N o t e Worthy Work History News Save the date! L H A Miriam Frank

Book Talk: Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America Labor History Association, Inc. September 17, 6:00 p.m. Tamiment Library NYU A Bridge Between Past and Present Volume 31 No 2 Summer | Fall 2014 A joint event sponsored by Tamiment and the New York Labor History Association Attack on public workers forum By Joseph Lopez movement. Unions marched side-by-side People’s Climate March rganized labor is the enemy—or with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s and were an essential partner in the so right-wing media outlets like battle for racial and economic equality. Fox News and politicians like O Garrido mentioned the 2012 Chicago Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker tell Teacher’s strike, which succeeded because Sunday, September 21 us. Private sector workers are inundated the union reached out to parents and made with misinformation about unions being issues such as teacher evaluations based on greedy and self-serving institutions that This is an invitation to change everything. student performance a public concern. cause cities to fall into financial ruin, like “Private sector workers buy into the lies

In September, world leaders are coming to New York City for a UN summit on Lopez Joseph Detroit’s recent bankruptcy. How do we because they don’t have the benefits we do,” the climate crisis. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging government change this image of public employee Emil Pietromonaco, UFT, and Henry said Emil Pietromonaco, secretary of the Garrido, DC 37 at May 8th conference. to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce global unions? “The Attack on Public Workers,” United Federation of Teachers. Many non- a panel discussion hosted by the New said DC 37 Associate Director Henry warming pollution. union employees do not have the pensions York Labor History Association on May 8, Garrido. He pointed out that the labor or health benefits that they are told we With our future on the line and the whole world watching, we’ll take a stand looked to answer the question. movement has been at its strongest when “selfishly” demand. But they would also not “We need to stop talking about ourselves fighting for the betterment of society as to bend the course of history. We’ll take to the streets to demand the world have weekends off or eight hour workdays and start talking about the community,” a whole, such as during the Civil Rights (Continued on page 5) we know is within our reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet, a world safe from the ravages of climate change: a world with New York City Labor Film Club–the past with a blast good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities. By Jane LaTour the Labor Journal. The Film Club worked president of NABET Local 15; Baruch To change everything, we need everyone on board. hile we celebrate the Workers corroboratively with unions, using their College Professor Deborah Levenson, author Sunday, September 21 in New York City. Join us. peoplesclimatemarch.org Unite! Film Festival as an on- headquarters to host programs, and of Guatemala in Rebellion, Unfinished History, showcasing on-going struggles, such as the and Paul Filson, from the ACTWU’s Union going contributor to the New W organizing drive at what was then the only Label Department, “recently returned from York City labor and cultural scene, we look non-union hotel in New York City—the a fact finding tour of the strike.” Music was backward to the decade when the New Marriott-LaGuardia. provided by DJ Fred Herschkowitz, along York City Labor Film Club was a vital The Club welcomed trade unionists with a cash bar. DC 37 hosted this event on presence on the labor front. The Club was Rosie and her daughters from Central America—from El Salvador January 26, 1985. This is just one example founded in 1979 by Ken Nash, WBAI (Continued from page 7) be able to leave the house? When I was same frustrations. Society is still unsure of and Guatemala—holding benefits, pairing among so many of the progressive and radio broadcaster and DC 37 librarian, and feeling that a great deal was unfair and knee deep into my career I was asked ‘why our strength. I can get fed up and scream speakers with music and films. A benefit for imaginative programs that were part of the cohorts, including the late Lynn Taylor, striking Coca Cola workers in Guatemala fought verbally for my ‘wants.’ It was couldn’t I just have been a teacher and at the screen, or I can just take that energy Film Club’s lively schedule. very clear what was needed of me in a work normal hours?’ I had to convince former president of NYC Public Library featured the president of Local 1930, Marion In 1983, the Film Club organized a and apply it to my progress, my bravado, household of eight: cleaning, cooking, people I was happy with my job and I Guild Local 1930, and Carol Anshien, Porro, who chaired the DC 37 Central Labor Forum Series and a NYC Labor Film my life lessons and teach my co-workers, and just don’t cause any trouble. Why the wasn’t going to change. Watching the of the Community Cable Center, among American Committee; the film,The Real Festival. The forums hosted speakers such as heck do I have to ask to hang out with film Taking the Heat about women in the colleagues, and fellow technicians that I others. Films were shown at public venues Thing, and panelists, including the film’s Herbert Gutman, speaking on the “Cradle of friends while my brothers just seemed to FDNY, I was reminded of many of those stand by them, not behind them.” as well as on the monthly news program, director, Peter Schnall, who was also the (Continued on page 6) Lessons from the heartland Lessons from the heartland (Continued from page 4 alone. School board policy, of course, was integration, and her tale illuminates the which meant the city’s power elite had not By Sarah “Sadye” Stern “choice” as justice, and relegated the objective largely beholden to white voters, many of media’s role in fostering bias within the yet had to confront the question of racial Barbara J. Miner begins Lessons from of racial equality. whom, through decades of racial segregation, very language of the debate. While the integration on any large scale. the Heartland, her story of the struggle for It seems appropriate that only one remained fearful of calls for integration. keystone of desegregation policy was laden justice in the Milwaukee school system, with Abrupt changes chapter of Miner’s book contains what could Though voluntary bussing posed as equal the burdensome “forced bussing,” the a blighted image of her hometown, and an Then came the Great Migration, when by any means be called an optimistic title: opportunity, politicians knew that most voluntary bussing and voucher programs allusion to the new American ghetto. In blacks flooded into the North’s “rust belt” “The Buses Roll and Desegregation Begins.” whites’ “choice” would keep them where they were pitched as “choice,” which alluded to Milwaukee in 2011, 55.3 percent of working- cities in search of work and an escape from For Miner, the rolling buses symbolize were—geographically and racially segregated the free market ideology that began to take age black men in Milwaukee did not have Jim Crow. From 1950 to 1960 the city’s black both the momentary momentum of the in the Milwaukee suburbs. Thus at its root in the 1980s. The idea of equality thus a job, 60 percent of the city’s public school population nearly tripled from 22,000 to desegregationists’ movement and a prediction grandest moment the struggle for integration became more narrowly defined by equality students were black, and by 2013 the city’s 62,500, causing a drastic and abrupt change of the movement’s ultimate unraveling. In was pursued through a half-hearted bussing of opportunity—i.e. everybody has equal eminent voucher program was funneling its in the demographic makeup of many of the Miner’s depiction “forced bussing” was a program, which did little to lessen segregation opportunity to apply for the new “specialty one billionth dollar of public money into its city’s neighborhoods. While many Southern fear that haunted Milwaukee politicians and on any broad scale and did nothing to schools”—rather than equality of outcome— private and religious schools, she tells. This is blacks did find jobs, they also confronted white voters’ imaginations before Milwaukee’s confront the issues of housing segregation and i.e. we will ensure your child, rich or poor, a picture, first and foremost, of unjustifiable institutional racism in the form of real estate desegregation movement even had feet, economic inequality that lay at the root of black or white, receives a good education. abandonment—of the city, of its schools, and practices and mortgage and home insurance thus the power structure was committed disparity within the schools. The framework of choice is deceptive further of its black population. Inequality within the policies that isolated blacks to a region of the to its defeat. When Judge Reynolds pinned Media fosters bias because it places the welfare and outcome of Barbara J. Miner public schools must never be viewed far from city that was known by the power elite and the blame for school segregation on the Miner shrewdly follows the role of students’ on the decisions of the individual this picture, Miner implies, for the wellbeing Rights Movement have yet to be achieved. If the media as “The Inner Core,” connoting school board, he implied that the problem media in shaping the debates surrounding or their.. Visit the NYLHA website to read the of our public school system is tied to the we recognize that our commitment to public Milwaukee’s poor black neighborhoods. “The could be solved through a change of policy Milwaukee’s various attempts at school full article. possibility for “an informed citizenry and a school reform is not only about improving Inner City did not develop by happenstance,” vibrant democracy.” During the heyday of student achievement but about the creation writes Miner, “it was the result of restrictive the civil rights movement activists had easily of a more just society, and that the welfare of covenants prohibiting selling or renting A recycling demo at a museum? moved between issues regarding housing, our school system is inextricably tied to the to anyone other than Caucasians, and of a Division. The Division’s mission is to improve employment, and schools—for these activists, existence of justice within our society, then ‘gentleman’s agreement’ among realtors not (Continued from page 10) the overall health and well being of over 4,000 they were all issues of equality and justice, we recognize that we cannot talk about school to sell or rent to blacks or Jews except in the Richard Hatcher, the first African American retirees by providing activities and programs with roots in racism and discrimination. reform without discussing the conditions that Central City.” Mayor of Gary, Indiana. In this capacity, she which continued to stimulate their intellect “The school problem cannot be solved until have created and nurtured the inequalities Although the U.S. Supreme Court had travelled to Indiana several times to advise and provide health information to enhance the housing problem is solved,” Miner notes within our school system. For Miner, this outlawed restrictive covenants in 1948, the Mayor and his staff on the formation and (Continued on page 4) their capacity to function at home and in the Martin Luther King Jr. spoke these clairvoyant means talking about race, the labor market, implementation of policies and programs of world during their retirement years. words in March of 1963, just months after and housing. his administration. Together with Bobbie Rabinowitz (SEIU delivering his “I Have a Dream” speech. And In order to illustrate the role of race and Barbara Bailey, President and co-founder 371) and Laura Friedman (CWE), Barbara the same remains true today: “Education policy racial stigma in shaping Milwaukee’s modern of the New York City Labor Chorus, was Work History News founded the NYC Labor Chorus, which has Rachael Bernstein is housing policy,” writes scholar Richard social fabric, Miner takes us back to before L H A introduced by labor legend and longtime Rothstein in a 2014 article in Portside. Work History News editor . Bailey blossomed into an international, multi-ethnic Lemlich ceremony, Henry Foner, Barbara the Great Migration, to a time when our Bailey and Esther Cohen. New York Labor History Association, Inc. and multi-generational labor chorus with over Reasons for inequality modern concept of the black-white divide has devoted over 40 years to a civil service 100 members. The chorus has performed centennial commemoration of the Triangle did not yet exist. The idyllic nature with theWork Federal History Housing News is published Authority two encouragedtimes per year career in both federal and city governments. Yet Miner’s history tells that in the trail to keep NYLHA’s members informed of labor in Sweden, Cuba and many states, and was Factory Fire, the Awards were funded by which she describes Milwaukee’s “Glory segregation through the de facto racist policy A trail-blazer throughout her various careers, from the civil rights era to today, this vein history events, activities and tours. invited to perform with choruses from Japan of redlining. By marking residents of black she has effected major changes in both clerical The Puffin Foundation and the Donald and of thought has been muted. The public Days” of the 1950s haunts the rest the For more information and brochures contact: and Wales, and at the United Nations. Music neighborhoods as risky or unqualified loan and supervisory positions, fighting constantly Shelley Rubin Foundation. conversation over school reform that has taken history, as the confrontational politics of the NYLHA has always been a catalyst and a platform for recipients,c/o Robert theF. Wagner FHA Labor aided Archives the funneling of to transform the status quo towards equal Gladys and Perry Rosenstein, founders place since the 1950s has too often occurred 1960s left many white voters and political workers to speak out, and the labor chorus public70 Washington and private Square resources South, 10th into Floor the mostly rights. of the Puffin Foundation, and the Social within a vacuum that isolates inequality within conservatives with the belief that Milwaukee’s New York, NY 10012 aims to preserve labor’s rich history and help white suburbs, while black neighborhoods Bailey was elected shop steward and Activism Gallery, spoke at the event, and poet the schools as the primary issue. The struggle for best move was a return to the comfort and http://newyorklaborhistory.org motivate the labor movement of today. saw disinvestment and abandonment. In his and curator Esther Cohen was the MC. equality in Milwaukee’s public school system segregation of the 1950s. Milwaukee’s Glory President Irwin Yellowitz member-at-large of Communications Workers The chorus certainly motivated the crowd Vice-President George Altomare Nominations for Lemlich Awards are has been strong and deliberate, but Miner’s Days, of course, were not founded on racial recent article “The Case for Reparations,” of America, Local 1180. She served as a staff Secretary Abbe Nosoff; Regina Olff at the Lemlich Awards—their performance segregation but rather on a thriving economy, Ta-Nehisi Coates points to the fact that such representative and headed the Community welcome throughout the year. story suggests that what’s been left out of the Treasurer Philoine Fried was warmly received by honorees, audience government-condoned policies effectively Information about nominating someone, institutional dialogue on school reform is that which produced nearly full employment Editor Jane LaTour Service Committee that earned the group and dignitaries alike. President of the creating a more equal education system relies through providing jobs for everyone, black barredContributors blacks from the greatest form of President Clinton’s Thousand Points of Light museum Susan Henshaw Jones led the many video from the ceremony, portraits of upon the creation of a more just and equal and white, and even those with only a high passageRachel to Bernstein, the middle Joe Doyle, class Steveyet in Golin, U.S. Stephen history: recognition. Upon her retirement Barbara requests for the chorus to return next year. previous nominees, and information about society, and that inequality within our schools school diploma. Racial discrimination existed, homeLeberstein, ownership. Joseph These Lopez, policies Kimberly also Schiller kept and was asked by her local’s president to serve as Created by LaborArts and the Remember Clara Lemlich and about the Triangle Factory Sarah “Sadye” Stern is evidence many aspirations of the Civil but Milwaukee’s black population was small blacks economically and geographically director of local 1180’s newly created Retiree the Triangle Fire Coalition in 2011 for the Fire are all to be found at LaborArts.org.

2 Summer/Fall 2014 New York Labor History Association 11 A recycling demo at a museum? Paul Washington speaks on – LaborArts Honors Unsung Heroines at Lemlich Awards Ceremony radical trade unionist and City College teacher

By Rachael Bernstein member and long time activist himself, Sarah By Stephen Leberstein , AFT Local 537 in 1938. He was also active in the wider labor movement, he Lemlich Award for Social Activism and Joan whipped out a large green bag and hy is it so important for New for example by leafleting transit workers on honors, in the words of the poet launched into a recycling demonstration on the York labor historians to learn the 6th and 9th Avenue “Els” in support of Marge Piercy, people who– spot. They wanted everyone in the audience to something about the life W the Transport Workers Union, which he later T be able to teach recycling. and activism of Morris Schappes? Paul jump into work head first Agnes Wong, an activist in the Washington, Medgar Evers College/CUNY remembered as “a proletarian aspect of my without dallying in the shadows… International Ladies’ Garment Workers and member Executive Council, Professional activity.” who do what has to be done, again and again. Union for more than 30 years, was Staff Congress, spoke passionately about One of the victories that the union won Clara Lemlich’s great grandson and introduced by long time union leader Edgar Schappes life and political activism at the at City College was to persuade the History Borough President of Manhattan Gale Brewer Romney. Born in Guangzhou, China, Wong April 9th event at the Tamiment Library to an Department to hire Max Yergan, President joined a crowd of activists at the Social moved to Hong Kong as a child and came Rachael Bernstein engaged audience of about 50. Washington of the National Negro Congress, to teach a Activism Gallery in the Museum of the City to New York with her husband in 1974. Recycling demo from Joan Levin and Sarah had done extensive archival research on course in black culture and history. Yergan She took a job as a seamstress in a garment Martin. was the first and only black instructor at City of New York for the Fourth Annual Clara Schappes at the Tamiment and the Jewish Leberstein Stephen factory in Chinatown and joined Local 23–25 and headed her office during her race for the College when he began in 1938. He was let Lemlich Awards on April 2, 2014. Historical Society, and interviewed people Henry Foner singing “The Ballad of Morris ILGWU. She walked out of her factory US Senate in the 1970s. As a feminist she go in 1941 in the Rapp Coudert purge, and Seven amazing women were honored, who knew and worked with Schappes. Schappes” during Paul Washington’s with 20,000 of her co-workers in the 1982 was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to then no other blacks taught at the college women who have been working for the larger Paul recounted how he first learned about presentation for the NYLHA on Schappes Chinatown Garment Factory Strike, and later the continuing Committee of the National until Kenneth Clark came to the Sociology good their entire lives, in the tradition of Schappes from an exhibit at City College’s life and legacy at the Tamiment Library, became a shop representative and a Local 23- Women’s Conference and participated at all Department in the late 1940s. Clara Lemlich, who sparked so many reforms Center for Worker Education. He saw April 9, 2014. in the aftermath of the Triangle Shirtwaist 25 Executive Board member. the UN Women’s meetings in Copenhagen, that Morris was politically engaged in the This record of political engagement in Factory Fire over one hundred years ago. Wong credits the union with ‘bringing Nairobi, and Beijing. most important issues of the day as a trade left for Brazil, where he spent his behalf of social justice is the hallmark of First, the recycling. Joan Levine lives in her up’—she met strong women leaders, and Marilyn Frankenstein, developer of unionist, an anti-fascist, and an anti-racist. first seven years. Discouraged by a harsh life Schappes’ life, Paul argued. It was this kind of the Morningside Gardens housing cooperative learned English, leadership development, and a theoretically based practice in critical And, he said, advice his father had given him, in Brazil, the family was on its way back to activism that helped to make the NY College off 125th Street in West Harlem and Sarah organizing. The union, in return, benefited mathematics literacy education, was to reject the crude anti-Semitism of the street Ukraine in 1914, stopping in New York just Teachers Union an important example of Martin lives across the street in the Ulysses S. from Agnes’ activism. Over the years, she introduced by Rachel Bernstein. in the 1960s, led him to look further into as war broke out. There they stayed. social unionism, putting organized labor in Grant Houses, a large NYC public housing helped organize Chinese speaking workers in “Reading the World with Math,” Morris’ life and work. His father, an illiterate wood-turner the forefront of the fight for racial and social project. Searching for ways to make their various industries in the US and in Canada. for instance, targets teachers working on with anarchist tendencies, earned his living justice, a stance that can be seen as a model Schappes defense in song neighborhood more of a community, they Judy Lerner, a peace activist for over five interdisciplinary math and social studies running a small newsstand on the Lower for the unionism of the Professional Staff To recreate some of the context for realized that environmental concerns—and decades, was introduced by Natalia Saavedra, curricula, providing ways to use math as a tool East Side. On family outings on the subway Congress. Paul’s presentation, Henry Foner sang “The above all garbage issues—were a key shared a young activist. Lerner was a founding to interpret and challenge inequities in our Morris’s mother, Ida, would read the Yiddish The audience responded warmly to Paul’s Ballad of Morris Schappes” which he and concern. “Our rats were playing together”— member of Women Strike for Peace in 1961, society. Her work with A.B. Powell, Ethno- press to his father, embarrassing the young presentation. In particular, the complex role of Norman Franklin wrote for Schappes’ defense so why not work together? And they did. mobilizing tens of thousands of women to get mathematics: Challenging Eurocentrism boy. But Morris excelled in school and won Communists in the labor movement led to a committee when he was on trial for perjury in Their efforts improved the immediate rid of nuclear testing in the atmosphere. She in Mathematics Education, looks at the admission to Townsend Harris Hall, City spirited discussion. It also led some members garbage crisis, and their Hands Across the led a delegation to the 17th Anti-Atomic and relationship between culture and mathematics, 1941 in connection with the infamous Rapp College’s preparatory high school. That of the audience to discuss what they saw as Street program continued to grow, creating Hydrogen Bomb Conference in Hiroshima, and she works with an international group of Coudert investigation into subversion in brought him to City College and, later, to a parallels with their own political experience. one of the most successful recycling efforts in Japan, in 1971, and was very active in the mathematics educators developing this field. New York City’s public schools and colleges. position as “Tutor” there, teaching English. The presentation and the ballad made the the city, and at the same time lowering social, anti-Vietnam war movement. She served on Marilyn has spoken about this work Foner, an American Student Union activist As a student, Morris would claim that he was history of the New York labor movement in economic and racial barriers, and building a the Board of the Center for Constitutional internationally, including in South Africa, during his days at City College, was a long- relatively a-political. the 1930s and ‘40s come alive in 2014. real sense of community in the neighborhood. Rights for over 20 years and currently chairs Mozambique, Brazil, England, Denmark, time contributor to Jewish Currents, which After earning his degree in 1928, Together with other block associations they the International Committee of Peace Action Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Schappes edited from its inception as Jewish Schappes began teaching English. Like others formed the infelicitously named Morningside at the United Nations. She also serves as many places in the USA. Life in 1946 until his death in 2004. of his generation, he was hired at the lowly e“Letters-we get letters, we get Heights/West Harlem Sanitation Coalition. A a director on the NGO/DPI Executive Jane Kalmus was unable to attend For Schappes as for many other rank of tutor to teach an expanding student stacks and stacks of letters” committee at the UN. the ceremony but Neal Rosenstein of the immigrants and first generation Americans, population, and his politics quickly developed ae member of the New York City Environmental Send your letter to the editor... e-mail it Justice Alliance, the Coalition works on Her day job was important too, as a Puffin Foundation spoke about her long and City College was a vitally important gateway in response to the social conditions of the to: [email protected] or snail mail both neighborhood issues and citywide special education teacher for over 30 years admirable career. She served the City of New to a life of possibilities otherwise beyond the Depression that he lived and witnessed. it to: Jane LaTour environmental justice campaigns. in Hastings-on-Hudson School District York since 1961 when she worked as Director reach of poor Ukrainian Jews. Paul’s research He joined the Communist Party, began NYLHA c/o Robert F. Wagner Labor Hands-on, neighbor-to-neighbor and president of the Teacher’s Union in that of Communications for Mayor Robert F. explored the road that Schappes travelled to to organize the faculty at the college into the environmental education has been the key to district for 12 years. Wagner. In 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy a life as writer, teacher, trade unionist and Instructional Staff Association which soon Achives, 70 Washington Square South their success. Introduced for their Lemlich Lerner worked with former appointed Kalmus as the Chief Advisor to political activist. His presentation recounted became a part of the NY Teachers Union, 10th floor, New York, NY 10012. Award by Robert Jackson, former City Council Congresswoman Bella Abzug for many years (Continued on page 11) Schappes’ early life, noting that his parents AFT Local 5, and then the NY College

10 Summer/Fall 2014 New York Labor History Association 3 Lessons from the heartland Workers Unite! Film Festival (Continued from page 2) stalwart of the educational system. Rather By Kimberly Schiller it difficult due to a media blackout, a mayor isolated, with little choice as to where to live than fighting institutional racism in housing that “refuses to negotiate” and a city that or where to send their children to school. policy, which would have brought some “Individual people could hold a letter up, but puts their jobs “out to bid” for non-union Miner includes a poignant quote by a fairness to neighborhood schooling, the it wouldn’t spell anything…” replacement drivers. white student from an urban neighborhood school board instead spent the 1960s and 70s his was one of the strong opening One driver questioned, “Why should you undergoing white flight that illustrates using housing patterns to justify segregation lines from the “Overpass Light have job protection? The question should be the devastating effects of white flight on within the schools. Brigade” short film that started the why shouldn’t everyone have job protection?” Milwaukee’s schools: The culmination of the civil rights era’s T Workers Unite! Films from the Frontlines while another stated, “When it comes to my “Higher mathematics and science were mobilizations around desegregation in fact evening sponsored by the New York Labor job, you’re taking my livelihood away and it’s falling by the wayside in favor of shop or occurred a decade after the initial demand. History Association’s Working Group. Finally on January 19, 1976‚ eleven years time to do more.” home economics…when I was a freshman, Throughout the evening, the message after forty one black and white public school Image from Overpass Light Brigade. Throughout the evening, applause and four foreign languages were being taught. of community and power in numbers students filed charges challenging segregation gasps echoed from the audience. All of the When I graduated, the program for the next resonated with the audience. Bright lights applause from the TWU members in the film within the school—Milwaukee Judge John films were thoughtful and galvanized the year included only Spanish. In my last two with powerful phrases like, “TEACHERS = and from the Workers Unite! audience. This Reynolds Jr. ruled that segregation did viewers. years at the school the teaching staff changed HEROES” and “SOLIDARITY FOREVER” short film was followed by a series of films that indeed exist within Milwaukee’s schools Films stimulate dialogue every semester. The teachers who had been lit the screen. Barely a word was spoken at focused on community-building programs and that “segregation was intentionally there for a few years transferred to other the start, but the silent message was more sponsored and organized by TWU members. At the end of the program, there was created and maintained by the defendants,” schools. Our new teachers generally came than heard. At one event, the TWU members a short Q&A with the “Under the Bus” directly from colleges” (36). or the Milwaukee school board. Though The evening began with the short film organized a food drive that helped 4,000 filmmakers, Roberts and Haas. One audience this declaration paved the way for activists families. TWU members coordinated the member inquired whether the filmmakers Fight back develops documenting the story behind Wisconsin’s Martin Luther King Jr. referred to the of the desegregation movement to go on Holder of Lights. The film uses time lapse donations and made sure that every family contacted the city or the bus companies As institutionally condoned white flight Freedom School Boycott as “a creative way” the offensive, Miner recognizes that by photography and interviews with founding took much-needed meals home with them. during the filming. Roberts and Haas said wreaked havoc on inner city neighborhoods to dramatize the segregation issue. placing blame on the school board Reynolds’ members and other activists to tell the story One TWU member remarked, “It’s about that they had, but “the city had hung up on and the welfare of black families, activists Yet it would be difficult for any reader to helped to dismiss the view that housing behind the OLB (Overpass Light Brigade) and giving back, not just fighting for money or a them twice and the companies did not want began to demand action to curb inequality segregation was to blame. At the same time, walk away from Miner’s account with a vision describe their purpose. The OLB founders’ contract,” while another poignantly noted, to get involved.” Another asked, “What was it within housing and the schools. During bussing—the much-anticipated method to of the desegregation era as a success. Miner purpose is to take a stand that people could see. “It’s part of who I am and it’s what my like when the strike ended?” The filmmakers the 1960s activists from newly-formed alludes to the metaphor of square dancing racial integration—was undermined before “They may agree. They may not, but it got the union is.” recounted that there was “a lot of debate and organizations (such as the Milwaukee United to describe the progress of the desegregation the busses even got rolling as “the bus, not message out” and it was clear that throughout Feelings of community and solidarity it was not an easy decision. [The drivers] were School Integration Committee, or MUSIC) movement: each step forward followed by a segregation or equal educational opportunity, their short film, that message was understood. led to “Under the Bus,” by filmmakers Keif skeptical of politics and politicians” after all joined with members of the clergy and step sideways and a step backwards. What the became the hot-button issue” (78). TWU on the frontlines Roberts and Peter Haas, which chronicled that they have experienced. more established organizations such as the reader senses is the truth of Miner’s assertion The bus conjured up—with help from the the New York City school bus drivers’ Overall, it was an inspirational evening. NAACP and CORE to take advantage of the that the era of desegregation was, like the media—images of Boston’s turbulent attempts With this message in mind, a series of strike. The film followed Anthony, a 24-year Union members working together on the grassroots momentum and political mindset post-Civil War Reconstruction era, “a brief at school integration, and Milwaukee’s anti- short films, titled “TWU: Organizing Across veteran Staten Island school bus driver on frontlines inspired the audience and created of the civil rights era and to use the 1954 attempt to redress injustice” situated within integrationists immediately took up the mantra the Country,” was shown beginning with the verge of retirement, and his colleagues a feeling of unity. It was evident that the Brown v. Board of Education ruling to press a long history of institutionally-perpetuated of “no forced bussing” before the order had thousands of Transport Workers Union members (TWU) rallying behind Allegiant who go out on strike in response to a opening lines of the OLB were valid, for an end to segregation and ambitious inequality. Miner’s history of desegregation even been mandated. In order to assuage Air employees. contract dispute with the City of New York. “Individual people could hold a letter up, but housing and school reforms. is indeed long, arduous, and ultimately conflict and confrontation, members of the “An injury to one is an injury to all!” In the film, drivers are out in the harsh cold, it wouldn’t spell anything…,” instead, “the In 1964, in one of the largest Milwaukee anticlimactic—much as the struggle itself Milwaukee power structure—who by now shouted one of the strikers with cheers and trying to make their voices heard, but find most powerful thing is community.” demonstrations, members of MUSIC was, by Miner’s telling. Despite the apparent knew they had to act on desegregation— organized a one-day Freedom Boycott of the success of the Freedom School Boycott decided to deemphasize the issue of racial public schools to pressure the school board and years of large scale protests calling for integration altogether, centering the reforms to act to end segregation and discrimination open housing legislation, Miner writes around the creation of a series of “specialty within the public schools. Between 11,000 that “the Milwaukee Public Schools ended schools” to be filled by lottery, and keeping Progressives in American Society analysis of the country’s transition from its agrarian roots to urban and 15,000 students participated, roughly the tumultuous 1960s much as it began: bussing voluntary. The plan was sold to the John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2014 industrial life. half of the nonwhite students in public segregated” (67). Miner shows that in large public “using the carrot of voluntary choice” Pastorello examines the efforts of reformers from muckrakers schools. Rather than attend school, students part this was because the school board fought to appeal to white voters and beat back the Karen Pastorello, a member of the to settlement workers, politicians, religious officials, university flooded into churches and community tooth and nail to avoid facing the complicated violent connotation of “forced bussing” that ExecutiveBook BoardShelf of continued the New York Labor professors, public health professionals, and labor leaders to buildings where they were taught for the issue of housing segregation, which was was already being thrown around by the History Association has released a new alleviate social, economic and political injustices on behalf of day by a mixture of businessmen, retired bound to upset white voters. The school opposition. Thus the public was sold on an book entitled The Progressives: Activism poor immigrant workers. In the process, the Progressives and their teachers, clergy, blue-collar workers, and board continued to protect the conventional integration plan through a rhetoric that posed and Reform in American Society, 1893-1917 movement shaped the modern welfare state that forever changed a few participating public school teachers. concept of “neighborhood schools” as the (Continued on page 11) (2014). The book offers a comprehensive the relationship between the U.S. government and its citizens.

4 Summer/Fall 2014 New York Labor History Association 9 The strike that changed New York Rosie and her daughters at the film festival! The Strike That Changed New York: Blacks, as a platform for their own struggle. Black Podair highlights the pivotal role of Jews. By Jane LaTour Rachel Bernstein, co-founder and co- Whites, and the Ocean-Hill Brownsville community control advocates, backed by Before 1968, Jewish New Yorkers often he program on May 13 at the 3rd historian of LaborArts.org, and a NYLHA Crisis white business and civic elites (including the mediated between blacks and whites. Ocean annual Workers Unite! Film Festival board member, found the “Rosie” film Jerald E. Podair Ford Foundation and Mayor ) Hill-Brownsville ended that role. Most Jewish sponsored by the New York Labor “remarkable—it was and still is,” she said. Review by: Steve Golin won the right to administer the Ocean Hill- T “The young tradeswomen who watched teachers were horrified by the black critique History Association was chock full of films The Journal of American History, Vol. 90, Brownsville school district of . Led of the system of individual competition, and speakers to inspire. The evening was it and gave some remarks seemed to be as No. 4 (Mar., 2004), pp. 1539-1540 by Rhody McCoy, the new administrator of including the practices of tracking students billed around the theme, “Equal Pay for moved as I was—remarkable, given how the Ocean Hill-Brownsville district, a school and promoting teachers by examination. many times I’ve seen it, and how far removed The Ocean Hill-Brownsville Equal Work,” and opened with Rosie the board composed of black parents terminated Afraid of black power, Jewish teachers and Riveter. Playwright/ filmmaker and NYLHA it is from their generation.” teacher strike of 1968 split New York several white teachers. Albert Shanker, other outer-borough Jews found a common board member Bette Craig was elated about A young tradeswoman expressed gratitude City. Most black New Yorkers perceived the president of the United Federation of cause with white Catholics, their erstwhile the combination of films and speakers: “To be for the program. Apprentice Nani Noverita, community control of the schools in black Teachers, called three strikes in the fall of enemies. The Jews and the Irish came together seeing Connie Field’s wonderful documentary said: “I am thankful for taking part in this neighborhoods as part of the struggle for 1968 to defend the teachers; the last and as white, propelling New York politics in a for the second time and finding it even better event! Watching the documentary about racial justice; they saw the teacher strike as a women who worked in war industries during bitterest strike lasted five weeks. In the end, conservative direction. than I remembered. And then there was the all the Rosie the Riveters was amazing and defense of white privilege. Most white New World War II. The audience laughed many white middle-class protest stripped black Podair’s clearly written, well-argued study pleasure of seeing it at the Cinema Village then to meet and share a platform with a real times at the propaganda films that were widely Yorkers perceived black community control community control of its elite white support is stronger analytically than experientially; with a New York City Rosie and current Rosie was an experience in living history. I shown during the war. The humor came from of the schools as a power grab; they saw and assured its defeat. he says that white teachers felt their dignity tradeswomen working in a man’s world. The was in awe and honored. They were the pin the gap between the attitudes of that time, and the strike as a defense of a society based on Scrupulously fair analysis was at stake, but the reader does not get Overpass Light Brigade was a rousing opening up girls—so sexy! Because of what they did, individual achievement. In his fine study, current experience. We have come a long way and how they paved the way for women like Most scholarship about Ocean Hill- close enough to feel what teachers, or black for the program and Judith: Portrait of a Street since Rosie the Riveter in support of a woman’s me to be welders and iron workers, I am in The Strike That Changed New York, Jerald E. Brownsville has taken sides. Scrupulously parents for that matter, felt. And Podair is not Vendor, about the Vamos Unidos movement right to employment and a full set of life Local 46 Metallic Lathers. I am so grateful Podiar argues that the perceptual gulf between fair, Podair explains how each side blamed as sharp on class as he is on race, effectively put us in touch with a struggle going on choices. Rosie was not the spark for women’s and honored by their beauty, strength, and blacks and whites, who view the same events the other for the poor performance of most eliminating the working class by using the now. Then, adding to that, the story of Lilly rights. Work for women was purely a wartime courage. Awesome!” in opposed ways, became suddenly evident in black students. White teachers blamed black term “middle class” for everyone who fell Ledbetter—in the short but powerful film, measure. The women’s rights movement—the Another representative of the younger Ocean Hill-Brownsville. families and communities; black parents between poor blacks and white elites. But Never Got a Dime, and Brenda Berkman, in Second Wave—would have to wait for the generation in the audience was Nicoletta From 1964 to 1966, organized white blamed the teachers and the schools. The those criticisms are minor compared to his person, with Taking the Heat. It was a magical 1960s. The women interviewed for this film Green, a member of Local One, IATSE (the parents in the city’s outer boroughs defeated white teachers, Podair explains, were drawing significant achievement in explaining what evening and spot on as to what we should were ahead of the curve, but they all lived Stagehands). She shared her perspective as attempts at racially integrating the schools. on their own successful experience in New was at stake for blacks and whites in the be bringing to an even wider audience as the to see substantial progress—even if not for an Italian-American woman. “I grew up Abandoning integration, blacks adopted York schools; black parents were drawing on Ocean Hill-Brownsville strike and how it New York Labor History Association.” themselves.” (Continued on page 12) the idea of community control of schools their own, mostly negative, school experience. became a turning point for New York. Women lead the way Corporate Campaign’s founder and New York City Labor Film Club director, Ray Rogers, was equally enthusiastic. Third Annual Workers Unite! Film Festival “The Workers Unite! Film Festival spotlight focuses on inequality (Continued from page 1) performance by Mass Transit whose documentary films includeNative on women in the workplace showed what the Modern Labor Movement, Street Theater. Land, Verdict for Tomorrow, and The Plow That great role models women represent for The 3rd annual Workers Unite! Film Bangladesh, China, Turkey, Greece, to South 1881-1900”; Barbara Labor historians and activists Broke the Plains, was blacklisted during the everyone as they struggle for justice, respect Festival, May 9-May 19, grew by over 50 Africa, Columbia, and Spain, and then back Wertheimer, on “The Rising of look back fondly at the rich McCarthy period. and equality in the workplace. The examples percent from last year’s extravaganza, with just home to the Bronx, Staten Island and even the Women, 1901-1918”; and array of educational, exciting The Labor Film Club defined themselves of the trials and tribulations women have over 1,900 admissions. The festival increased New Jersey! These films focused on the daily NYLHA’s own Irwin Yellowitz programs brought to the city by as “people who were interested in both film overcome in their workplace struggles, and its support from labor union and affiliated lives of workers from around the world and on “Toward Modern Times, the energetic organizers of the and the labor movement. By screening and victories against gender discrimination, can local worker and community groups, as well their on-going fight to organize and build 1946-Present.” The film festival Labor Film Club. Jon Bloom, discussing appropriate controversial and/or set the tone for many more success stories as labor-friendly support businesses. their organizations. These workers see unions premier took place at the Robert director of the Workers Defense distinguished films we hope to explore not in the future until equality for all becomes a The 2014 festival celebrated global and collective action as their best defense F. Wagner Labor Archives, League, recalled one eventful only labor history on film but also how film reality,” he said. labor solidarity and focused on the stories against the attack by the global 1 percent to , and was evening. “Tuli Kupferberg (the might be used to illuminate our current work NYLHA President and historian Irwin of workers and their unions from across the crush workers’ rights around the world. sponsored by Teamster locals— counterculture poet and co- crises and our lives. Since September, 1979, Yellowitz noted that he was seeing Rosie the United States and around the world. Andrew “The films show that they are fighting Local 102, 111, 808, and 840. Labor’s Turning founder of the satirical rock band, The Fugs) we have presented monthly programs at which Riveter for the first time. “What stood out for Tilson, founder and executive director of the back against this global march toward Point opened the festival, and filmmaker John took part in a post-film Q&A. The filmmaker attendance has ranged from 20 to 105.” This is me, first and foremost, was that it was accurate festival, noted that, “this year, the Workers income inequality and winning when they DeGraaf spoke about his movie. Poletown Lives Leo Hurwitz was moderating and I remember the same spirit that infuses the Workers Unite! history. In addition, it was excellent as a film. Unite! Film Festival expanded to 10 days at organize and unite to fight.” Visit the festival was shown at the People’s Firehouse, along that he handled the whole thing very well. Film Festival. The New York Labor History The women who described their experiences four different locations. website to experience the full range of films with filmmakers and community activists The essence of the lively discussion was that Association is proud to be an active sponsor were wonderfully articulate, and diverse, so “We partnered with over three dozen and programs—poetry, music, plays and as speakers. Men and Dust: Our Health is Kupferberg was questioning some of the pieties and supporter of a festival that continues in the that their comments on personal experiences unions and worker centers in New York speakers—from this year’s festival: www. Not For Sale, was accompanied by a special of the films we had just viewed.” Hurwitz, tradition of the NYC Labor Film Club. represented the larger reality of the millions of City to bring films to our audiences from workersunitefilmfestival.org.

6 Summer/Fall 2014 New York Labor History Association 7 UFT Social Studies conference

he 54th annual Greater Metropolitan Musician Peter Yarrow, was Enough Blame to Go Around labor relations in New York City. Editor Richard Steier’s New York Social Studies Conference presented with the Hubert H. The Labor Pains of New York City’s Public Employee Unions “Razzle Dazzle” columns reflect the in-depth, independent T was held at the UFT headquarters Humphrey Humanitarian award Richard Steier journalism that is a hallmark of the paper under his on February 1 and the NYLHA made some at the conference presenting important contributions. As board member the award (from left) are Robert Excelsior Editions/SUNY Press, 2014 leadership. As veteran labor reporter Tom Robbins wrote: Joe Doyle reported, “Alan Singer, a virtuoso Dytell, conference committee Just as negotiations season heats up in the city “New York City’s labor unions have been luckier than they co-chair, Ollie Fields Thacker (recently retired) high school teacher—who and we await further Supreme Court rulings deserved to have had reporter and editor Richard Steier president of the Association has taught future social studies teachers for regarding the collective bargaining rights of around to spotlight their occasional triumphs and their of Teachers of Social Studies, many years at Hofstra College—gave a superb public servants, Enough Blame to Go Around much more frequent failures. Like Murray Kempton, another UFT and George Altomare, presentation on Common Core requirements, is released, providing a storehouse of smart, great New York columnist who loved the men and women director of the UFT Professional “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” At the BOOKincisive and witty SHELF columns about our municipal of labor but never suffered the fools who sometimes ran Committees. moment, Common Core requirements are Photo: Jonathan Fickies (and some state) labor unions. Even regular readers of the their unions, Steier’s columns are filled with news, insight, currently giving teachers headaches across and always compassion for those who ride (and drive) the see the importance of puzzling out the students and victims of the past and present. civil service weekly, The Chief-Leader, will find this book the United States. No one quite knows what article’s meaning for themselves).” The presentation was a great balance between a Bible—essential for a comprehensive understanding of early trains and buses to work.” is expected of them—other than that high Board Member Kimberly Schiller shared the personal and the practical.” school graduates should be given enough the content of the workshop she took part As Doyle noted, NYLHA Vice President Civil Rights in New York City: From World War II change, but the questions remain the same. What is equality? college level readings/assignments that they in leading, on “The Triangle Fire, Workplace George Altomare, the director of professional to the Giuliani Era Is it merely equal treatment under the law? Or does it have are equipped for college. Singer reproduced Safety and Globalization”. Schiller worked in committees and one of the founders of the Edited by Clarence Taylor more substantive meaning?” This is a collection that brings an article from The New York Times (Jan. 25, partnership with board member Leigh Benin UFT, “puts a lot of tender loving care into that contested history to the fore—a collection where the 2014) written by Steve Ratner, a Wall Street/ Fordham University Press, 2011 “to discuss the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory organizing this conference every year.” During footnotes are as compelling as the text—and an inclusive real estate executive and business advisor This year’s 50th anniversary commemorations— Fire and its impact on workplace safety today this year’s conference, “On the Wings of set of issues are unpacked. These include a fascinating essay to President Barack Obama, “The Myth of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Mississippi Freedom and its connection to tragedies such as the Workers: A Celebration of the Global History on the experiment in integrated housing in the Rochdale Industrial Rebound.” It’s the sort of article horrifying conditions at garment sweatshops in of Labor,” Altomare presented the Hubert H. Summer—put the spotlight on the history of Village; the organizing that went into Operation Clean Singer thinks is important for high school Bangladesh. Humphrey Award to folk singer Peter Yarrow civil rights in the South. But as Clarence Taylor Sweep—the Congress of Racial Equality’s struggle for better students to read in order to understand their Dr. Benin began the session with an audio at the luncheon. Altomare’s remarks focused notes in his Introduction to this collection: garbage collection in Bedford-Stuyvesant during the fall of job prospects. But it’s written in difficult visual description of his personal connection on Yarrow’s long term contributions to the “The fight for civil rights has always been a 1962; the emergence and history of the Young Lords and language—which Singer demonstrates that to the fire, which drew in the audience. He struggle for civil rights. Visit the NYLHA national struggle.” New York City is no stranger to epic “late sixties urban radicalism”—and so much more. The cues high school students can understand—but discussed his grandmother’s devastation over website to read his full remarks. battles over equality. As the historian Jerald E. Podair frames and connections to the reality that we are living today are a teachers need to give them a lot of help. his cousin’s tragic death in the Triangle fire it in his entry to the collection: “Context and circumstances vibrant element of these essays. Making language accessible and how that propelled his own interest in The article starts with the sentence: labor history. He then discussed photographs Attack on public workers Labor Rising: The Past and Future of Working the temp more than temporary.” Greenwald explores the “With metronomic regularity, gauzy accounts of the tragedy and captioned each before (Continued from page 1) People in America ramifications for individual workers, and outlines potential extol the return of manufacturing jobs to showing teachers where to find lesson plans Edited by Daniel Katz & Richard A. Greenwald options that could pose a challenge to “the new normal.” if it wasn’t for organized labor winning those the United States…” Singer broke the article and other supplemental materials on the HBO rights decades ago. He writes: “We are in a transitional zone between two down so that students could make sense and Kheel Center websites. Kimberly Schiller Panel moderator Gene Carroll, co-director The New Press, 2012 coherent systems of work or economic regimes, and we of it. He provided a glossary of dozens of then presented a Google site that she had of the New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell This is a useful and exciting collection of must understand what is happening in order to shape the vocabulary words students would need to prepared which is stocked with various lessons Union Leadership Institute, brought up the essays. A score of contributors put their deep trajectory rather than passively watch it play out.” understand the business content of the article and activities educators can put to use in the example of the 1919 Boston Police Strike. knowledge of labor history at the service of Professor Eileen Boris takes on another ever-expanding (e.g. high-wage country) and another dozen classroom. All of this material was developed Tired of unjust treatment that included wages contemporary issues facing the American sector of the economy in her essay “Home as Work”— vocabulary words (e.g. dispiriting) which from the Triangle fire and correlates with the stagnant for 60 years and seven-day, 98 hour working class. Their informed analyses shed nannies, housekeepers and elder care providers. She writes: students will need in many different academic Common Core Learning Standards to allow work weeks, the officers went on strike on some hope on a seemingly bleak landscape. A couple “Workers once at the margins of production, no less than disciplines they’ll study in college. Singer’s for a smooth implementation in any educator’s Sept. 9. Though they never returned to work, of examples: NYLHA board member Professor Richard scholarship, today stand at its center; home laborers— glossary empowers students to make sense classroom. They are also differentiated to allow replaced instead by scabs, those replacement A. Greenwald’s essay on “Contingent, Transient, and At- whether domestics, health aides and attendants, or sweated of the article. He counseled teachers to get for students of varying abilities and learning workers received the higher pay, time off Risk Workers in a Gig Economy,” pits the ever-increasing manufacturers—are crucial in today’s global order and students to cross out particularly vexing words styles to shine and learn more about labor and better work conditions that the strikers loss of what used to be—the 40-hour-week job with the carework economy that generates low-wage jobs in a (like “gauzy”) and write in a word that makes history. A discussion followed and the educators demanded. benefits and some security, alongside what is: the ever- transformed and feminized U.S. labor market.” There are more sense to them. He also gave teachers a in attendance asked thoughtful questions Learning from the past is an essential part expanding world of “free agents, contractors, day laborers, so many important issues and such creative application few follow-up questions for students to work regarding parent and community responses to of labor’s future. “The only way to celebrate consultants, and the self-employed,” or, in the words of a of scholarship within these pages—it belongs on your in small groups (with a strong reader assigned the curriculum, how to introduce these topics in a history is to go back to the principles that cover story in Bloomberg Businessweek: “making the era of bookshelf. Read it and get inspired! to each group)—and individually (so students elementary classes, and the connection between started that history,” Garrido said.

8 Summer/Fall 2014 New York Labor History Association 5