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Opening the Door
As noted earlier, the Machinists initially excluded blacks,
women and others who could not meet the exacting requirements of
training and skill demanded by the Southern founders. In most
places, and for many years, IAM lodges had to guard against
infiltration by employer agents and spies. In those early years, the
IAM was like a fraternity. It wasn't easy to join.
When Harvey Brown retired as International President in 1949
he described the obstacles he met in 1905 when he first tried to
join in Allentown, Pa. On a Sunday, his only day off, he and another
young machinist traveled to Easton, searching for the financial
secretary of the nearest local Machinists lodge. When they finally
located him, they were given applications and, after much
questioning, were told to bring back the endorsement of a member in
the shop where they were employed. Since Brown worked in a rabidly
anti-union shop in what was then a notoriously anti-union area, the
financial secretary refused to tell Brown which of his fellow
workers were members. It was only after days of careful observation
and cautious questioning that Brown decided a certain big, rough
redhead was the kind of machinist who would belong to the union.
When Brown approached to ask him to vouch for his membership, the
big redhead looked him up and down. According to Harvey Brown's
later recollection, he said "Brownie, I'm going to take a
chance on you. Sure, I'm a member of the Machinist Union and I'll
sign your application, but if I get fired I'll kick the hell out of
you before I go."
Although the need for secrecy remained for decades, other
barriers to membership fell earlier. In 1903, when the IAM absorbed
a union of bicycle workers, delegates to the Milwaukee Grand Lodge
Convention opened membership to "specialists." Two years
later, meeting in Boston, the convention authorized limited
membership at half the normal fees and dues for apprentices. Until
the 1920's however, apprentices were not enrolled directly with
Grand Lodge until they became journeymen. They were assigned to
separate "apprentice" or "junior" lodges
chartered and overseen by sponsoring local lodges.
Women Entering the Trade |
