Collins, Eleanore, d. 1994.

Eleanore Collins was born in the Bronx and raised in Elmsford, NY. She graduated from Mount St. Vincent College and later earned a Master's degree in labor relations from Pace University. After working briefly for Reader's Digest and then as a social worker, she took a job as a clerk for the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. in Manhattan on the eve of World War II. In the early 1950s she joined the Communications Workers of America, Local 1150. In 1954 her clerical job was transferred to White Plains, NY. There she became a steward and was active in organizing and upgrading clerical titles. She was elected to the Local's Executive Board and soon became known for her passionate concern with labor education, women's rights, and white-collar organizing. On two occasions, during a bitterly contested Local election in 1958-59 and during the equally rancorous telephone strike of 1971, she came into conflict with members of her own and other CWA locals. Both disputes resulted in disciplinary proceedings; in each case, penalties against her were later set aside.

In 1975 she joined with a group of White Plains members who broke away to form a new CWA local, Local 1153. She went on to serve that Local as a Board member, convention delegate, education director and finally president, 1981-84. She died in St. Louis in June 1994.

From the description of Papers, 1951-1988. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 79107494

Eleanore Collins was born in the Bronx and raised in Elmsford, NY. She graduated from Mount St. Vincent College and later earned a Master's degree in labor relations from Pace University. After working briefly for Reader's Digest and then as a social worker, she took a job as a clerk for the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. in Manhattan on the eve of World War II. In the early 1950s she joined the Communications Workers of America, Local 1150. In 1954 her clerical job was transferred to White Plains, NY. There she became a steward and was active in organizing and upgrading clerical titles. She was elected to the Local's Executive Board and soon became known for her passionate concern with labor education, women's rights, and white-collar organizing. On two occasions, during a bitterly contested Local election in 1958-59 and during the equally rancorous telephone strike of 1971, she came into conflict with members of her own and other CWA locals. Both disputes resulted in disciplinary proceedings; in each case, penalties against her were later set aside.

In 1975 she joined with a group of White Plains members who broke away to form a new CWA local, Local 1153. She went on to serve that Local as a Board member, convention delegate, education director and finally president, 1981-84. She died in St. Louis in June 1994.

From the description of Papers, 1951-1988. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 477253102

Eleanore Collins (d. 1994) was born in the Bronx and raised in Elmsford, NY. She graduated from Mount St. Vincent College and later earned a master's degree in industrial labor relations from Pace University. After working briefly for Reader's Digest and then as a social worker, she took a job as a clerk for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in Manhattan on the eve of World War II. In the early 1950s, she joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 1150. In 1954, Collins's clerical job was transferred to White Plains, NY. There she became a steward and was active in organizing and upgrading clerical titles. Thanks in large part to her efforts, AT&T created the new title of Engineering Associate, representing a substantial boost in status and pay for a female-dominated classification.

Collins was elected to Local 1150's Executive Board and soon became known for her passionate concern for labor education, women's rights, and white-collar organizing. However, on two occasions, during a bitterly contested Local 1150 election and during the equally rancorous telephone strike, she came into conflict with members of her own and other CWA locals. Controversy over disputed election results in CWA Local 1150's 1958-1959 election occasioned a disciplinary hearing against Eleanore Collins in 1960. In 1971, Collins supported a move by fellow co-workers to return to work at a time when the validity of the picket lines was in question. Other Local members accused Collins of defying union directives. In both cases, charges against Collins were later dismissed.

In 1975, Collins joined with a group of White Plains members who broke away from Local 1150 to form a new CWA local, Local 1153. She went on to serve Local 1153 as a board member, convention delegate, education director, and finally as president from 1981 to 1984.

In the later years of her career, Collins's concern with union activities and efforts to aid in worker security was inclined toward securing pensions and health benefits for employees and retirees. This concern extended to all those in need of health care, with an emphasis on senior citizens.

Collins died in St. Louis, MO in June 1994.

From the guide to the Eleanore Collins Papers, 1944-1993, (Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive)