Name/Title
Armour Packing Co. Union Disputes, Bob Armstrong, Union Rep, 1944Entry/Object ID
AM2015.7.1Scope and Content
Armour Packing Co. Union Disputes, Bob Armstrong, Union Rep, 1944. The documents in 15.7 all concern grievances especially initiated by Robert Armstrong, a fiery advocate. See below for info on Armstrong.
A= August 28, 1944, Memo to Armour Manager, F.D. Green in Chicago from C. M. Stewart, Superintendent of the So. South Joseph Plant. regarding a work stoppage in the Beef Kill Dept. over a dispute on how the number of animals processed were counted. The stoppage resulted in lost productivity of 53 head of cattle that day.
B=Aug. 28, 1944, Memo to Supt. Stewart from C. R.. Hoaglin, related to above.
Robert Armstrong was a black man who worked as a "header" in the Beef Killing Dept. He was also a union representative and member of the grievance committee. His active defense of provisions of the Union contract he felt were being violated, he was often in trouble with management and was actually discharged a number of times, only to win his job back with Union support. He became was Chairman of the Grievance Committee of Local No. 58 of the United Packinghouse Workers of America, and was later a Business Agent representing Unions at several Armour Plants in his district.
Armour was progressive for its time in hiring black employees and many names on the Beef Kill lines are black surnames in these grievance documents. It was even more progressive for a black man to assume a leadership roll for a workforce that was mainly white.
Armstrong died in a car accident, and some Union members surmised the Company was behind his death!!!!! A color photo of Armstrong is found in folder BHF.313 in Black History Information File. A digital image of the Armour Beef Dressing Crew in the 1940's is BHF.777.
Union Representatives of the Grievance Committee that brought these grievances were Charles Ingersoll & Robert Armstrong.
Armour Foremen involved are Joe Bucher, Matt Herson, Howard Miller
Armour Management involved are C. M. Stewart, R.M. Tascher, C.R. HoaglinLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
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MemorandumNomenclature Primary Object Term
CorrespondenceNomenclature Sub-Class
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Packing housesSearch Terms
United Packinghouse Workers of America, Local No. 58, Armour Packing Company, United Packinghouse Workers of America, UnionsRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Robert ArmstrongPerson or Organization
Charles IngersollPerson or Organization
Charles HoaglinPerson or Organization
C. M. StewartPerson or Organization
F.D. GreenPerson or Organization
Matt Herson
