The Architectural Guild of America was organized in 1934 and affiliated with the 1918 AFL chartered International Federation of Technical Engineers' Architects' and Draftsmen's Union (IFTEADU) to become Guild Local 66 with 23 charter members. A rival CIO union, the Federation of Architects, Engineers, Chemists and Technicians (FAECT) first organized in 1933, went through frequent attempts at mergers as well as intense juisdictional disputes throughout the thirties, which included criticism over Communism in FAECT's leadership. FAECT became defunct in the 1950's. Local 66 was organized in engineering and architectural sections, with 400 members in its largest division, the Ornamental Iron and Bronze section. Local 66 rarely struck, preferring to negotiate disputes through the National Labor Relations Board, or during World War II, the War Labor Board. The union was led from 1940-62 by J. Lawrence Raimist, a dedicated unionist and a professional engineer who also served as International Vice President. Among the large companies under contract with Local 66 were Foster Wheeler, R. Hoe, Lederle Laboratories, S.S. White Dental Manufacturing Co., Morgenthaler Linotype and General Bronze. In recent years computer technology has dramatically changed working conditions and jobs in the engineering profession, and many companies have moved away from the city into outreaching counties.
Led by Ed Meskin during the 1970's, Local 66 attempted to organize the Port Authority Engineers but was unsuccessful. There are currently 1,200 active members of Local 66, about triple the membership of the 1950's.
From the description of Records, 1934-1979. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 478372167
