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Finding Aid

United Steelworkers of America. Local 1005 (Hamilton, Ont.)
Burniston, Bill, 1920-1987?

United Steelworkers of America. Local 1005 (Hamilton, Ont.) Bill Burniston sous-fonds. - 1940-1973. - 1.3 m of textual records and graphic materials.

William Joseph "Bill" Burniston was born in Wentworth County on 28 September 1920. He was hired to work at the Steel Company of Canada 20" Mill, Ontario Works in Hamilton, Ont. on 28 January 1941. One of his earlier jobs was as a mill hand catcher. He received postponements from military training during World War II because of his employment at Stelco. He married Virginia Wells on 20 February 1943 and the couple had one child, a daughter Tracey, in 1958. The Burnistons lived in Dundas, Ont., and also had a cottage at Turkey Point. If he worked until age 65, he would have retired in 1985. It is possible he took early retirement. Mr. Burniston's death date is not known.

Bill Burniston was an active member of Local 1005. His positions with the local included:

Executive Officer; Chairman and Secretary, Compensation, Safety and Health Committee; Chairman, Pensions, Welfare and Insurance Committee; Chairman and Secretary, Unemployment Insurance Committee; Chief Steward, 20" Mill, Ontario Works; Chairman, Div. 2 Grievance Committee; Chairman, Entertainment Committee; Chairman, Labour Day Committee.

He was also the Secretary of the Steelworkers Social Club of Hamilton which was incorporated in letters patent issued by the Government of Ontario in October 1947. The Club's affairs were legally wound up in 1962. Bill Burniston also contributed articles to Steel Shots.

The fonds arrived in complete disarray. His domestic correspondence, bills, bank accounts with many overdraft notices, and numerous requests for payment from local merchants were mixed together with his union papers which, in themselves, had no order either. With the exception of correspondence he received from his friends serving with the Canadian forces during World War II, none of this domestic material has been retained. What remains has been arranged as follows: correspondence; appointment calendars and diaries; labour negotiations; committees; Steelworkers Social Club; finances; conferences; photographs, job descriptions, personal documents, articles and notes, printed materials and realia.

Burniston's collection of Steel Shots has been used to supplement Research Collection's existing holdings of this periodical.

Title based on content of sous-fonds.
Sous-fonds (Old Acc. 05) was acquired from Virginia Burniston, possibly in 1987, after Bill Burniston's death.
Finding aid available in hard copy and electronically.
There are no access restrictions.
Further accruals are not expected.

Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: June 9, 2003
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