Name/Title
Armour Packing Co. Union Disputes, Bob Armstrong, Union Rep, 1945Entry/Object ID
AM2015.7.2Scope and Content
Armour Packing Co. Union Disputes, Bob Armstrong, Union Rep, 1945. The documents in 15.7 all concern grievances especially initiated by Robert Armstrong, a fiery advocate. See below for info on Armstrong.
A=Jan. 1, 1945 Memo to Armour's F.D. Green in Chicago from Supt. C.M. Stewart of the So. St. Joseph Plant regarding a slow down in the Beef Kill Department which resulted in lost productivity of 40 cattle. The slow down was brought on when Time Study Engineers visited the department to evaluate their efficiency. The workers felt like the Company was trying to change the agreed on productivity rates.
B=Sept. 1, 1945 Memo to C. M. Stewart, Supt. from Irwin M. Walton regarding Robt. Armstrong turning off the grindstones because workers were grinding their knives on their own time. After a heated exchange with his foreman, M. Herson, Armstrong was discharged.
C= Sept. 4, 1945 Memo to Armour's F.D. Green in Chicago from Supt. C.M. Stewart of the So. St. Joseph Plant regarding a walk out in the Beef Kill Department. The dispute was over the Company allowing employees to grind their knives on their own time rather than paid time. The Company agreed to shut off the grindstones during non-work times.
D = Dec. 11, 1945 Memo to F.D. Green in Chicago from Supt. Stewart, regarding a work stoppage in the Hog Killing Dept when the small gut pullers contended the chain speed was faster than their standard.
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 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.
Armour Chicago Manager is F.D. GreenLexicon
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
F.D. GreenPerson or Organization
Charles HoagllinPerson or Organization
C. M. StewartPerson or Organization
Matt HersonPerson or Organization
Irwin M. Walton
