Constitutional and Trade Departments, 1956-1979

This series consists of correspondence between the various trades departments and the AFL-CIO headquarters and between the departments and locals of affiliated unions; reports and resolutions from departmental conventions; press releases; and records detailing legal and jurisdictional disputes between departments and or unions. Spanning the years 1956-1979, the series documents the activities of the constitutional and trades departments of the AFL-CIO.

Created at different times, the constitutional departments carry out the following functions: to coordinate organizing and legislative efforts; to conduct public relations programs; to assist in resolving jurisdictional disputes; to assist in contract negotiating; and to encourage cooperation among the various members. These departments differ from the staff departments. While subordinate to the federation, the constitutional departments have their own constitutions and officers, and largely, manage their own affairs.

This series includes records about: Building and Construction Trades Department, BCTD (1908- ); Food and Beverage Trades Department (ca 1960- ); Industrial Union Department, IUD (1955- ); Maritime Trades Department (1946- ); Metal Trades Department (1908- ); Department for Professional Employees (1977- ); Public Employee Department (1974- ); Railway Employes' Department (1908-1980); and the Union Label and Service Trades Department (1909- ).

The Atlantic Council files seem to have been mistakenly intermingled with the constitutional departments' records, perhaps because they tangentially involved the Maritime Trades Department. Created in 1961, the Atlantic Council sought to promote closer relationships among countries of the Free World.