. A large number of workers who were not recalled following the strike lost their jobs. Others who were eventually recalled much later, as late as after the start of W.W.II, lost years of Company service. The effect that the strike had on everyone has lasted even until today. Each and every one of us owes a debt of gratitude to those who displayed dignity and courage by supporting the SWOC and Local 1537. In a somewhat amusing anecdote the Latrobe Steel Company in a pamphlet describing the "Company's" past history stated:

"In May 1937, E.T. Edwards who was still general manager, invited (emphasis supplied) the United Steelworkers union to sign a contract soon after passage of the Wagner Labor Act. This action was taken without any overture or organizing activities on the part of the USW which still continue to represent the production employees."

Finally, on May 11, 1937, the Company came to terms with the SWOC and local 1537 upon which the parties signed the first labor agreement. The terms of that agreement were nearly identical to those negotiated with Carnegie Steel Corporation (USS) and included:

- .10 cent per hr. General Wage Inc. to 62 1/2 cents hr
- 1 week paid vacation for employees with more than 5 yrs. svc.
- Seniority (based upon)
a) Length of service
b) Knowledge, training, ability, skill & efficiency
c) Physical fitness
d) Family status: number of dependents, etc.
e) Place of residence
- Holidays
- July 4th, Labor Day & Christmas

In December 1937 the SWOC held its first International Convention. The site was Pittsburgh which until 1992 would the be the last time the SWOC/USW would hold its International Convention in the Steel City. On May 22, 1942, the 6 year old SWOC officially became known as the USWA and Philip Murray its first International President. At that time, the USWA had more than 700,000 members.

During the 60 years of our locals' existence the solidarity and resolve of the membership has been tested many times. Without a doubt, the hardest test came on August 1, 1977 when nearly 1,150 members went on strike which lasted until May 2, 1978. However, it wasn't until May 1, 1990, nearly 12 years later that those member's who had "lost service" from the strike were finally "made whole". The '80s, more commonly referred to as the Reagan era, brought even greater hardship to American workers, but none more so than to steelworkers. Both during the '83 and '86/'87 contract negotiations local 1537, as well as all USWA locals, were forced to negotiate concessionary contracts to protect companies and jobs. In nearly all instances, concessions were temporary and wages and benefits were restored by the end of the agreement. The recession of the steel industry during the '80s did not prevent companies (particularly the Latrobe Steel Company) from trying to take advantage of the unions interest in protecting members jobs.

Here at Latrobe Steel Company, only the alertness and preseverance of the officers along with the support of the membership, to the point of striking if necessary, prevented the Company from obtaining their goals.