Ship Scalers, Dry Dock, & Miscellaneous Boat Yard Workers Union. Local 541 (Seattle, Wash.)

Ship Scalers Union, Local 541 represented ship scalers working in the Seattle area from the 1930s until 1986. Ship scalers clean the interior and exterior of ships, scraping and sandblasting, mopping up fuel from tanks, and removing debris. The work is considered some of the most unpleasant, dangerous, and poorly paid in the shipbuilding industry. After World War II a majority of the members of the local were African Americans. The local had a series of conflicts with the international to which it belonged, centering around efforts by the local rank and file to elect a slate of reform candidates as officers in 1972 and again in 1980. The dispute led to years of court challenges and reversals. Local 541 was suspended by the Laborers' International Union of North America in 1986 and representation of Seattle area ship scalers was subsequently transferred to another local. Until 1956 the union was affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (AFL) as Local 589, then changed to the International Hod Carriers', Building and Common Laborers' Union of America (AFL) as Local 541. Still later (1966?) the affiliation changed to the Laborers' International Union of North America.

From the description of Ship Scalers, Dry Dock, and Miscellanous Boat Yard Workers Union, Local 541 records, circa 1930-1996 (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 123953916