International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine & Furniture Workers.

Rutgers University Special Collections and University Archives became the final repository for the records and other ephemera of the IUE 401 Local chapter in early 2004. The Edison, NJ chapter closed in 2003 when the Frigidaire Factory in Edison closed that same year. Local 401 was established to advocate the rights of Frigidaire Company employees. 401 also conducted business with Home Comfort Products, Edison Products Co., and White-Westinghouse. When the plant closed there was no need for Local 401.

Due to the lack of arrangement, missing documents and often mis-filing/labeling of documents it is difficult to put together a history of Local 401. The documents received present sporadic and disjointed snapshots of 401.

An exact date for the origin of Local 401 is unknown. The earliest document in the collection is a supplement between Local 401 Westinghouse Electric Corporation and IUE from 1950. The documents from the 1990's present the clearest picture of the local's functions as the most diverse and comprehensive information comes from this period. 401 was particularly involved with negotiations and meetings with, what they term, "the Company." The early 1990s saw the threat of a strike by Local 401. Thus much information regarding contracts and negotiations survive from this period.

A total of four presidents have been identified with rough dates of their term, Raymond Walling (1990-1995), Thomas Ruggiero (1995-1998, 1999-2001), Peter Wickersty (1998-1999), and Syed Shah (2003).

401 was active nationally as well. In 2002 401 attended the CWA National Convention, the 1992 25th IUE Constitutional Convention, and a 1998 IUE Leadership Conference.

From the guide to the Records of the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine & Furniture Workers, AFL-CIO (IUE) Local 401, Edison, NJ, 1950-2003, (Rutgers University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives)