Why Labor Matters in the Fight for Racial Justice

[lunasun]

http://inthesetimes.com/article/17136/why_labor_matters_in_the_fight_for_racial_justice

When Fred Redmond, the Steelworkers’ vice president for human affairs, was a child in Chicago, he and a dozen siblings and cousins spent summers picking cotton for their grandparents in Mississippi.

Fred’s great, great grandparents had been slaves. His grandparents, maternal and paternal, were sharecroppers, working other people’s land. The grandkids’ summer farm work helped Fred’s maternal grandparents meet quotas and scrape by.
Fred says those summers taught him that sometimes people do not reap the value of their work. In Chicago, Fred’s family found a way workers may secure a fairer share of the profits generated from their labor. That, of course, is collective bargaining. Union membership launched Fred’s family into the middle class, and Fred has devoted much of his life to helping ensure that access to others.

Those summers in Mississippi taught Fred to be reserved. But during the remainder of the year, he watched as the union gave his father and uncle the strength to be forthright. Here’s what Fred says, “My father got involved in the union and was outspoken and spoke to white people in a way that he never would growing up. The union allowed him to talk back and speak out to white people. He was able for the first time in his life to speak out against injustice. He got that through the labor movement. He was able to tell a supervisor that he was wrong, that the supervisor had treated an employee badly.”

Four days after Fred graduated from high school in 1973, he went to work as a laborer at the aluminum mill. He got his college degree by attending part-time.

This was a period when black workers still were relegated to the most dirty, dangerous and grueling positions in industry. They were frozen out of transfers and promotions to what were considered white men’s jobs, even at union plants. But, as Fred says, “Even the worst union in the world is the best for black folks.”

He explains, “For the first time, you were in an environment where you could speak against the union and against the company.” In the union, black workers had the power of collective voice, and they used it to change the union itself.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. Great article ...

But doesn't this really give point to my frequently expressed concern ... Black folks joining with white liberals to fight for our common economic lives, helps white liberals; but, stills lives us fighting our allies, for our economic lives?

This was a period when black workers still were relegated to the most dirty, dangerous and grueling positions in industry. They were frozen out of transfers and promotions to what were considered white men’s jobs, even at union plants. But, as Fred says, “Even the worst union in the world is the best for black folks.”

I can think of no better example for why white liberals should re-consider their "it's classism" sales pitch to PoC ... or, stop being/acting surprised/shocked that, without this recognition, PoC aren't buying what you are selling.

[lunasun]

2. Yes actually my relative tried to file a discrimination suit against a union before civil rights

Made it probable to even do ,let alone maybe just maybe win I say tried.
no lawyer would take it beyond consult
The last one who tried claimed his office was threatened by the union.
The union was not about making it right.
The less senior white co worker from the same position as his retained the job. No correction and no way to fight it legally at the time even though union rules in print said otherwise
So I have trouble with appreciating that statement too . I think his statement is still to be made, even though injustice still reigns and it was not and is not an equalizer but a stepping stone allowed compared to other non union jobs with the wall higher and thicker or out the door.
The unions were and are an important force and getting better but are they a liberal force and
there are many cases as he states of race trumping class or union brotherhood even today
To be able to walk together and bargain together yes often give some a bigger helping hand than others
There was no together or union when my relative experienced discrimination and the union as a collective via representation according to the lawyer actually intimidated any just correction

It is not there yet that is what Fred is working on IMO

Still to this day he has to keep up the fight for fair compensation and treatment in the workplace but proactive diversity within many unions' leaders is transforming itself too and equality with in the union often a platform .

Fred says he knows his grandparents could never protest against the sharecroppers who owned the land on which they lived. If they complained, even when being cheated on pay, the owner could throw them out.

Because of the injustice he saw inflicted on his grandparents, Fred Redmond has sought to ensure through collective bargaining that workers receive fair compensation for their labor and that every worker gain entrance to the middle class.

[shaayecanaan]

3. Actually, "PoC" are "buying" it plenty...

Unions are making good ground amongst Black and Latino service workers, if anything, they are getting more cultural resistance from working class whites in the South:-

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/15/dignity-4

Migrant service workers, particularly from countries with a strong Bolivarian tradition (Guatemala, Nicaragua, etc) are particularly receptive to unions.

Some interesting views you've got there (particularly that it is the job of "white liberals" to sell "PoC" on unionism) but I guess I'm glad that service workers don't hold the same views that you do. I guess maybe the world looks different from the dashboard of your 2014 Nissan whatever it is.

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. Interesting read comprehension skills you have ...

particularly since I did not mention Unionism, as the offensive message, white liberals are trying to sell PoC. PoC have been supportive, and strong members, of unions since the day white liberals decided to allow us to join ... and even as we served as fodder in the fight for economic equity, we still end up fighting for equity against our "allies."

And yes, the view IS different from the seat of my 2014 Nissan Altima, when DWB.

[shaayecanaan]

6. Either way

I'm glad that those service workers don't have the same reservations that you do. For better or worse, most of the current crop of service workers have never served in a union and thus have no preconceptions, good or bad. I'm not sure what difficulties you allege that unions are having in connecting with people of colour, but it doesn't seem to be reflected in the numbers.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. Again, I am NOT talking about ...

any difficulty that unions are having in connecting with PoC ... beyond the obvious membership bars and internal disparate treatment (largely) of the past. PoC are, and have been, strong union supporters and members, even as we have faced less than equitable treatment within the movement.

I am referring to the concern of PoC that joining with white liberals in our common battle for income equity, still leaves us behind because YOUR battle becomes OUR battle; but OUR battle, never quite, becomes YOUR battle, i.e., "Classism is the real problem, not racism." IOWs, history, and current discussion, demonstrates that once the battle is engaged, and won, we (PoC) just have a different white person to struggle against and our former allies have no interest is returning the effort.

This concern will only be alleviated when white liberals place racism as a higher priority.

Is that clear enough?

[shaayecanaan]

9. "our" battle?

Obtaining a living wage for service workers is not the battle of all service workers? A black service worker doesn't care whether they get paid 7 or 15 dollars an hour?

Sounds like you're a real champion of unions all right. Where ever would they be without your support?

Remember, the struggles and priorities of a working class person, black or white, are different from yours.

And the job of unions is to better the conditions of workers. If they do other things, maybe solve world peace or whatever, great. But their primary job is to put more coin in the workers pocket. And there is no other institution in our society dedicated to that ideal.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. Are you being intentally obtuse? ...

Yes ... "OUR" battle, i.e., racism, versus "YOUR" battle, i.e., economic equity, with the distinguishing point being your complete refusal to acknowledge that which does not serve your interest.

Remember, the struggles and priorities of a working class person, black or white, are different from yours.

You don't know that ... You don't know me. {ETA: I'd wager that I have done far more for unions and workplace working conditions than you.} But what you, also, don't know/refuse to acknowledge is the struggles and priorities of a working class person THAT IS OF COLOR, may intersect on the narrow income issue; but, diverge from there.

And the job of unions is to better the conditions of workers. If they do other things, maybe solve world peace or whatever, great. But their primary job is to put more coin in the workers pocket. And there is no other institution in our society dedicated to that ideal.

Thank you for illustrating my point!

[shaayecanaan]

11. So naturally, you'd insist that organisations dedicated to combating racism...

should also fight for a living wage? After all some of their members are probably working class. Or is it only unions that have to be all things to all people?

ETA: I strongly support unions fighting racism, discrimination or harassment as it affects their members in the workplace. That's part and parcel of their charter. I am objecting to the insistence that unions have to carry the can for middle-class/professional-class people who have some sort of grievance of their own.

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. I just noticed something ...

ETA: I strongly support unions fighting racism, discrimination or harassment as it affects their members in the workplace. That's part and parcel of their charter. I am objecting to the insistence that unions have to carry the can for middle-class/professional-class people who have some sort of grievance of their own.

Are you from the U.S.?

[shaayecanaan]

13. There's a list

Born in Lebanon, grew up in west Africa, later the UK, spent time in the US and now in Australia.

[1StrongBlackMan]

14. So you have no (little) idea about ...

U.S. labor relations, with respect to racism. That explains a lot.

[CreekDog]

15. Unions fight racism because racism hurts ALL workers

It divides workers, it allows them to be pitted against each other and it devalues work by unfairly paying victims of discrimination less than workers doing the same job. It then lowers the wages of higher paid workers who are undercut by prejudiced wage setting.

Your contention that racism is some biutique concern of upper middle class professionals is ridiculous and at odds with reality.

[shaayecanaan]

16. I don't disagree with any of that...

I was objecting to the notion that people of colour would not be "sold" on unionism because "white liberals" (who are apparently the only ones with a dog in the fight regarding a living wage) are too complicit in racism to justify people of colour joining a union alongside white people. Besides being factually untrue, it essentially posits that black working class people should cut off their nose to spite their face.

[JustAnotherGen]

17. The thing is - you have to get hired first

Look up what happened at Rochester Telephone as it changed to Frontier Telephone - in the 1990's.

It wasn't that easy to get hired back then if you were black or Hispanic - in Rochester NY.

So before you can bargain - you have to be hired. And if you can't get hired . . . Or if they only allow a handful of you in their tower. . .

I know one of the black women from that lawsuit. I was the first black woman in the carrier organization - and was cheered - though I didn't know it at the time. I met the woman from that lawsuit in 2004. From my office on the 3rd floor taking the company jet to Bermuda - I had no clue how many people were cheering for me in 1997. People who couldn't get those good paying union jobs that didn't require a four year degree.

We are only as weak and sick as our little secrets in America. From the outside looking in - it seems easy. But once you are here and live it - experience it - the prism changes.

Now do I support the Communications unions today? Yep! Even though I still sit in the "tower" a d have continued to progress . . . But I also take the approach - pay our store workers more (since our benefits are the best of the best) so we don't need a union. Commissions or not - they need $20 and hour in the major cities. $12 plus commission ain't cutting it.

My husband owns a non union metal shop - but he's from Europe and set up his business with those benefits and pay. He also has to meet certain expectations to dance with UNESCO - not so much the historic register in the US.if you pay an honest wage, and understand that work is work - life is life - and your employees ought to be able to take a vacation (time and afford) each year your life as an employer is easy. Then again - he deliberately went into Camden NJ to reach back and pull young black teenagers up, train them, and give them a shot. His second highest paid is a 24 year old black woman who used to sleep in the bath tub to dodge bullets. Is highest paid is a former Ford welder - but that former Union guy from Michigan has 30 years experience.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Great article. Unions are needed now more than ever. Good for Fred, thanks to Leo Gerard

for writing this, and being a tremendous union president.

Thank you, lunasun, for the post.

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. I completely agree ...

collective bargaining is the only way to (approach) equalizing the power differential between capital over labor.

And strangely, all (legitimate) economic thought indicates the owner class will benefit through a more equitable distribution of the fruits of labor; yet, the owner class, fails to grasp this basic economic principle.