WAUBestCharles6651.xml Guide to the Charles Best labor ephemera and publications collection Best (Charles) labor ephemera and publications collection Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries 2026

Allen Library BOX 352900 Seattle, Washington 98195-2900 Business Number: 206-543-1929 speccoll@uw.edu http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/

Finding aid created by Tracy J Nishimoto, March 2026; processed by student Bianca Rossignol, 2025.

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-03-24. Description is written in: English, Latin script. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries Charles Best labor ephemera and publications collection Best, Charles 6651 2.57 cubic feet 2 boxes, 1 oversize vertical file, 2 rolls 1936-2016 1988-2001 Ephemera and publications collected by an OPEIU Local 8 member and organizer English .

Charles "Charlie" Best was a long-time member and activist of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 8. Best was an organizer for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) in Texas in the early 1980s and a founding member of the union at the social services organization Solid Ground, then known as the Fremont Public Association. For 27 years, he worked at the King County Re-employment Support Center, a program of the Worker Center of the King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, where he provided support to dislocated and laid-off workers. Within OPEIU Local 8, Best was an active and founding member of the union's Political Action Committee and known for his consistent attendance at Membership Assemblies and a strong supporter of the union's organizing program.

(Source of Information: OPEIU Local 8 Journal, April 2022. https://opeiu8.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Newsletter-Apr-22_letter-for-web.pdf

Donated by Charles Best in 2012 and 2016.

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

To the extent that they own the copyright, the donor has transferred the copyright of the materials to the University of Washington; however, copyright in some items in this collection may be held by their respective creators. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

The collection consists of artifacts and publications assembled by Charles "Charlie" Best during his career as a labor and community organizer. The materials document Best's own activities in the labor movement—primarily in the Pacific Northwest and at the national level—as well as broader labor material culture and history from the 1930s to the 2010s, with a particular strength in materials from the 1980s and 1990s. The collection provides insight into union organizing, political action, communications, and labor culture through a wide variety of formats.

Series 1: Publications and Printed Materials, 1962-2012:

This series comprises the bulk of the collection and includes newsletters, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, booklets, and internal communications from a diverse range of labor unions and advocacy organizations. The materials cover topics such as contract negotiations, strikes, political endorsements, membership news, and broader economic and social justice issues. Significant runs include issues of Labor Notes (1981–1989), Label Letter (1981–1988), Coalition of Labor Union Women News (1981–1996), and the OPEIU Local 8 Journal (1989–2001). Other notable publications come from organizations including the Teamsters, Communication Workers of America (CWA), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Series 2: Ephemera and Artifacts, approximately 1936–2016:

This series consists of three-dimensional objects and printed items that illustrate the material culture of the labor movement. It includes a large and diverse assortment of pin-back buttons from numerous unions and political campaigns, promoting solidarity, boycotts, and specific causes. Other items include keychains, apparel (such as a UFCW meat cutter's apron and a baseball cap), drinkware (union-branded mugs and coasters), textile objects (a banner), and assorted functional ephemera such as union-branded calendars, a matchbook, a mouse pad, and a pocket protector. This series provides physical evidence of union identity, member recruitment, political fundraising, and promotional activities. Best likely collected many of these materials while attending labor conferences and conventions, or as samples of promotional materials for use in his work with the Worker Center or OPEIU Local 8.

Processed by Bianca Rossignol, 2025.

Labor unions--Washington (State) Labor union members--Washington (State) Series 1: Labor Newsletters and Publications 1962-2007 Subseries A: Local Peace Times, American Friends Service Committee 1983 6651-001 Box 1 1 [Seattle Greenpeace Worker's Organizing Committee Petition] 1988 6651-001 Box 1 2 Local 8 Office and Professional Employees International Union Journal 1989-2001 6651-001 Box 1 3 Washington State Labor Council Reports 1989-2001 6651-001 Box 1 4 Washington Teamster 1997 6651-001 Box 1 5 Newsletter of the Northwest Labor Employment and Law Office, Issue 2 1999 6651-001 Box 1 6 Subseries B: National Important Events in American Labor History 1962 6651-001 Box 1 7 [Teamsters Articles and News Bulletin] 1973-1990 6651-001 Box 1 8 Rural America 1976 6651-001 Box 1 9 [Assorted Newsletters] 1976-1983 6651-001 Box 1 10 [United Woodcutters' Association Correspondence and News] 1980-1981 6651-001 Box 1 11 Union Labor News 1980-1982 6651-001 Box 1 12 International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union Justice 1981 6651-001 Box 1 13 Mountain Life and Work 1981 6651-001 Box 1 14 CLUWing You In 1981-1982 6651-001 Box 1 15 Coalition of Labor Union Women News 1981-1996 6651-001 Box 1 16 Label Letter 1981-1985 6651-001 Box 1 17 [Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now United States of America Newsletter] 1982-1983 6651-001 Box 1 18 This Mighty Dream Pamphlet 1982-1983 6651-001 Box 1 19 Hard Times News 1983 6651-001 Box 1 20 Labor Notes #27 1981 6651-001 Box 1 21 Labor Notes #30-38 1981-1982 6651-001 Box 1 22 Labor Notes #41 1982 6651-001 Box 1 23 Labor Notes #45-49 1982-1983 6651-001 Box 1 24 Labor Notes #53-55 1983 6651-001 Box 1 25 Labor Notes #57-60 1983-1984 6651-001 Box 1 26 Labor Notes #62-65 1984 6651-001 Box 1 27 Labor Notes #67 1984 6651-001 Box 1 28 Labor Notes #69-89 1984-1986 6651-001 Box 1 29 Labor Notes #91-92 1986 6651-001 Box 1 30 Labor Notes #95 1987 6651-001 Box 1 31 Labor Notes #97-103 1987 6651-001 Box 1 32 Labor Notes #105 1987 6651-001 Box 1 33 Labor Notes #109-118 1988-1989 6651-001 Box 1 34 Labor Notes #125-131 1989 6651-001 Box 1 35 Labor Notes #119-124 1989 6651-001 Box 1 36 Service Employees International Union Leadership News, Update 1984 6651-001 Box 1 37 Texas Faculty 1985 6651-001 Box 1 38 Food and Justice 1985-1988 6651-001 Box 1 19 Label Letter Volume 10 Number 3 and Volume 12 Number 3 1986-1988 6651-001 Box 1 40 Labor Against Apartheid 1988 6651-001 Box 1 41 White Collar 1989-2001 6651-001 OSVF263 Teamster Convoy Dispatch #95, #97 1990 6651-001 OSVF263 The Union Worker's Bible 1990 6651-001 Box 1 42 Service Employees International Union Updates 1990-1993 6651-001 Box 1 43 Communications Workers of American Committee on Political Education Guide to Political Action approximately 1990 6651-001 Box 1 44 The News at 6 1993 6651-001 Box 1 45 1199 News 1993 6651-001 Box 1 46 Communication Workers of America News 1993-2001 6651-001 Box 1 47 [Industrial Workers of the World News Bulletin] approximately 1994 6651-001 Box 1 48 News from the War Zone Volume 2 Number 5 1995 6651-001 Box 1 49 The Laborer Volume 49 Number 3 1995 6651-001 Box 1 50 Local 17, Teamster Times, Volume 4 Number 2 1995 6651-001 Box 1 51 United Food and Commercial Workers Action Volume 17, Number 3 1995 6651-001 Box 1 52 Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance News 1995 6651-001 Box 1 53 Labor Party Press 1996-1997 6651-001 Box 1 54 Labor's Voice 1996-2000 6651-001 Box 1 55 America at Work 1996-2001 6651-001 Box 1 56 The Ark 1997-1998 6651-001 Box 1 57 [United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Centennial Booklet] 2000 6651-001 Box 1 58 Why Strikes Fail Pamphlet approximately 2007 6651-001 Box 1 59 Series 2: Labor Union Ephemera 1936-2016 Subseries A: Buttons, Keychains, and Stickers American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Buttons undated 6651-001 Box 1 60

3 buttons

Washington Education Association, Association for Higher Education Buttons, Seattle Community Colleges Federation of Teachers Button undated 6651-001 Box 1 61

3 buttons

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77 Buttons undated 6651-001 Box 1 62 United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1001 Buttons undated 6651-001 Box 1 63

3 buttons

Yes on Revenue Button undated 6651-001 Box 1 64 Stand Up For Affordable Healthcare Buttons undated 6651-001 Box 1 65 No More Broken Promises Button undated 6651-001 Box 1 66 Support Home Care Workers Button undated 6651-001 Box 1 67 United Steelworkers of America Button undated 6651-001 Box 1 68 We All Belong Seattle Office for Civil Rights Button undated 6651-001 Box 1 69 United Brotherhood of Carpenters' Apprenticeship and Training Fund Button undated 6651-001 Box 1 70 Everett Shingle Weavers' Union Local 2580 Button 1936 6651-001 Box 1 71 Pulp, Sulphite, and Paper Mill Workers Local 155 Buttons 1936-1937 6651-001 Box 1 72

4 buttons

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 9th District Buttons 1944-1951 6651-001 Box 1 73

6 buttons

Food Packers, Processors, and Warehousemen Buttons 1953, 1972-1975 6651-001 Box 1 74

4 buttons

Stickers approximately 1980-1990 6651-001 Box 1 75 Service Employees International Union Local 925 Button approximately 1981 6651-001 Box 2 1 Amalgamated Transit Union Greyhound Bus Boycott Button 1983 6651-001 Box 2 2 Washington State Political Campaign Buttons approximately 1985-2004 6651-001 Box 2 3

3 buttons

Brock Adams Campaign Buttons 1987 6651-001 Box 2 4

2 buttons

Committee on Political Education Button 1987 6651-001 Box 2 5 United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32 Buttons approximately 1990 6651-001 Box 2 6

2 buttons

Washington State Labor Council Election Buttons approximately 1990 6651-001 Box 2 7

5 buttons

Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Buttons approximately 1990-2006 6651-001 Box 2 8

17 buttons

Washington State Labor Council Buttons 1994-2016 6651-001 Box 2 9

7 buttons

United Farm Workers Support Strawberry Workers Buttons approximately 1996 6651-001 Box 2 10

2 buttons

Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace Buttons 1999-2000 6651-001 Box 2 11

5 buttons

Workers Rights Are Human Rights Button approximately 1999 6651-001 Box 2 12 United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1001 Buttons approximately 1999-2012 6651-001 Box 2 13

5 buttons

North American Free Trade Agreement Button approximately 2001 6651-001 Box 2 14 Hate Free Zone Button approximately 2001 6651-001 Box 2 15 Ask Me About R-51 Button approximately 2002 6651-001 Box 2 16 [Labor Party Healthcare Bumper Stickers] approximately 2002 6651-001 Box 2 17 Martin Luther King Day Rally Schedule Button 2005 6651-001 Box 2 18 Boycott WinCo Foods Buttons approximately 2010 6651-001 Box 2 19

2 buttons

American Federation of Government Employees Keychain undated 6651-001 Box 2 2.1 United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Buckle Up Keychain undated 6651-001 Box 2 A Amalgmated Transit Union Keychain undated 6651-001 Box 2 A International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers Keychain undated 6651-001 Box 2 A Washington State Labor Council Badge Holder undated 6651-001 Box 2 A International Union of Operating Engineers Local 609 Keychain 1995 6651-001 Box 2 A Subseries B: Mugs and Apparel Washington Education Association Coffee Mug approximately 1960-1970 6651-001 Box 2 B United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1105 Apron approximately 1999 6651-001 Tube 1 Communication Workers of America for Gore Baseball Cap 2000 6651-001 Box 2 C United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1001 Coffee Mug approximately 2001 6651-001 Box 2 B Subseries C: Calendars and Other Assorted Ephemera Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local 8 Banner undated 6651-001 Tube 1 Washington Education Association Pen undated 6651-001 Box 2 A [American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Pocket Guides and Ephemera] 1979-1995 6651-001 Box 2 20 [International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Membership Application Pad] approximately 1980 6651-001 Box 2 21 United Food and Commercial Workers Work Schedule Logbooks 1989-1992 6651-001 Box 2 22 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge 751 Pocket Protector approximately 1990 6651-001 Box 2 23 Washington Education Association Matchbook approximately 1990 6651-001 Box 2 A Pacific Northwest Regional Council Mouse Pad approximately 1990-2000 6651-001 Box 2 24 Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Coasters approximately 1990-2006 6651-001 Box 2 25 Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Hanging Bar Sign approximately 1990-2006 6651-001 Box 2 26 Teamsters Local 227 Calendar 1990-1991 6651-001 Box 2 27 Rebound Work Calendar Logbooks 1991-1994 6651-001 Box 2 28 Teamsters Local 38 Union Meeting Pocket Calendar 2012 6651-001 Box 2 29