I), •

Fraser's defense of a working woman's right to express her political ideology on and off the job is the civil liberties test case of the '80s.

BY ROBERT CRISMAN AND MARC KRASNOWSKY II 'I eventy years after Pacific Northwest courtrooms frontrunner in the crusade for the dignity of labor and for affirmative reverberated with the tremors of the free speech action for minorities and women. fights launched by IWW rebels, the First Amend­ The right of workers to speak their minds on and off the job, and to ment rights of working people are once more on trial freely choose their own friends and associates, is on trial in Seattle. in Seattle. The job rights of the most exploited and demeaned workers­ s As the testimony unfolds in the critical case of lowpaid women and people of color-are also on trial. Clara Fraser against Seattle City Light management, a harrowing And the right of political radicals and critics of all types to express story comes to light, an incontrovertible record their convictions, without persecution from today's breed of of city management skullduggery against a McCarthyite witchhunters in government and business, is on trial, too. woman employee who has long been a That is why feminist Gloria Steinem called this case "the human and civil rights test case of the '80s." And that is why an impressive and significant groundswell of sup­ port erupted almost overnight once the case came to public hearing on January 14, 1980. Fraser filed her sex and political ideology discrimination charges six years ago, in August, 1974, and was upheld by the Seattle Human TO NEXT PAGE ZFi

As Clara Fraser's historic case of discrimination basi political ideology unfolds in the courtroom, it is clear th~ Rights Department in 1977. In 1979, Mayor Charles Royer conciliated a settle­ ment, but the Seattle City Council re­ labor, as well as the tenets of socialist feminism, are eqUQ jected it and called for a hearing to deter­ mine whether Fraser may win job rein­ statement, back pay and damages. Fraser especially devised for the trial. tum, selected her as their chairperson, to be associated with Clara." With endorsement from Washing­ Cloud has focused heavily on Fraser's which made her the co-chair of the com­ Marilyn Bircher testifted that Fraser ton State's King County Labor Coun­ off-the-job "afftliation" with some of the bined worker-management negotiating analyzed the hoax leaflet at a mass em­ cil AFL-CIO, the National Lawyers women trainees in Radical Women, a committee. ployee meeting, calling it a management­ Guild. and scores of labor, civil rights, socialist feminist organization. Robert S. Leighton ITI, Senior Power inspired provocation to divide the work­ and other social-issue organizations And of course Fraser is denounced as Station Operator and a walkout leader, ers and diffuse their militancy. Fraser and concerned individuals across the "abrasive" (she "couldn't get along with testifted that Fraser" consistently upheld defended her right to be a radical, but country, Fraser's charge-that Seattle people"), as lazy (cheating on working the positions of the employees" in the ne­ offered to resign her offtcial positions City Light harassed and then ftred her in a hours), as a crook (documents disap­ gotiations. "She tried to get manage­ with the employee group. She was given a blatant act of discrimination on the basis peared), and as dishonest (padding a con­ ment to fulfill its promises. " rousing vote of conftdence to continue her of sex and political ideology-has won sultant's bill). Like every whistle-blower George Rauch, Underground Systems role, said Bircher, and was applauded. sympathy from thousands of people. against government chicanery, Fraser is Supervisor, was management co-chair on being personally maligned and slandered the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities The competency question Fired for her principles to blunt the effect of her criticism. Committee. Rauch, a hostile witness, ad­ itness after witness at- lara Fraser was hired on But Fraser's case is armed with the mitted that Fraser "represented the em­ tested to Fraser's profici­ June 4,1973 to be the strongest of all weapons-truth, facts, ployees in a manner agreeable to them," ency and professional­ ftrst Education Coor­ and logic. Faced with the potent testi­ but complained that she forced manage­ ism, and her good rela­ dinator for Seattle City mony of scores of Fraser's witnesses, ment to "compromise" and to lengthen tions with people. Light, a public utility. A management's legal house of cards has the time of meetings. W Dick Sugiyama found C few months later, she was already been demolished. Rauch, Leighton, and McDougall all her "very competent, very organized. assigned to organize the Electrical Trades Under questioning by Fraser's attor­ testifted that the adopted Bill of Rights, When she was not getting any direction, Trainee (Em program, designed to bring ney, John Chen Beckwith, witnesses have completed after a year of negotiation, was she picked up the slack. There was good I women into the all-male trade. attested to her effective work for affIr­ never implemented by management. At­ planning for the ETT programs. She met Fraser was chosen for this unique task mative action and labor's aims at City torney Beckwith has stressed this as an the deadlines." because of her rich experience as a femin­ Light, the respect she earned from her example of management treachery. Former trainee Jody Olvera, now ajour­ ist and civil rights leader, as an organizer coworkers and from sections of mid-man­ neywoman Station Constructor, said and administrator, and as a professional agement, her sudden removal as ETT The big red scare Fraser set up the women's program so developer of adult vocational projects for program organizer in June, 1974, which anagement lost little time that "we could succeed, and not get the disadvantaged. A veteran labor activ­ seriously endangered the program, and inredbaiting Clara Fraser dumped onto the job to see who would sur­ ist, Fraser helped pave the way for Superintendent Vickery's strong hostility once the walkout erupted. vive. I thought a lot of care had gone into women's massive entry into unions and to her, expressed in schemes and tricks Joan Whiley, former dealing with the problems we would face, nontraditional trades in the '60s and '70s. employed to discredit and remove her. Community Relations the things women haven't been taught." Her background in labor struggles M Specialist, said that at thrust her into another leadership role Testimony on the walkout one point during the employee upheaval, during and after a dramatic mass walkout 1 McDougall, a journey- Vickery showed her "what looked like ex­ by City Light employees in April, 1974, a man Cable Splicer and a tracts from a police file. It said Clara had 1973 year after she was hired. leader of the employee been a member of the Communist Party June 4-Clara Fraser hired as She was elected by the employees to walkout in 1974, testified in the New York area. I said 'It looks like Education Coordinator. chair a committee to negotiate a Bill of at length about the bitter someone's been going into FBI files'. " September-Fraser assigned to Rights with management. She partici­ A division between dicta- Personnel Specialist Fran Ross testi­ illiill coordinate the planning and imple­ pated in the Mayor Uhlman Recall Cam­ tor Vickery in his "marble palace," and fted that Administrative Services Director mentation of the Electrical TradE paign, an offshoot of the walkout. She crit­ employees in the field. Carole Coe, Vickery's adjutant and Trainee program for women, a 1m icized management's elimination of Marilyn Bircher, Cost Accounting Man­ Fraser's boss, labeled the walkout "com­ mark project to develop women inl planned affirmative action training, and ager, was a spokesperson for the clericals munist-inspired." City Light electricians. its inadequate safety policies, during hear­ during the walkout. She described how Said Ross, "Coe reminded me of the ings of a Public Review Committee to the Vickery administration "manipu­ McCarthyite witchhunt of the '50s." Coe 1974 investigate City Light Superintendent lated people out of their positions and credited her inside information to "a February-March-Supt. Gordo Gordon Vickery's practices. She drew did little about affirmative action." friend in the FBI. " according to then­ Vickery cancels the slots reserve attention from the media, and was pub­ Dick Sugiyama, former Equal Employ­ Assistant Personnel Manager Steve for minorities and women in a m licly criticized by Vickery. ment Opportunity Investigator, stated Church. agement training course, and also c Many other City Light employees were that Vickery "circumvented the proper Charles Poole, a former Employment cels a shorthand course developed highly visible leaders. But Fraser was also personnel practices and promoted his Practices Specialist for City Personnel, II Fraser to help upgrade lowpaid min a known socialist, a 35-year participant in own favorites. " Sugiyama said that Vick­ said he was told by Bill Rheubottom, ity and white women clericals. the antiwar, civil liberties, Black freedom ery angrily" stressed loyalty over compe­ Fraser's supervisor, that "she was Fraser, her supervisor, and two El and Native American movements, and tence" and used his "hatchet people" on terminated because she was a officers protest these decisions. support work for international struggles. those who differed with him. communist." Administrative Services Directol Mter 21 years in the Socialist Workers During the employee eruption against Mike Sharar recalled the events sur­ Carole Coe blames Fraser for the p Party, she had left it and helped to found Vickery, Fraser quickly became a leader, rounding a sloppily-produced, hoax leaf­ tests, declares that Vickery is unhal the Freedom Socialist Party in 1966 and according to Mike Sharar, former Com­ let that was circulated throughout City with Fraser's "attitude and perfor· Radical Women in 1968. munity Relations chief and close associ­ Light two days before the start of the Pub­ mance," and instructs Fraser's su}: Fraser was clearly anathema to the anti­ ate of Vickery, because of "her experi­ lic Review Committee hearings (the pub­ visor, William Rheubottom, to be labor mayor and the City Light bosses, ence in the antiwar and women's lic investigation of management policies "more judgmental" of her. and she was marked for removal. movements, her force of personality won by the walkout). April-Vickery issues a harsh "I Management subjected her to a red­ and her capabilities. She was a cen­ The spurious leaflet invited people to ciplinary Code" for City Light em­ baiting smear campaign, attempted tral figure. " hear Fraser speak about Vickery and ployees. to disrupt and destroy the excellent Marilyn Bircher recounted how instru­ Mayor Uhlman at a "Trotskyite" meet­ April9-20-Mass employee rel ETT program for women, and re­ mental Fraser was in forging the alliance ing at Freeway Hall. The leaflet also in­ lion results in an II-day walkout moved her as coordinator of the pro­ of the primarily female and nonunion cler­ cluded an inflammatory FBI-style account The walkout inspires the subse­ gram. Constant harassment included ical workers and the unionized males. of Fraser's radical history, including her quent Mayor Uhlman Recall Ca a specially contrived civil service "Clara explained that this was a voting record for Socialist Workers paign (antilabor Uhlman backed exam to get rid ofher, the secret elimi­ labor/management dispute, that our Party candidates! Vickery against the 1500 City Ligl nation ofher position from the budget. problems were fundamentally the Vickery gave one of the flyers to Sharar, employees). and unwarranted reprimands. She same as the men's. She became a focal saying he had been "made aware" of it The walkout wins a no-reprisals was finally "laid off' without notice, point for us. " "at a meeting of downtown business­ pledge, reinstating suspended forE which is illegal under the City Charter. Two days after the men of Local 77 men." Vickery asked him "to find out men, the establishment of a labor· The stated reason? A "5% cutback of (International Brotherhood of Electrical what I could about it." Sharar phoned management committee to negotia the labor force." Workers) walked off their jobs, the cleri­ Freeway Hall and found that no such meet­ Bill of Rights and Responsibilit cals, engineers, and many professionals ing was scheduled. Vickery's reaction to to replace the Disciplinary Code, ar Disobedient and Disloyal poured out of the City Light building to this information was "uncharacteristic II Public Review Committee to inve choing and intensifying join them. Fraser and Bircher were key silence." gate Vickery's practices. the original redbaiting, ftgures in sparking this solidarity. "It was most particularly unusual for Clara Fraser becomes a leading guilt-by -association him to walk into my office, and to have no spokesperson for the dissident ern charges hurled by top Negotiating a Bill of Rights reaction to the fact that there was no meet­ ployees. She is instrumental in orga: management against he uprecedented eleven- ing. My dealings with the Superintendent ing support from the clericals and I E Fraser, Assistant City day walkout was ended were such that I never found him at a loss fessionals to the Local 77 IBEW I Attorney Dona Cloud, representing City on April 19, 1974 with an for words ... Mr. Vickery knew more who initiated the walkout, and ShE Light, has used the hearing procedure to agreement between the about the leaflet than he cared to helps articulate the workers' griev perpetuate and expand the political dis­ workers, the mayor and share with me. " ances to the media. crimination already inflicted on Fraser. T Vickery. One provision Robert Leighton, the head of the Mayor Vickery and Coe try to discredi1 Fraser is charged with being a "disloy­ authorized negotiations to hammer out an Uhlman Recall Committee, said he was Fraser and the walkout through a I al and disobedient" troublemaker who employee Bill of Rights and Responsibil­ "worried about the leaflet," so he and a baiting campaign. Vickery distribt "influenced" and "manipulated" the ities to replace Vickery's militaristic" Dis­ fellow worker went to Freeway Hall on the sections of her FBI me to managem massive worker discontent to further her ciplinary Code." evening of the alleged meeting. No one while Coe announces that a friend own political "ends." At the mass meeting ending the walk­ showed up, and Leighton concluded that the FBI has told her that the walkOl Cloud has also introduced a new charge, out, the dissident workers elected Fraser the leaflet "was an undercover smear "communist-inspired." "incompetency," a rationale for firing to their negotiating team, and the team, in campaign to convince employees not April 30-First meeting of the

.2 "·HI';IaJl)M .~nr1AIJST MAR(,111. 1980 edon sex and the rights of after the walkout.) tom gave only "weak and ambiguous" selection process because of Fraser's off­ direction to the trainees. the-job "affiliation" with three of the on public trial. ETT program sabotaged On August 5, 1974 nine trainees and women. Fraser "did not reveal her affili­ ,..------, n a cynical effort to blunt Fraser filed a sex discrimination suit with ation at the time, or disqualify herself the effects of Fraser's the Office of Women's Rights. According from voting on these three women." Former trainee Heidi Durham, now a good work, and discredit to the trainees, their treatment from that Attorney Cloud has repeatedly tried­ junior Power Station Operator, testified her as well, management time on was often marked by neglect and McCarthy-style-to hammer home the that while Fraser was ETT Coordinator, launched a campaign harassment. "affiliation" accusation, and the fact that the men electricians in the field were I against the program George Rauch admitted that the train­ Fraser and trainee Cornish were house­ "open" to the trainees. "It was obvious Fraser had been assigned to promote. ees brought him "ongoing complaints" of mates. And the testimony has dramatical­ that Clara had done a lot of communicat­ The women Electrical Trades Trainees sexist harassment. When trainee Megan ly revealed how Fraser's radical politics ing with people," she said. were supposed to be provided with three Cornish objected to an obscene drawing were used to turn the foremen and super­ Rod Handley, formerly Personnel weeks of orientation and pre-placement posted at work, he ordered it removed. visors of the ETTs against them, and to Supervisor, said that Fraser was" a strong, training to help them cope with the dif­ But otherwise, "I did nothing unless I lay the basis for destroying the program. . ght, rugged individual ... highly ficulties of entering an unfamiliar and could prove the allegations were true." According to Office of Women's Rights ... committed to affirmative dangerous field of work. But after eight The ETTs were abandoned to shift for Investigator Sue Ammeter, Vickery told action." days, their pre-training was abruptly can­ themselves. Supportive foremen had no her that "the ETT sex discrimination Said Willine Guillery, Fraser's secre­ celled on July 3, 1974. A few days later, in authority to help them, and Vickery case was instigated by Clara Fraser." The tary, "She was professional, more com­ a blatant instance of arbitrary, sexist prac­ wanted to be rid of them. December 2 memo actually expressed petent than Bill [her supervisor]. She gen- tice at City Light, Fraser was removed as Vickery's and Coe's views about Fraser's

I 1 erated much more work than he did, ETT Coordinator and replaced by her Guilt by affiliation influence, not the views of the coerced ·:especially when she worked after hours." supervisor, Training Coordinator Bill ,..------...., n November 15, 1974 signers. I Jack Telerico and Charles Poole, from Rheubottom, a less-qualified and totally nine of the ten trainees Pat Wong, a pro-management, rene­ City Personnel, said she was a good coor­ disinterested male. sent a letter to Vickery gade trainee who did not join in the sex dinator in the planning of the E'IT pro­ The ten trainees, according to trainee requesting he make good discrimination suit, testified she "could gram. Telerico said she was "very enjoy­ testimony, were then shoved out into the on his promises for pro­ tell" that "three ofthe trainees were Rad­ able to work with and disagree with," field «without proper equipment, O gram supports, and also ical Women previously acquainted with even though he opposed special training clothes or preparatiolL "IT they ran into reinstate Fraser as coordinator. Clara." She said Fraser's "influence" for women. Poole said that though he orig­ "racist and sexist harassment," they had On December 2, a very strange memo over the trainees "was like a mother's inally disagreed with some of Fraser's pro­ no recourse, "no place to turn." appeared, ostensibly sent to Vickery by over her kids." This "alienated" Wong, a gram concepts, he was later proven wrong. Trainee witnesses recounted the total the ETT Working Committee (com­ self-professed "individualist" who dis­ Fran Ross said Fraser was adept at lack of direction and support from Rheu­ posed of foremen and supervisors). The likes groups, and who publicly testified Human Relations training, and several bottom. Said Daisy Jones, a Black trainee, memo decried E'IT «militance"-and against the other ETTs before the Public foremen testified that they worked well Rheubottom "was just not there for us. charged that "the direction for this Review Committee in 1974, branding with her. Clara had reached out, been there when militancy is coming from a person who has Fraser and other ETTs as Radical Women (Fraser's Performance Evaluations we needed her." Supervisor George Rauch no responsibility in the program at all." engaging in a "mad play for power." were all graded as satisfactory-until corroborated this, affirming that Rheubot- The memo "questioned" the ETT TO NEXT PAGE

• v- ~ear $120,000 back pay and damages, rein- A- lc )'I~,'_4U""iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. statement, and retroactive promotion Sl ,.. to Electrical Helper positions. . .s7, f ..·Liiii ...... Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil ratedFraser's from theirscase had and earlier channeled been tosepa- the Eraser city Human Rights Department be­ cause "political ideology discrimina­ of Rights and Responsibilities Com­ thizers, is disbanded by Vickery. Sen­ May 19-Fraser amends her origi­ tion" was in its jurisdiction. mittee. Fraser has been elected, at a sitivity training on race and sex, nal discrimination complaint to in­ mass employee meeting, to be one of planned for E'IT foremen and super­ clude the exam as a reprisal. 1977-1978 their three representatives. She is visors, is also cancelled. June-Civil Service Commission May 24-Human Rights Depart­ selected to chair the employee team July 31-Coe objects to Fraser's votes to make "Training Coordinator" ment issues findings in Fraser's favor. and to co-chair the totallabor-manage­ excessive time involvement with the exam "non-competitive" for all incum­ August 9-Fraser case referred to ment committee. Bill of Rights Committee. bents, who now will only have to pass Mayor Uhlman for concUiation (a Vickery tells division directors to August 5-Fraser and the E'ITs the exam to retain their jobs. Thus, mandatory procedure). :Jy "evaluate" the Training Section and file a sex discrimination charge with Vickery cannot eliminate Fraser via August 24-Mayor Uhlman rejects Ir- forward their criticisms to him. the city Office of Women's Rights, and the exam. conciliation. June 6-Ten women Electrical testify before the Public Review Com­ July I-Recall election loses. September, 1977 through May, o Trades Trainees are selected by a 5- mittee about Vickery's treachery JulyS-Vickery denounces and re­ 1979-A string of motions, appeals, person hiring panel, including Fraser. against their program. jects Bill of Rights and Responsibili­ and legal challenges and delays by City June S-An inflammatory hoax In retaliation for filing the suit, ties (violating the Agreement that Light attorneys. p- leaflet is widely disseminated at City the E'ITs and Fraser are subject to ended the walkout). ~y Light, announcing that "Trotskyite escalating harassment. Fraser's job July ll-Fraser "laid-off' at 4:30 1979 Communist" Fraser will speak at a assignments are downgraded, and her p.m. on Friday, without notice, be­ June-Mayor Charles Royer t- Freeway Hall meeting. The leaflet also expense vouchers ignored. cause of a "reduction in force." No works out a conciUation agreement states that she has voted for socialist November 15-ETTs send Vick­ other administrative or professional providing for $30,000 to Fraser and a electoral candidates. ery a memo requesting reinstatement staff are terminated. job with the Human Rights Department. June 24-E'ITs start work. Vickery of both their original program and August 15-IBEW Local 77 passes July 2-City Council rejects con­ stages a press conference, crows over Fraser as coordinator. Resolution supporting Fraser and so cUiation settlement, 6 to 2, and or­ his "commitment" to affirmative ac- Fraser reprimanded for a letter she informs Civil Service Commission. ders the case to Hearing. The two - tion and the program's success. wrote four months previously. August 29-Vickery and Mayor Black councilmen vote for settlement. Clara Fraser testifies that evening Fraser denied extra pay for super­ Uhlman announce their own "Bill of September 17-City Council ap­ before the Public Review Committee, visory duties assigned to her during her Rights and Responsibilities" (never propriates $13,500 for the Human lambasting top management's hypo­ boss's absence. implemented) . Rights Department to hire an outside critically inadequate, purely cosmetic December 2-A memo to Vickery, September 24-E'ITs "congratu­ attorney to represent Fraser, and affirmative action, training, and actually written by Coe but appearing lated" by Vickery on "completing their $7,500 for salary for pro tempore safety policies. to come from foremen and super­ program" and are terminated. Hearing Examiner Sally Pasette. June 26-Fraser addresses an em­ visors, denounces ETT «mUitance," September 26-Fraser's unem­ Human Rights Department retains ployee mass meeting on the subject of Fraser's "infW,ence" over them, and ployment compensation withheld attorney John Chen Beckwith to rep­ the hoax leaflet, calling it a flagrant her prior "affiliation" off-the-job with as she is ordered to repay the severance resent Fraser. management/FBI divide-and-conquer several trainees. pay she received. She makes a public tactic. She describes her political phi- December 6-Vickery issues a loy­ protest and the order is dropped. 1980 : losophy, advocates the unity of all the alty oath to the trainees, demanding October 16-Fraser's unemploy­ January 14-Hearing begins in workers around their common griev­ they sign or be terminated. ment compensation stipend is cu! in Room 500, 400 Yesler Bunding, Seat­ ances, and is supported and applauded. half after Vickery petitions the City tle, before Pasette and a volunteer July 3-Vickery and Coe abruptly 1975 Council to reduce such payments. Hearing Panel composed of Elizabeth curtaUETTpre-placementtraining January-July-A new mayoral Re­ (Vickery currently receives two Ponder, Darlene Allison and Beverly eight days after it begins. caU Campaign starts, led by Firefight­ separate city pensions plus his Stanton; Bernice Holland, alternate. The trainees confront Coe; she is ers Union. federal salary.) January 29-Hearing adjourns for furious. They seek out Vickery, but he February-Vickery orders a four weeks. avoids them. "study" of the Training Section. 1976 February 25-Hearing recon­ July 5-Vickery removes Fraser March 25-A 5% «employee re­ January 9-Fraser files a protest venes, with the prospect of fmishing by as ETT Coordinator. duction" announced. to the CivU Service Commission on the end of April, due to recesses. July IO-The trainees are shoved April 30-Bill of Rights and Re­ her contrived exam score. May-The Hearing Examiner then into the field without preparation, sponsibilities completed. January 14-City Personnel de­ has 20 days in which to issue her clothing or equipment. Their new coor­ May 13-Fraser'sjob secretly nies protest but grants adjustments to proposed decision, subject to adoption dinator, William Rheubottom (Fraser's deleted from the upcoming 1976 other protesters. or reversal by the Hearing Panel. supervisor), is disinterested. budget and replaced with a newly­ June 21-Fraser's job filled by a A favorable verdict for Fraser would July 17-The Human Relations titled position. City Personnel starts less qualified male. mean reinstatement at City Light and Council, which includes Fraser and preparation for a special civil service July 9-ETTs win their sex dis­ the awarding of back pay, damages and other employee leaders and sympa- exam for her position. crimination case, and are awarded expenses.• .,. .,

George Rauch recalled that "it was not sign that letter today ... what This was September 24, 1975. him develop the test. discussed that Fraser was motivating people do on their own time is none Moore said it was customary to in­ the ETTs to take negative stands. The of City Light's business!" Trainee victory terview all job incumbents when pre­ ETTS seemed to be taking outside Trainee Daisy Jones said she had ne year later, on July paring a test. But Employee Relations direction . •. through their affilia­ known Joan Williams, one of the inter­ 9, 1976, the indomit­ Manager Don Winkley told him "there tion with Radical Women. They viewers, when Jones was hired (yet able trainees, sup­ is no point talking with Clara belonged to common organiza­ nobody has complained about this!). ported by the Office Fraser . .. she won't be around tions. "Rauch held Fraser responsible Several of the foremen witnesses of Women's Rights, much longer." for ETT "aggressive actions" because said that outside affiliations have no o won their sex dis­ Moore and his coworkers concluded the ETTs "seemed to respond as a bearing on interview or selection pro­ crimination suit against City Light. that the exam was being contrived as a unit, rather than as individuals," cedures and that it is not common The settlement provided $120,000 in "hatchet job" against Fraser, and and were pushed by "some outside practice for interviewers to indicate damages and back pay, job reinstate­ said so, whereupon he was rebuked by source." social relations with applicants. ment, and retroactive promotion to City Personnel Director Jack Driscoll. The testimony of Pat Wong and According to Robert Leighton, Electrical Helper. Moore refused to continue with exam Rauch-like the affiliation charge it­ "those affiliation rumors about Radi­ Trainee Pat Wong, who had called preparations. "I knew 1 would not be self-is not only classic redbaiting, but cal Women got started because Clara the suit "senseless" and refused to allowed to proceed in an ethical or I is a violation of Seattle's Fair Employ­ was the trainees' advocate, working to participate when it was filed, admitted professional manner," he testified. ment Practices Ordinance which pro­ make sure the trainees got what was on the witness stand that she threat­ Soon after, subjected to retaliation hibits differential treatment based on coming to them. It was only natural ened City Light management with a by his supervisor, Moore left his job. "political ideology." that women interested in non-trad- suit unless she were awarded the same Anet Fox, former Water Department The ETTs were justifiably angry at ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~! Training Specialist, and current Per- management for its record of broken !' sonnel Director, recalled that she promises and reprisals, and their anger feared the exam would be used against was intrinsic, they testified, not a A cross-section of any or all the incumbents such as product of "outside agitators." herself. She lodged an official protest Daisy Jones bristled when asked if Fraser case supporters with the Civil Service Commission, Fraser had prodded the ETTs to pro­ King County Labor Council of Paul Skyhorse, Los Angeles whereupon Vickery, "very upset," test the pre-placement training cancel­ Washington, AFL-CIO Joanna Russ, Seattle phoned her boss, the head of the Water lation and visit Carole Coe as a unified National Lawyers Guild Julie Evening Lilly, Los Angeles Department, and urged him to tell Fox group. "It was our idea," Jones de­ AFSCME Locals 2083, 2083-N, Nellie Wong, San Francisco to "stop holding up the exam." clared. "My idea. Nobody puts ideas 1488, Seattle Merle Woo, Berkely But the Civil Service Commission into my head! 1 was the leader!" Jody CWA Local 9102, Seattle Rosa Morales, Seattle supported Fox and ordered the exam Olvera called the charges "baseless" Amalgamated Transit Union Juan Soliz, Chicago to be given non-competitively for and said that Fraser "never tried to Local 587, Seattle Jesus Mena, Long Beach incumbents, so management had to control me." Boilermakers Local 104, Seattle Humberto Brown, New York City abandon the test as an exclusionary Four of the six ETT Working Com­ Rhonda Allgaier, Seattle Yolanda Martinez, Seattle competition for already-occupied mittee members who purportedly sent United Feminist Front, Seattle AIM for Freedom Defense positions. lout the "affiliation" memo testified Feminist Women's Health Center, Committee, Portland, OR that neither they, nor anyone else who Los Angeles Committee to Defend Iranian The axe falls signed the letter, drafted it. They all Seattle Gay Community Center Legal Rights, Seattle he Bill of Rights work said they were "induced" to sign it by Dick Gregory, Plymouth, MA Live Without Trident, Seattle had been finished in management. Flo Kennedy, New York City Black Panther Party, Los Angeles T May, 1975 and the Former trainee Megan Cornish, now Kate Millett, New York City Lesbians of Color Caucus, Seattle Uhlman Recall elec- an Assistant Power Dispatcher, testi­ Gloria Steinem, New York City Howard Wallace, San Francisco tion was held on July fied that George Rauch told her that Ruth Messenger, New York City Jeff Cohen, Los Angeles l. It lost. The employ- the memo had been drafted "on the 9th ~...... ~ eemovementsubsided, and it looked floor and he was told to sign it." itional electrical trade8 would be in benefits! Management quickly "jug­ like a safe time to fire Fraser. Late on A retired Station Construction Radical Women and other activist gled my civil service records" to Friday afternoon, July 11, 1975, man­ supervisor, Walt Wheeles, testified he groUP8." change her entry date as a Helper so agement cited a "5% budget reduc­ signed the letter because he "just Fraser recruited actively for the pro­ she could accrue the same seniority as tion" and laid off Fraser, effective wanted to get things over with one way gram, as part of her job, and was ac­ the victorious trainees, and the City immediately. or another." He was told that there was quainted with a large number of the Council allocated a financial settle­ Mike Sharar, who was responsible "too much dissension on the crews," 300 applicants. A panel of five, includ­ ment for her! for dealing with the media, was advised although "there was no dissension on ing three foremen, selected the final by Carole Coe that "there is bound to my crews." Wheeles said he did not see slate. The hatchet job exam be media scrutiny" of Fraser's termin­ "anything wrong" with trainees raising ong before the Friday- ation. Sharar also testified that it was complaints, nor did he note "any prob­ Loyalty Day night massacre layoff "unusual that Clara was the only ad­ lems with their work." n December 6, 1974, L of the trainees, City ministrative person laid off." Fraser Clarence Weigelt, Cable Splicer four days after the af- Light had determined was also the only provisional (non-Civil foreman, signed the letter because filiation memo, Vick- to get rid of Fraser so Service) laid off, the only professional, "everybody else on the Working Com­ ery sent the trainees she could not protest and the only fulltime woman employee. mittee had already signed it and I did his now-notorious or try to prevent their firing. Jack Robert Leighton, in his testimony, not want it to look like there was O loyalty oath. Telerico, a city planner on the ETI refuted the budget cut explanation: "It dissension on the Committee." Had Acting on advice of attorneys from program, testified that "on July 5, was a typical management device to he been the first one approached, he their union-Local 77 IBEW-mostof 1974, I met with Jack Driscoll, Vick­ circumvent required procedure and "would not have signed the letter," the ETTs signed the document only ery, Joan Williams, Bill Rheubottom, get rid of someone ... City Light is a because he disagreed with the section after writing in "I wish to remain in the and Carole Coe about what to do with revenue-producing agency and did not accusing Fraser of directing militancy . . . Trainee program providing all the program. Clara Fraser got most of need to cut back. Clara was not laid off. and being affiliated with trainees off conditions are consistent with the Fair the credit for disrupting the program. She was terminated." the job. Employment Practices Ordinance." Vickery wanted to junk it. The ultimate And witness Al McDougall was "I didn't know anything about that," Trainee witnesses testified that solution was to give Clara an exam and equally emphatic: "IUntil Clara] I he said. "The trainees were a closely­ while this reply won them a temporary get rid of her through the examination never heard of anyone being laid off at knit group and there's nothing reprieve, reprisals and harassment process." City Light for incompetence ... If you wrong with that." mounted in the ensuing nine-month So in May, 1975 Vickery rushed are incompetent at City Light, you are Larry Christensen, Distribution period until, three months after Fraser through preparations for a city-wide promoted to management!" supervisor, testified that he "regretted was "laid off," the trainees were sum- civil service exam tailored to weed out signing the letter ... and taking some­ marily "graduated" from the incom- Fraser. What next? one's word for the allegations I did not plete ETI program, congratulated But a funny thing happened on the lara Fraser's sex and know were true and still do not. I would by Vickery, and "laid off" themselves. way to the exam. political discrimina­ ------~ A former Civil Service Department tion case reconvened, -t L- ght Examination Analyst, John Moore, after a three-week The F rase r Ie 1 y 1 was directed to develop this test for recess, on February -' "Education and Training Coordina- C 25, and is likely to S tory N eed s T e 11lng_ tor," a position held by Fraser, Rheu- proceed through April. bottom, and three employees in other It is already abundantly clear that city departments. Moore testified that the future of on-the-job democracy, 1. Endorse Clara Fraser's case. the haste surrounding this test was affirmative action, and the right to very unusual because so few positions political dissent and free association 2. Donate generously to the Fraser were affected, and the necessary pre- will be determined, to a considerable Case Information Fund. liminaryworkofclassifyingallcityjobs degree, by the outcome of this singular in this category had not been done. case. The new McCarthyites, like the 3. Help with the organizing work to Equally unusual ",:as ~he refusa.l ~o old, first isolate and silence the radi­ . . allow Moore to brmg m U.S. CIVIl cals, and then they come for everyone ~ ______~~~a _n:t~~~ ~~~~~ ____ ...J Service Commission experts to help else. Clara Fraser's good fight for politi cal I -- Yes, I endorse Clara Fraser's case and will donate $ to 1STA F F freedom warrants the support of every­ I the Information Fund. __ Contact me to help on the case. I ------one who believes in the right of political I Editor: Val Carlson minorities and nonconformists to earn I Name Address Business Manager: Mary Ann Curtis their living and enjoy the same benefits I I Published by the Freedom Socialist Party. I City State -- Zip Phone I Editorial and production offices: Freeway as the majority. Without guaranteed Send to: Fraser Case Information Fund, c/o United Feminist Front, 6019 I Hall,3815FifthAvenueN.E.,SecondFloor freedom from discrimination on the I West, Seattle, WA 98105. (206) 632-7449. job there can be no freedom at all. • L_ S ~t_h ~~i~,_ S ~~,I ~!. ~12!l:....P ~n!. ()~~ ~2.:Z ~9~r.2:!-~:! _ J 4 FREEDOM SOCIAUST MARCH 1,1980