Upper Peninsula Building and Construction Trades Council records

This collection is organized into series by the most relevant topics and where necessary sub series are used to further organize topics. Each series is organized alphabetically by folder title, and within each folder documents are organized chronologically. Those who are interested in labor history and the activities and concerns of regional labor organizations may find this collection useful.

Series Description

The Upper Peninsula Building and Construction Trades Council Records are arranged in 12 series:

Series 1: Correspondence; 1985-1996 (35 folders)

Sub series: Local: Arranged alphabetically by folder title, then chronologically within each folder. Contains locally and regional based correspondence, between local unions and various organizations.

Sub series: State: Arranged alphabetically by folder title, then chronologically within each folder. Contains correspondence with the state Building and Trades Council and other organizations.

Sub series: National: Arranged alphabetically by folder title, then chronologically within each folder. Contains correspondence with the National Building and Construction Trades Dept. and various organizations.

Series 2: Political Activity; 1984-1996 (54 folders)

Sub Series: Correspondence: Arranged alphabetically by folder title, then chronologically within each folder. Correspondence with various political officials, organizations, and departments at predominantly the state level concerning elections, and political activity, including the attempts to base a B-2 Stealth Bomber at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base.

Sub Series: Legislation: Arranged alphabetically by folder title, then chronologically within each folder. Contains correspondence and information regarding various state legislation of concern to the union such as; the Emergency Unemployment Security Act, and the Quality of Life Bond Implementation Act.

Sub Series: Miscellaneous: Arranged Alphabetically by folder title, then chronologically within each folder. Contains various information regarding state political activity, including the Michigan Employment Security Council’s hearing concerning seasonal workers.

Sub Series: Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Act: Arranged Alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains various documents regarding the Federal and State Prevailing Wage laws and their impact on local unions and trade workers.

Sub Series: Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: Arranged Alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains various documents concerning the implementation of federal and state regulations on local rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the Michigan Scenic Rivers Act, and the opposition to the proposed regulation by local and regional unions and organizations.

Series 3: Meeting Minutes; 1985-1996 (74 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains extensive meeting minutes for the U.P. Building and Construction Trades Council, the Tri-County Building and Construction Trades Council located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and the Green Bay Building and Construction Trades Council in Wisconsin. Also includes meeting minutes from state Building and Construction Trades Council, project meetings and various local, regional and state union related meetings and various organizations.

Series 4: Conferences/Seminars; 1983-1997 (24 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains various local, state and national union conferences and seminars.

Series 5: Organizational Records; 1973, 1979-1998 (60 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains affiliate lists, directories of local union organizations and unionized trades and construction companies, financial records and records the U.P. Building and Construction Trades Council’s involvement in the “Fight the Rat” campaign. Also contains information regarding substance abuse in the construction industry and the organizations attempt to deal new policies regarding substance abuse. Includes one restricted folder containing grievances.

Series 6: Construction Projects; 1984-1996 (43 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains correspondence and various records of regional construction and building projects the Trades Council was either actively involved in or targeted for union jobs. Includes two large construction projects, work at the Champion International Paper Inc. plant in Quinnesec Michigan and the Mead Paper Company Plant in Escanaba Michigan.

Series 7: Boycotts/Strikes; 1988-1993 (11 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains records pertaining to various strikes or boycotts both locally and national including local strikes of Econo Foods and Shopko.

Series 8: U.P. Construction Labor-Management Council; 1986-1996 (29 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains board of directors meeting minutes and materials, correspondence and targeting of local construction projects. Includes one folder restricted containing personal information of applicant in search for a new director.

Series 9: Newsletters; 1988-1996 (29 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains local, state, and national newsletters pertaining to union, political and construction issues.

Series 10: Reports; 1983-1996 (33 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains local, state, and national reports pertaining to union and political concerns.

Series 11: Regional Organizations; 1975, 1980, 1986-1995 (77 folders)

Sub Series:Citizens for Fire Safety: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Records local citizen’s attempts to keep Fire Department halls open in their area.

Sub Series: Mackinac Bridge Authority: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains meeting minutes and materials, financial reports and inspection reports concerning the maintenance and operation of the Mackinac Bridge.

Sub Series: Michigan Jobs Commission: Contains one folder, the establishment of the Michigan Jobs Commission and the first meeting.

Sub Series: Michigan Occupational Information System: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains advisory board meetings and correspondence.

Sub Series: Northern Michigan Cooperation Council: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains correspondence meeting minutes and membership lists.

Sub Series: U.P. Choice: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains meeting minutes, correspondence and various records, concerning predominantly Marquette General Hospital and the Hospital Board of Directors.

Sub Series: U.P. Jobs Coalition: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains correspondence, meeting minutes, and various documentation of the coalitions activities.

Sub Series: U.P. Labor-Management Council: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains predominantly board of directors meeting materials and minutes and limited correspondence.

Sub Series: Western U.P. Private Industry Council: Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains correspondence, meeting minutes and plans for the Summer Youth Training Project for the Western Upper Peninsula.

Series 12: Reference; 1975, 1981, 1985-1996 (77 folders)

Arranged alphabetically by folder title then chronologically within each folder. Contains miscellaneous newspaper articles, documents and materials pertaining to union organizations and concerns. Also contains legal actions and decisions impacting the construction industry and unions including decisions by the National Labor Relations Board.