A 1943 membership card for the United Steelworkers of America, headquartered at 1900 Commonwealth Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The card was issued to William E. Dietrich of Lykens, R. D. [Specktown, Lykens Township, Dauphin County], Pennsylvania. LU [Local Union] 1608 – 5112.
The front of the card indicates that he was paying his dues by “CHECKOFF – DURING 1943” and “is entitled to all the benefits and privileges provided by the United Steelworkers of America.”
This Checkoff Dues Payment Card is good in the Local Union indicated above, and it must be returned to the Financial Secretary when you leave the jurisdiction of the Local Union for any reason. It is not acceptable as a Transfer Certificate.
Wear your dues button.
The back of the card (not pictured) states:
This is to indicate that you are a member of the Local Union shown on the face hereof, and must be carried with you at all time to show that you are in good standing. 25 cents of the yearly dues is for subscription to Steel Labor, the official publication of the United Steelworkers of America. This card must be given to the Financial Secretary if you leave the jurisdiction of the Local Union, or for any reason discontinue payment of your dues by checkoff.
INSTRUCTIONS TO SECRETARY
You shall issue this card only to members covered by a Checkoff Joint Wage Agreement.”
“Dues Checkoff” is a system where employers deduct union dues from an employees earnings, rather than the employee making separate individual payments for union dues.
During World War II, William E. Dietrich worked occasionally at a steel mill in Harrisburg. Getting there by auto from Lykens Township was difficult because of gas rationing. However, exceptions were sometimes made to get employees to work. Often men from the Lykens Valley area traveled in car pools or by train in order to minimize the effects of the rationing.
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