"HEREBIU, Local 472 was chartered in 1934 and represented Springfield area bartenders. Local 472 was popularly referred to as the Bartenders' Union, while HEREBIU, Local 336, which organized restaurant workers, was often called the Culinary Alliance. The history of the unions is sketchy since the location of the early records of the unions is unknown. In 1953, Local 472 amended their by-laws to exclude women from the union. At least one bar, The Grove, was picketed when the proprietor insisted on hiring a woman bartender. On July 9, 1961 President Ralph Dillard and Business Agent Harold Gardner resigned, citing the memberships' displeasure with the way they handled a strike. On February 28, 1962 Local 472 merged into Local 336 due to decreasing membership. At the time of the merger Local 472 had only 33 active members; Local 336 membership was approximately 120. Local 336 has not been active since the late 1960s. Ralph Eugene Dillard (1922-1997) was a bartender in Springfield for over 40 years. Throughout his career Dillard bartended at Sander's Tavern, the Mayfair, the Flaming Pit, and the Mason-Dixon. In the 1960s he owned the Stardust Lounge. Dillard served as the business agent and later President of the Bartenders' Union from 1953 to 1961. Dillard also served as President of the Local Joint Executive Board, an organization composed of members of Local 472 and Local 336"--Finding aid.
From the description of Records, 1955-1962. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 47362335
