Initially, workers at the Lester plant chartered Local 107 under the American Federation of Labor. In 1936, Local 107 withdrew from AFL and affiliated with the newly created Congress of Industrial Organization. In November, the Lester workers voted to join a group of independent locals in the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. In 1946, Local 107 succeeded in obtaining a $1 per hour increase in wages after organizing a four month strike. During the strike, children joined their parents on the picket lines and the company countered by securing court injunctions against mass picketing. In 1948, two members of Local 107 were labeled as a "poor security risk" by the Navy. Based upon these accusations, the Westinghouse Company forced the two men to take an unpaid leave of absence until they could be cleared of the charges. The local responded with a work stoppage which convinced the company to reinstate the workers. Throughout the early 1950s, Local 107 was raided by several unions, but successfully maintained its position in the South Philadelphia Works. The International Union of Electrical Workers (IUE), Patternmakers Union and the International Association of Machinists all competed with Local 107 to represent workers in the South Philadelphia area plants. In 1954, despite a vigorous campaign by Local 107, Westinghouse Electric relocated its Aviation Gas Turbine Division from the South Philadelphia area to Kansas City. This loss was followed by another in 1955, when the company decided to cancel all agreements with the local and push for a 20 percent wage cut. The threatened wage cut brought about a strike that lasted 299 days. In the midst of the strike, 26 union officers and members chose to spend 19 days in jail, rather than pay $27,000 in fines. In 1960, Local 107 dedicated a new union hall, and 1962 marked the first year of the annual retiree banquets. Nonetheless, the 1960s and 1970s proved to be rather turbulent decades. In 1966, the local supported two strikes and approximately eight walkouts. Another strike occurred in 1969. Beginning in August 1970, Local 107 went on a 146 day strike to obtain higher job rates. In July 1976, the union participated in a nation-wide strike that lasted five days. In order to facilitate contract negotiations and secure better conditions, the UE, IUE, and IBEW began coordinating their negotiations. The increased leverage at the bargaining table did not stop subcontracting and runaway shops, and, in 1977, the local responded by filing a brief with the NLRB, which sought to stop the practice of subcontracting without prior notification. Notwithstanding these efforts, the Lester workforce continued to diminish, and in December 1986 the Lester plant finally closed. Local 107 continued to operate on a limited basis for an additional year to assist displaced workers and retirees.
From the description of Records of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 107, Essington, Pa., 1933-1987. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 65517633
