The Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 4302 of Akron, Ohio was originally chartered on April 24, 1937, as Local 201 of the Ohio Federation of Telephone Workers (OFTW). Due to the absence of records relative to the Union's first seven years, it is difficult to determine the degree of activity of Local 201. However, in June 1944, the Union was reorganized and received a new charter as the Akron Accounting Local of the OFTW. The new Local was affiliated with the National Federation of Telephone Workers and assumed the role of bargaining agent for its members who were employed by the Ohio Bell Telephone Company. Then, in 1950 it was reorganized as a Local of the CWA and affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations.
The CWA was formed in 1947 to remedy the major problems of the loosely confederated National Federation of Telephone Workers, which had been created in 1939 and consisted of locally autonomous unions from throughout the country. However, the lack of unity and centralization resulted in a weak and ineffective body. The reorganization which formed the CWA created a strong national union which could provide the benefits of a more unified bargaining apparatus on an industry-wide scale. After joining the CWA, this Local was number 3 in Ohio Division 12. In April 1951, Division 12 became part of District 4, which included all CWA locals in Ohio and Michigan except those that had been in Division 6 or 18. At that time the number of the Local was changed to 4302.
Sources: Material in the collection and Labor Unions, The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Institutions, edited by Gary M. Fink, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1977
From the guide to the Communications Workers of America, Local 4302 Records, 1937-1971, 1937-1971, 1951-1970, (Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron)
