The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Robert S. Cox Special Collections & University Archives Research Center
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United Auto Workers. District 65 Boston University Local

UAW District 65 Collection

ca.1985
1 folder 0.2 linear feet
Call no.: MS 320

The decision of clerical and technical workers at Boston University to organize with District 65 of the UAW was as rooted in the labor movement as it was in the womens movement. By the early 1970s, office workers at B.U. were dissatsified with working conditions that included — among other grievances — sexual harassment and a classification system that did not value “women’s work.” In 1979 after an intense struggle with the administration, B.U. finally recognized the union and signed their first contract.

The collection includes a printed history and videotape documenting unionization activities at Boston University’s Medical Campus.

Historical Note

The decision of clerical and technical workers at Boston University to organize with District 65 of the UAW was as rooted in the labor movement as it was in the womens movement. By the early 1970s, office workers at B.U. were dissatsified with working conditions that included — among other grievances — sexual harassment and a classification system that did not value “women’s work.” In 1979 after an intense struggle with the administration, B.U. finally recognized the union and signed their first contract. Originally part of the Distributive Workers Union, District 65 had affiliated with the United Auto Workers in 1979, and was instrumental in leading similar efforts to organize white collar workers at Harvard and several other universities.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Printed history, District 65, UAW at BU: The First Ten Years (1988), and videotape, Twice as Strong, regarding unionization activities at Boston University Medical Campus.


Information on Use
Terms of Access and Use
Restrictions on access:

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Cite as: United Auto Workers District 65, Boston University Local Collection (MS 320). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

History of the Collection

Acquired from Leslie Lomasson

Processing Information

Processed by Ken Fones-Wolf, 1990.


Additional Information

Language
English.
Bibliography

For more on District 65, see John P. Hoerr, We can’t eat prestige : the women who organized HarvardCall no.: Du Bois Library LD2120 .H64 1997.

Sponsor

Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.



Search Terms
The following terms represent persons, organizations, and topics documented in this collection. Use these headings to search for additional materials on this web site, in the Five College Library Catalog, or in other library catalogs and databases.

Subjects
  • Boston University. Medical Campus.
  • Collective bargaining–Professions–Massachusetts–Boston.
  • Collective labor agreements–Medical personnel –Massachusetts–Boston–History.
  • International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. District 65.
Contributors
  • International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. District 65.
Genre terms
  • Videotapes.
Gift of Leslie Lomasson

Subjects

Boston University. Medical CampusCollective bargaining--Professions--Massachusetts--BostonCollective labor agreements--Medical personnel --Massachusetts--Boston--HistoryLabor unions--Massachusetts

Contributors

United Automobile, Aircraft, and Vehicle Workers of America. District 65

Types of material

Videotapes