Communications Workers of America. Local 1172.

Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 1172 had its origins in the American Communications Association (ACA), a CIO union that organized radio and telegraph operators. After the ACA was expelled from the CIO in 1950 on charges of Communist domination the CWA conducted an organizing campaign, which resulted in some ACA members breaking away to form CWA Local 1172. The Local was chartered in 1954, with Morton Bahr as its first president. From 1954 to 1967 the jurisdiction of the Local covered employees of the American Cable and Radio Corporation (AC&R) east of the Mississippi. In 1967 AC&R was taken over by ITT World Communications, despite CWA protests to the Federal Communications Commission, and the Local’s jurisdiction was adjusted accordingly. In the 1970s the Local expanded to include radio operators employed by Air India. The takeover of ITT World Communications by Western Union in 1987 involved the Local in protracted struggles over layoffs, restructuring, outsourcing and the transfer of benefits. Having suffered a decline in membership, Local 1172 was merged with CWA, Local 1177 in 1993.

From the guide to the Communications Workers of America, Local 1172 Records, Bulk, 1960-1993, 1953-1993, (Bulk 1960-1993), (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)

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