In a conversation among a handful of union organizers last night, I heard this expression used. I believe it means "cushy" - as in "He's got a pie card job," meaning he doesn't have to work and has lots of perks - like he's got some card that gives him access to "the pie."

This was the explanation I got from the folks present, and a little research turned up a fair number of links to the International Workers of the World (i.e. the Wobblies), but I'd like to know more.

Any ideas on the origins of this odd phrase? And do I have the meaning correct (one union trivia site said that a pie card was a paid job within a union, presumably as opposed to those who work for their unions as volunteers)?