| 1924: |
WWW is born in Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1924: |
The IAM convention endorses Robert M. LaFollette, Sr., for President.
World War II - WWW leaves high school to serve in the U. S. Navy and learns
diesel engine repair while enlisted in the armed services. |
| 1941: |
IAM pledges support to win the war, including a no-strike pledge. |
| 1944: |
76,000 IAM members serve in armed forces, and total membership is now
at 776,000. |
| Post-WWII: |
WWW joins IAM Automotive Lodge 1363 and quickly rises from shop
steward to local lodge president.
Widespread layoffs follow end of World War II. In 1948, IAM membership is
opened to all regardless of race or color. The IAM convention endorses Harry
Truman for U. S. President. |
| 1951: |
WWW is appointed at age 26 to IAM international field staff as one of
its youngest members. |
| 1951: |
IAM pledges full support of UN action in Korea. |
| 1958: |
WWW moves to Washington, D. C., IAM headquarters, to organize truck
and car mechanics nationwide. |
| 1958: |
IAM convention establishes a strike fund which was approved by the
membership in a referendum vote. IAM membership now tops 903,000. |
| 1965: |
"Wimpy" appointed IAM National Automotive Coordinator. |
| 1967: |
"Wimpy" is the IAM General Vice President. |
| 1967: |
Railroad machinists lead shop crafts against the nation's railroads.
The U. S. Congress forces return to work and arbitration. |
| 1970s (early): |
WWW meets future IAM President Thomas Buffenberger and says
of him, "I liked him. He was kind of a free spirit who said what was on his
mind." Both men are 2nd generation trade union members. |
| 1977: |
"Wimpy" is elected the IAM's 11th International President. |
| 1979: |
The Citizen/Labor Energy Coalition ("Wimpy" as founder and president)
launches first "Stop Big Oil" day to protest "obscene" profits by oil
conglomerates while American workers' paychecks continue to shrink. |
| 1980: |
Winpisinger leads "walkout of some 300 delegates and alternates from
the Democratic Convention to protest the ... nomination of Jimmy Carter for
President. ” |
| 1980: |
IAM media project begins: thousands of IAM members and their families
monitor prime-time TV to determine media's portrayal of working people and
unions. |
| 1980: |
Winpisinger writes Trade Union View of U. S. Manpower Policy. |
| 1981: |
"Wimpy" directs IAM lawsuit filing "against the OPEC oil cartel,
charging them with artificially fixing the price of petroleum. |
| 1983: |
WWW co-authors (with Jane Slaughter) Concessions & How to Beat Them. |
| 1983: |
IAM introduces "Rebuilding America" act to Congress as alternative to
Reaganomics and to rebuild nation’s industrial base. |
| 1989: |
President and Brother Winpisinger retires and George J. Kourpias is
sworn in as the IAM's 12th president. "Wimpy" advises him, "... you've got
the opportunity to be the greatest president this union has ever had. You
can overshadow everyone who's come before you." |
| 1997: |
December 11, William W. Winpisinger dies of cancer the day following
his 73rd birthday. |
| 1998: |
The Placid Harbor facility is renamed the
Winpisinger Education and
Technology Center to honor the IAM's "visionary union leader, who brought
the facility into being." |
| September 2004: |
Dorothy Fennell has completed the first phase of the William
Winpisigner Oral History Project. Eventually the tapes and transcripts will be made available at the Southern
Labor Archives. For more information about this project, please contact Dorothy Fennell, (212)340-2817;
E-Mail:def7@cornell.edu |
