NYLHA’s Youth Advisory Board Work History News L H A

New York Labor History Association, Inc. A Bridge Between Past and Present Volume 30 No 2 Summer | Fall 2013 Henry Foner’s Book Bash a Smash: Bound

ince January, NYLHA’s Youth Advisory Board (Front row, l.- two of the filmmakers as part of the Workers Unite Film Festival. Volume Unearths Hidden Treasures r.: Courtney Francis, Joe Lopez, Prudence Katze, Darrah Sipe, Courtney Francis introduced the program and the films, all of YLHA President Irwin fellow students in the American SKimberly Schiller; Back Row, l.-r.: Art Fleischner, NYLHA which focused on current organizing struggles. “The Hand That Yellowitz welcomed Student Union, and mounted Board Member and Membership Committee—and William Feeds,” about organizing efforts of employees at Hot and Crusty, a full house to Henry annual shows that took aim at Lehman) has been meeting on a monthly basis. Their mission is was the hit of the evening and led to a lively exchange with the N Foner’s Book Party at the ivory-tower intellectuals. A duet, to connect younger generations to labor history. “Learning labor filmmaker. Tamiment Library, NYU. “Confidentially, We Think,” history to change the world” is their motto. Currently, the YAB is producing a poster, which will soon be The event, co-sponsored by (1939) sung by the author On May 13, the YAB’s Film Committee—Will Lehman, available for distribution so that young people can connect to the Tamiment, the NYLHA, and and Sonia Bernhardt Bloom, Kimberly Schiller, Prudence Katze and Joe Lopez—organized a group. LaborArts, took place on captured the flavor of these successful evening featuring nine short films and discussion with February 27, just a month original shows, such as “Pens shy of Foner’s 94th birthday. and Pencils.” Longevity has its privileges, Foner penned lines to Labor History Connections and the author’s decades of describe his experiences in  activism unfolded throughout the U.S. Army, and recited the program in verse and song. his “Thoughts on a Division SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 – SUNDAY, OCT. 20, 2013 the early ‘80s. That discrepancy drives the work of A life-long habit of penning Headquarters Clean-Up Detail” journalist/author/poet and journeywoman electrician poems and songs was finally (1943)… On Equal Terms Susan Eisenberg (Resident Artist/Scholar, Women’s collected between covers. The “I’d envisioned battles raging Clemente Soto Velez Center (csvcenter.org) Studies Research Center, Brandeis University). book, Songs and Poems—(For / With myself in them engaging Henry Foner and Philoine Fried. dedicated – / half a hundred Nazis caging On ’s Better or Verse)— to “the next generation of – / Caging Nazis by the score. MINER’S MUSEUM - CAPE BRETON ISLAND Come and bring your classes. activists,” was made possible / But instead, I cornered dust Second floor gallery (accessible only by stairs) Situated on one of the most picturesque coasts of by LaborArts with support heaps – / Dirty dust heaps Open daily from 3:30-7 p.m. Cape Breton Island, on a 15-acre site filled with wild from Rachel Bernstein, Evelyn by the score. / Only this and roses and grasses, the Museum pays tribute to the Jones Rich, Esther Cohen, and nothing more.” Donald Rubin. Evie Rich, with her own THURSDAY, SEPT. 26, 6-8 P.M. region’s long and rich history of coal mining. It is home to profound stories of miners and their families, Foner, a prominent, radical stories of activism—fighting Opening Reception honoring New York City and the resource that helped build a nation. The labor leader, served from 1961 against American-style apartheid to 1988 as president of the and for social justice—noted tradeswomen Museum is also home to the famous choir of Joint Board of Fur, Leather and that Foner regaled the LaborArts On Equal Terms: An exhibit about an unfinished piece miners – The Men of the Deeps. Machine Workers Unions. But, staff at their meetings with of civil rights history—in a nutshell: Had federal http://www.minersmuseum.com as wrote, “Henry is stories of yesteryear. “He has, affirmative action guidelines issued in 1978 been one of the best organizers I ever through his life of activism, Submitted by NYLHA member (bottom, l to r) Leigh Benin, Keri Myers and Sonia Bloom. enforced, women would now hold 25 percent of knew—but I didn’t know till become a legend,” she said. skilled trades jobs in construction. Instead, their Professor Tami J. Friedman, now what a good verse writer Rich called on the audience anecdotes about the Free Speech Manhattan College; and Robert percentage has been held at 2.5 percent since Brock University, Ontario Canada. he was.” As an activist at City to share their own stories of Movement at Ohio State; Moses foiled at Cooper Square; College, Foner collaborated with activism, and brought forth military recruiters foiled at (Continued on page 10) Film Festival Celebrates Workers Triangle Commemoration

By Rachel Bernstein current economic n June 3, an explosion and fire swept through parts of a poultry he second annual Workers Unite! Film policies as we processing plant in northeast Festival brought together an amazing shred the social O China, killing at least 120 people—one of collection of student and professional safety net, support T ever increasing the country’s worst factory disasters in years. films from around the world, with panels of Many of the workers who died had been activists and filmmakers enlivening most of income inequality, hindered from leaving the factory, according the 25 programs held over the course of the and allow jobs to news reports, because the exits had been week-long event. to continue to blocked or inadequate. Many months of searching out great new dwindle as profits This tragedy followed that of the worker/labor films and going through the continue to soar. Bangladesh factory collapse on April 24— archives of historical labor films went into the This screening the world’s deadliest garment-industry selection of the films, which cover many of featured co-director accident—that killed 1,127 people. Since the themes that affect working people today Harry Gantz, 2005, at least 1,800 Bangladesh garment- as they struggle to make ends meet, or to find Working Families industry workers have been killed in fires a new job, during this very difficult economy. Party director or building collapses—in the $20 billion There were films on being fifty and out Dan Cantor, and industry that pays workers as little as $38 a of work, and films about immigrants seeking director of the Coalition for the Festival founder and director Andrew month. to find a decent job in their new home— aware of this tragedy, it will help to prevent Anna Ardell recently moved back from Homeless NYC Mary Brosnahan, speaking Tilson did a tremendous job, and was News stories such as these have a anxious to make a contribution to their new other tragedies from happening in the Sweden and relates to the experiences of the about how to channel the outrage generated particularly enthusiastic about the particular resonance for the students of communities. Films from nearby—NYC- future.” Ms. Schiller leads field trips each immigrant garment workers. “I know what by the film. The new LaborArts online exhibit cooperation provided by the NYLHA. Kimberly Schiller, who teaches eighth grade focused Cafe Wars and Judith: Portrait of year to the Tenement Museum on New it’s like to be new,” she said. “I was inspired to Defending the Social Safety Net is featured on The challenge for this incredible festival is English in the Huntington (Long Island) a Street Vendor, and films from afar—Iron York City’s Lower East Side, and also takes work on this because many people lost their the festival website www.laborarts.org as an audience—there are simply too many things schools, and incorporates the Triangle Slaves, about the men who tear apart de- a contingent of students to each year’s lives. They weren’t warned and didn’t have a accompanying presentation. to do in May in New York City. Shirtwaist Fire as an important component commissioned oil tankers with their hands memorial commemoration ceremony for chance to survive.” This year the global reach of the festival This year’s audience was definitely larger of her curriculum. “Even though the and simple tools in the deserts of Pakistan. than last—the inaugural year—but the Labor the Triangle Fire. Her students take part Tragedy resonates went beyond programming, as it joined Triangle Fire happened 102 years ago, it International spotlight History Association might try in spring 2014 in the National History Day competitive with twenty other worker/labor film festivals is unfortunately still a reality for many Kayla Ryan was inspired to work on her There was a film about the African to help bring important labor films to an even events by submitting special projects, such around the world – known as The Global within our country and around the world,” project for two reasons—amazement that she American men who fought for dignity on the larger group of viewers. as creating replicas of the building which Labor Film and Video Festival—on May she said. “My students are both horrified had never learned about it before; and after job and in their union as steelworkers—one housed the Triangle Shirtwaist Company on 16th—to screen films on labor issues in and fascinated by the fire, its causes, and learning about it, wanting to teach other of the most dangerous jobs in America. Greene Street, and preparing for this by doing China, Pakistan, Mexico, Slovakia and from the reforms that are still being fought for people about it. “The fire connects with the Another film shines the light on mothers copious amounts of research. all over the U.S. today.” world we live in today. Because the Triangle in Bangladesh who must put their children This year, twenty students accompanied factory owners didn’t want pieces of fabric to Action-oriented festival Hidden history with their own parents due to 15 hour Work History News Ms. Schiller to the memorial ceremony on be stolen, they disregarded the safety hazards Many of the speakers during the week are days in the sewing factories of high fashion L H A Schiller first learned about the Triangle March 20 and shared their thoughts about and so many innocent young people lost their currently engaged in worker struggles—as Fire as a junior at Adelphi University, in a sweatshops. These are the same women who New York Labor History Association, Inc. the meaning of the Triangle Fire. “I loved lives.” documentarians, and also as activists. The class on women’s history. “I didn’t understand survived a recent “Triangle Shirtwaist” style Work History News is published two times per year the opportunity to write about something “It is extremely important to me that we fire in Bangladesh, where over 111 young combination of the filmmakers (many of to keep NYLHA’s members informed of labor why I hadn’t learned about this tragedy that Ms. Schiller made so interesting,” said never forget what happened to those girls,” women perished because the exit doors to the them fully engaged activists themselves) history events, activities and tours. earlier, and I felt compelled to learn more,” Emanuel Anastos. “I was happy to be chosen said Delaney English, “and also, that we stop factory were padlocked shut, and who are still and the activists on the panels provided a For more information and brochures contact: she said. She decided to teach about the to go and experience something that is real these kinds of things from happening again reeling from the heartbreaking collapse of a terrific context for the audience, which could Gail Malmgreen, NYLHA tragedy in her classroom because she didn’t and meaningful for labor in New York City.” today. While learning about the Triangle c/o Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives garment factory there in April that claimed emerge from the theatre with both a better 70 Washington Square South, 10th Floor want it to go by unnoticed. “I incorporated Emma Pipolo noted that, “reading the Shirtwaist Fire, we also learned about places 1127 lives. One hundred years plus after the understanding of our places in the global fight New York, NY 10012 the Triangle Fire into my English curriculum book, Ashes of Roses, and learning about all of such as Bangladesh, where a fire happened http://newyorklaborhistory.org deaths at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in for labor rights and the motivation to get out through the novel Ashes of Roses, by Mary the horrible things that these factory girls had not too long ago, and a building collapsed NYC and we are still fighting the exact same there and participate in whatever actions are President Irwin Yellowitz Jane Auch, and primary sources from the ILR to go through, made me realize that if people a couple of weeks after we visited the site battles. possible to make these rights a reality. Vice-President George Altomare Cornell website. long ago hadn’t been inspired to work on this of the Triangle Fire. If we don’t start taking Secretary Abbe Nosoff; Regina Olff “Teaching about the Triangle Fire is Joe and Harry Gantz’ film American The Workers Unite! Film Festival took Treasurer Philoine Fried issue, then the horrible working conditions responsibility for these terrible working Winter tells the personal stories of families place at the esteemed venue for independent Editor Jane LaTour very important to me,” she said. “I feel a would have continued. This holds great conditions, nothing is going to change.” who’ve “fallen” out of the middle class films, Cinema Village, on East 12th Street off Contributors connection to the women and men who significance for me because I feel it is a shame Visit the Huntington students’ website at during the Great Recession—putting a University Place, May 10 – May 16, and at Rachel Bernstein, Bette Craig, Stephen Leberstein, perished in the fire and want to spread that innocent people had to suffer and be http://36870672.nhd.weebly.com/. and Irwin Yellowitz very expressive face on the failures of our the Brecht Forum on May 17th. their stories. I hope that by making others exploited in order for change to occur.” To be continued…

2 Summer/Fall 2013 New York Labor History Association 11 NYLHA’s Night at the Movies Labor Studies in the Classroom Irwin Yellowitz workers into independent share educational materials with site, which offer teachers many By Bette Craig n May 18, the New York contractors, who will compete his audience. opportunities for integrating aynard Seider’s Farewell to Factory Labor History Association with one another as small Participants enjoyed a labor studies into the curriculum. Towns?, using North Adams, O businesses or find approaches to The site is also a rich one for any and the Association of Teachers light lunch and then joined in Massachusetts as an example of solidarity. His remarks stimulated person interested in labor history. M of Social Studies/United with George Altomare of the the deindustrialization plaguing our country, a lively, and often impassioned, The conference concluded Federation of Teachers sponsored UFT, and the Vice President of was the centerpiece of a film program co- discussion, which was only with a plenary session led by the a day-long conference on Labor the New York Labor History sponsored by the New York Labor History brought to a close because it was co-coordinators of the event: Studies in the Classroom. The Association, in a set of labor Association on May 14th as part of the time to begin the workshops. George Altomare, the UFT’s event, co-sponsored by the songs. George has sung at many Workers Unite Film Festival. The morning sessions included Director of Worker Education, Frances Perkins Forum, the labor events, and as was true here The Festival, an annual event organized one on the tragic Triangle Fire and Leigh Benin, who taught Jewish Labor Committee/ his aim is to involve the audience. by Andrew Tilson, sold more than 650 tickets Still from Farewell to Factory Towns?, by Maynard Still from Never got a Dime, by of 1911 presented by education social studies in NYC high Educators Chapter, the Italian Once again he succeeded. for a wealth of programs running from May Seider. Shelby Hadden. professor Rob Linne and textile schools and education at Adelphi American Heritage Committee/ 10 through May 17 at Cinema Village at 12th artist Pamela Koehler of Adelphi Rich resources University, and is also a member UFT and the Women’s Rights Street and University in Manhattan. First-time filmmaker Maynard Seider is March 6, 2012, when thousands of University, and classroom There were a second set of of the Executive Board of the New Committee/UFT, was held at the Farewell to Factory Towns?, which details a sociologist recently retired from teaching New Yorkers lined up on Broadway in a show teachers Kimberly Schiller from workshops in the afternoon. The York Labor History Association. UFT headquarters in downtown the development of Massachusetts Museum at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in of solidarity with the legions of unemployed; the Huntington Schools and first was on Low Wage Workers The aim of the concluding session Manhattan. The many classroom of Contempory Art (MassMoca) within North Adams and has been immersed for Never Got a Dime by Shelby Hadden Caroline Roswell-Gruss from PS in New York: Maggie Gray, a was to encourage participants teachers who attended received a the same buildings that housed the long- many years in studying the social history of about Lily Ledbetter’s role in fighting for 229Q in New York City. The political scientist at Adelphi to continue supporting the closed Sprague Electric—and before that North Adams and its wider implications. pay equity; and Tax the Rich: An Animated certificate that they could submit presentations focused on how University, and Irv Miljoner, integration of labor studies into water-powered textile mills—argues that Three short films completed the May Fairy Tale by Mike Konopacki about how we to their schools for professional to use material about the Fire Director of the US Dept. of K-12 classrooms. The conference art alone cannot provide enough economic 14th program: arrived at this time of widening economic development credit. in the classroom. The second Labor on Long Island, which is was an exciting first step toward development to provide salvation for our World’s Largest Unemployment Line by inequality. Captivating topics workshop was on the Bread and responsible for enforcing wage and advancing this goal. Participants withering towns and cities. Phil Hopper about that 14 minutes on Historian Richard Roses Strike of 1912 and was hour laws, presented a harrowing exchanged ideas and contact Greenwald, co-editor of the conducted by Robert Forrant of picture of the exploitation of information. recently published Labor Rising: the University of Massachusetts agricultural and restaurant Our thanks go to George the Past and Future of Working at Lowell, who captivated his workers in New York State. The and Leigh who worked as People in America, presented audience with his detailed second was conducted by Paul co-coordinators to turn ideas a keynote address based on understanding of the strike, Cole, Executive Director of the into reality. We also thank the Priests of Our Democracy his current research, to be passionate presentation, and American Labor Studies Center. other members of the planning completed in the fall, on the fascinating historic photographs, He led participants through the committee: Joe Doyle, Rob Linne (Continued from page 8) One of the vulnerabilities of academic those of the faculty, leaving college teachers rapid transformation of American and who generously offered to rich resources of this Internet and Abbe Nosoff. the question and answer session, Heins and freedom, they pointed out, stems from Justice exposed again as many universities experience Schrecker both cautioned that the prognosis Frankfurter’s argument in a 1957 case (Sweezy corporatization and expanding administrative for academic freedom is guarded, especially v. New Hampshire) that academic freedom authority. Frances Perkins Day with the rise of more sweeping national belongs to the university. Frankfurter didn’t security measures following 9/11. distinguish between institutional interests and NYLHA member Donn Mitchell Kirsten Downey (not shown). The (left) delivered the address at the Episcopal Church has added Perkins Frances Perkins Day mass May 13 to its calendar of saints and holy at the Episcopal parish where she men and women. A lay associate of worshipped during her years as All Saints’ Sisters of the Poor, Perkins U.S. Secretary of Labor. He is shown lifted millions of Americans out here with the Rev. Charles Hoffacker of poverty by bringing the Social Henry Foner of the Church of St. Monica & St. Security system to fruition. Prayers James, Capitol Hill, who celebrated at the mass included a series of (Continued from page 1) the draft from the campus at the University of and loyal friend, reciting “The Ode That’s the mass, and Carl A. Fillichio, petitions which ended with the to Columbia University, where NYLHA Michigan. Owed to Keri” (2004). As Henry prepared Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary phrase: “Gracious God, help us build member Ted Casselman “fell under the sway Foner resumed the program with his to inscribe his books, all present felt part of of Labor, who brought greetings a gracious society.” Donn’s spiritual of ’s brother Tom, who made ever-popular “Song of the Pennies” (1946), a remarkable evening—and witness to the from the Labor Department. Also biography of Perkins appears on-line me the radical I am today.” Michael Zweig and concluded with his heartfelt tribute to indisputable fact that Foner devoted his life to present was Perkins’ biographer at www.AnglicanExaminer.com. described the SDS—linked campaign against Keri Amanda Myers—his personal archivist making a better life for every one.

10 Summer/Fall 2013 New York Labor History Association 3 Activists in the activism gallery – Women Firefighters – a Long Story “I’ve Got Something to Say” By Rachel Bernstein new virtual (online) exhibit tells the he new venue for the Clara story of women in the FDNY on Lemlich Awards honoring A the LaborArts web museum. Prior to T unsung activists was particularly 1977 there was a quota for women firefighters appropriate this year—the Puffin Gallery in the New York City Fire Department— for Social Activism at the Museum of the zero. You might have won an Olympic gold City of New York, and so was one of the medal, been named the “strongest woman in presenters—Clara Lemlich’s daughter the world” or held the world-record in the Rita Margules (herself a 2011 honoree). marathon—if you had been born female, you Each of the honorees on April 3, could not even apply to take a test to become 2013 indeed had much to say about their a New York City firefighter. long lives as activists who have devoted This changed when Title VII of the 1964 their lives to the greater good, in the Civil Rights Act was finally applied to bar footsteps of those who sparked so many sex discrimination in hiring by city and state reforms in the aftermath of the Triangle governments in 1972. But the change did not filed a class-action sex discrimination firefighters more than women in many other Shirtwaist Factory Fire over one hundred happen smoothly. First the FDNY allowed complaint. Five years of expert testimony and blue-collar jobs, remained a flashpoint for years ago. women to take the test, but developed a inflammatory press coverage later, Federal larger social conflicts over the role of women Molly Klopot (93) arrived at the physical test “substantially different” than that District Judge Charles P. Sifton ruled that the for decades to come. museum directly from a protest across given previously—according to Alfred Heil, GarySchoichet 1977 test did not measure the abilities truly “Women Firefighters in New York City, town against drones. She talked about Assistant Director of Personnel in charge of Clara Lemlich awards honorees, April 3, 2013. needed for the job of firefighting and the 1982 – 2012,” developed by LaborArts in her days in where, as a teen the test: “In my 20 years’ experience, this was FDNY must develop a new test. collaboration with Brenda Berkman and using during the depression she joined mass the most arduous test we’ve ever given… for community television promised by public Forty-two women passed the new test, the Women Firefighters collection at the demonstrations for food and jobs, and later anything.” access TV for many decades, in court and and in September 1982 entered the NYC Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor became the first woman to be a union rep Challenging bias in neighborhoods. She has created many Fire Academy, becoming the first women Archives at New York University and other in an assembly plant. Her efforts on behalf thousands of hours of her own community Not one of the 90 women applicants firefighters in the history of the FDNY. resources, uses photographs, news clips and of unmarried pregnant teens are only a show, and inspired her community of passed the physical portion of the test, despite They would need their strength for small part of her decades of advocacy for the cartoons to tell this story. neighbors and viewers to find the power their sterling performance on the written decades to come, for meeting the challenges vulnerable in New York City’s public school Take a look ! www.laborarts.org within themselves to tell their own stories, test. One of the applicants, Brenda Berkman, of the job itself was only a start. Women system, and her work in the peace movement. on her program or on their own, and to fight Natalie Gordon was part of the team against injustice. which created the first Naturally Occurring Julia Rosario Jorge has been a labor Retirement Community (NORC) program at activist for nearly half a century, first with the ILGWU’s Penn South in the early 1960s, SEIU Local 1199, and beginning in 1969 pioneering a model that brings together a with the Social Service Employees Union social worker, housing management, and Local 371, DC 37 AFSCME. She served on resident senior citizens to produce a wide the NY State Workers’ Compensation Board “I’ve Got Something to Say” array of programs and support services for improved training for industry and union 1989–1999, the first (and to date the only) those over 60. One legacy—thirty four (Continued from page 6) 41 years, and was on the board of directors of of the Triangle Memorial Quilt created by teachers, established the Institute for Women member of Latin descent to serve on the 13 NORC programs in NYC today help the (para) who worked on reading and other Confucius Plaza housing for 15 years. Robin Berson. and Work, the Latino Leadership Center, member board. Active in the DC 37 Retiree elderly remain in their homes. A self described programs in NYC public schools in Presentations of awards were made by Rita The Lemlich Awards were organized international worker exchange, off-campus Association, she represents the group in “old lefty,” she was active in Women’s Strike Chinatown for 36 years, and helped organize Margules, daughter of Clara Lemlich; actor by Evelyn Jones Rich, Sherry Kane, Rose credit and certificate courses, and programs many city and state organizations, including for Peace and a host of other progressive the paras into the United Federation of and writer Vinie Burrows, garment worker Imperato, Henry Foner, Esther Cohen and for employment and workplace systems as the Labor Council for Latin American activities. Teachers. Her influence in her community, organizer Kathy Andrade, immigrant rights Rachel Bernstein, of LaborArts and the part of her leadership of the Cornell extension Advancement, the Alliance of Retired Lois Spier Gray, one of the first women in the schools and in the labor movement is activist May Chen, filmmaker Victoria Kereszi Remember the Triangle Coalition. program, and published important work on Americans, the Coalition of Black Trade field examiners for the newly created widely felt; she helped found the Asian Pacific and Rubin Museum founder Donald Rubin. The organizers welcome nominations for labor market trends, women and minorities in Unionists, and works tirelessly on many fronts NLRB, and director of the first extension American Labor Alliance, was active in the The program was enhanced by comments 2014 honorees—contact us at info@laborarts. the labor market, labor management relations to defend the rights of working people. Coalition of Labor Union Women, worked from Perry and Gladys Rosenstein (founders org or 212 998-2637. office of Cornell’s School of Industrial and and the governance of unions. Marian Thom is an early Chinatown closely with families of her middle school of the Puffin Foundation), a song from Find video and more about these and Labor Relations, is a pioneer labor activist, Glendora Folsom Buell has advocated union activist, a bilingual paraprofessional charges, served the local Boy Scout troop for labor educator and labor scholar. She has for the rights of the community to use the (Continued on page 7) NYLHA’s own Henry Foner, and the display previous Lemlich honorees at LaborArts.org .

6 Summer/Fall 2013 New York Labor History Association 7 Labor History Matters: LAWCHA Comes to New York City Sarah Henry, Curating Activism: Museums rich smorgasbord of (Queens College, CUNY) on and then keeping the union at institutions present the history of panels, plenary sessions, “Corruption, Organized Crime her clinic, the Northwest BOTH working class experiences and Labor History films, receptions and and the Labor Movement AIDS Foundation. and organized labor in New York A Irwin Yellowitz industry. The relative importance exhibits provided an overflowing in Mid-Twentieth Century Upstate NYLHA member City? array of events for participants America,” and commented on Linda Donahue (Cornell ILR/ Bernstein described the vision hose members who signed and quality of labor exhibits varies widely in these settings. to choose from at the annual two papers: David Witwer’s Rochester) participated on a of Debra Bernhardt, who headed up for the program, General purpose museums, such conference of the Labor (Penn State) “New York panel with NYLHA friend Bess the Robert F. Wagner Labor Curating Activism: T as the Museum of the City of and Working-Class History Garment Workers’ Union: A Watts (Monroe Community Archives at NYU, and started the Museums and Labor History, on New York, also have occasional Association. This year’s theme Study in the Complexities of College) and others, to discuss Ordinary People, Extraordinary March 18, did not expect they labor history exhibits. was “Rights, Solidarity, Justice: Union Corruption,” and Roger “Gaining Pride at Work: Queer Lives project. Bernstein worked would have to brave a significant Working People Organizing, Past Horowitz’s (Hagley Museum and Union Experiences.” with Bernhardt on this project, Dr. Henry then discussed the snowfall to reach the Museum Activist New York exhibit at the and Present.” The conference Library) “Kosher Food and the Critical questions which intertwined both histories of the City of New York. Yet took place from June 5-8 at Mob: The Kashrus Supervisors in a documentation project that Museum. It is unusual in that it NYLHA member Chris everyone had registered for the CUNY’s Center for Worker Union and Labor Politics in collected union records, oral will be long term. The exhibit Rhomberg (Fordham University) event, and they enjoyed a talk by Education and College Postwar New York City.” histories—and resulted in both covers several areas of activism, took part in a panel on “Union Sarah Henry, the Chief Curator Graduate Center for Worker “Both papers were of an exhibit and book by the same including anti-slavery, women’s Organizing: Tactics and Strategy of the Museum, and a tour of the suffrage and civil rights, but it Education in Lower Manhattan. exceptionally high quality, name. in the Contemporary Era,” exhibit, Activist New York, in the has a significant component on Members of the New York revealing much about the The Remember the Triangle which was chaired by incoming new Puffin Foundation Gallery, labor history. Dr. Henry then led Labor History Association made industries discussed and Fire Coalition put together a LAWCHA President Nancy led by Dr. Henry. the group through the exhibit an outsize contribution to the the corrupt state of labor- panel on memory in service of MacLean (Duke University). Labor on display explaining how content and form program. NYLHA members management relations within Rhomberg’s paper examined have to be harmonized to create Immanuel Ness, Priscilla Murolo, them,” Parmet said. He noted Sarah Henry began her talk the content. Although this to contact Sarah Henry, you may “The De-Democratization of a product that provides accurate and Daniel Walkowitz served that each of the other three by commenting on labor history would be true of any exhibit, do so at [email protected], or Workplace Governance: The information, but also can attract on the program committee and in museums across the country. it is particularly challenging in by phone at 212-534-1672, ext. panels he attended were all Crisis of the Right to Strike.” a public whose knowledge of the NYLHA board member Stephen Some few are specifically focused preparing a labor history exhibit. 3319. of exceptionally high quality. Professor Rhomberg chaired and subject is limited. Leberstein also contributed to the “The papers presented provided comments for a second on labor subjects, such as the Creating this balance of content Several participants were so Balancing content and form and form is the responsibility of planning. reflected amazing research and panel on “Fighting for Work: The Botto House in Paterson, NJ, or impressed with the exhibit that the Eugene V. Debs house and Although the exhibit took the curator. Amazing array of research commitment, and were what Closure of a Factory in Southern they arranged to return for a museum in Terre Haute, Indiana. advantage of modern methods The exhibit will not be static, Alice Kessler Harris, former labor history should be all about. France.” He also helped organize more leisurely look the following However, many other museums of presentation, including and Dr. Henry asked the group LAWCHA president (R. Gordon They were strong evidence that a free guided tour for conference week—hopefully on a sunny display labor history material interactive displays, it had to to suggest new movements that Hoxie Professor of History, the study of working people and participants of the new Puffin day. The exhibit is available on as part of a larger format. maintain accuracy as the major should be included, and to send Columbia University) chaired the their unions is alive and well.” Gallery exhibit on activist New a long term basis during regular These include museums that criterion. Attractiveness is images to her that might illustrate opening plenary, with speakers Newly-elected NYLHA board York at the Museum of the City museum hours. concentrate on a company or an important, but had to support these activities. If you would like Professor Frances Fox Piven member Miriam Frank (NYU) of New York. (http://www.mcny. (CUNY), Professor Richard was on one of two panels at the org/exhibitions/current/Activist- Wolff (University of MA and conference to focus on lesbian, New-York.html). New School), Bill Fletcher, Jr. gay, bisexual and transgender NYLHA board member (Institute for Policy Studies), and issues in labor history. “I enjoyed Rachel Bernstein (LaborArts) Saket Soni (Executive Director, preparing with my co-panelists, took part in a roundtable Labor History Matters National Guestworker Alliance the historian Christa Orth and about labor history in New (Continued from page 4) took part in what IWW member Unionist and Revolutionary.” Kevyn Baar, Lois Gray, Ruth and New Orleans Workers’ film director Jim Hubbard, York City—“Many Pasts, comment, from a couple of Diane Krauthamer described as Hirsch also contributed to the Milkman, Richard Greenwald, Center for Racial Justice). “It was and we had a lively discussion Many Publics”—and joined twenty year olds, was how “a really thrilling panel” on the LAWCHA meeting with the Jean Weisman, Michael Zweig, great to chair a plenary at which about our presentations.” Frank’s Sarah Henry (MCNY), Donna impressed they were that Mayor “Paterson Silk Worker Militancy inspired suggestion that every Timothy Sheard, Dan Katz, four well known speakers each analysis of successes and problems Thompson Ray (American Social Michael R. Bloomberg was booed and the Implications of 100 Years LAWCHA member in the New Joseph McCartin, Jeffrey Eichler, described a different approach to of unionization at five AIDS History Project), Annie Polland during the commemoration— of Labor Radicalism.” He also York City area should become a and Jay Schaffner. activism, and Bernstein chimed moving forward in the current clinics during the late 1980s and (Tenement Museum) Pennee the mayor—yes—honoring the lent his expertise to discussions at member of the New York Labor In addition, the conference in regarding the Clara Lemlich difficult circumstances,” she said. early 1990s coordinated well Bender (ASHP) and Steve Levine celebration—but a mayor with the sessions he attended. History Association. NYLHA brought an outstanding array of awards, and on responses to Board member Robert Parmet with an excerpt from Hubbard’s (LaGuardia Community College anti-worker policies. NYLHA member Michael members, too numerous to world-class historians to New the commemoration activities. (York College, CUNY) served 2012 documentary film about and Archives) in answering NYLHA board member Hirsch (New Politics) chaired include their contributions, York City. For more information, For Bernstein, the stand out on the panel chaired by NYLHA ACT UP, “United in Anger,” the critical question posed by Melvyn Dubofsky (Professor and commented on papers at took part. The following is a roll see the conference website at: member Joshua Freeman and Orth’s stories of organizing Bender, as moderator: How do (Continued on page 9) Emeritus, SUNY Binghamton) the panel on “Karl Marx, Trade call of some of these members: lawcha.org/annualconference.

4 Summer/Fall 2013 New York Labor History Association 9 Priests of Our Democracy, Marjorie Heins Book Talk A Power Among Them at the Tamiment Library, February 12, 2013 Karen Pastorello. A Power the bustling industrial unwieldy, sometimes contradictory, She underwent a Among Them: Bessie Abramowitz of 1905, Hillman immediately ideology in which women labor transformation of sorts in By Stephen Leberstein sub-committee to investigate Hillman and the Making of the became an important force in the leaders sought cross-class alliances these years as she reversed subversion in New York City he NY Labor History Amalgamated Clothing Workers of founding of the Amalgamated with upper-class reformers such her opposition to separate schools was added later, chaired Association together with America. Urbana: University of Clothing Workers of America as Jane Addams (an early mentor organizations for women within by State Senator Frederick the Tamiment Library/ Illinois Press, 2008. xx + 273 pp. (ACWA). Although her of sorts for Hillman), but also the labor movement. Hillman T Coudert, Jr. The Coudert Robert F. Wagner Labor History ISBN 978-0-252-03230-1 (cloth) experiences as a newly-arrived defended the labor movement as did so on the grounds that male committee began by subpoenaing Archives sponsored a book immigrant were not unique a crucial institution for working- union hostility to women’s rights the membership lists of the New his is a book that, at first talk by Marjorie Heins, whose Hillman’s life following her class Americans. When a small was more intractable than she York Local 5 and glance, is easy to dismiss. first thought. Still, she remained study of academic freedom and Given the overflow of marriage to Sidney Hillman was but influential group of upper Constitutional law, Priests of Our the New York College Teachers T opposed to the ERA until her unusual: where most working- class and professional women Union, Local 537. articles and books on gender death in 1970. This occurred Democracy: the Supreme Court, and working-class feminism, class women relinquished their organized in the National Women’s The investigators started with four years before the founding Academic Freedom, and the anti- union activism and, often paid Party began to promote the Equal a biography of a female labor of the Coalition of Labor Union Communist Purge had just been Brooklyn and City Colleges, employment outside the home, Rights Amendment (ERA) in the leader—and a seemingly Women, an organization she published. summoning activists in the Hillman persisted, often on 1920s Hillman and her union secondary one at that—seems, inspired in no small measure. Introduced by historian union who had been identified at best, like a minor addition to an unpaid basis. Despite the allies demurred, arguing that it This is a carefully researched Ellen Schrecker, author of No as members of the Communist the literature. Karen Pastorello’s occasional stress on family life she would deliver a hollow equality by and engaging biography that Ivory Tower among others, the Party. By the end of 1941, over (l to r) Marjorie Heins, NYLHA President Irwin Yellowitz and Board biography of Bessie Abramowitz employed a trusted housekeeper robbing women workers of their member Stephen Leberstein. makes vivid the many changes February 12th event drew an 50 City College teachers and staff Hillman, however, is well worth to handle many of the domestic hard-fought protective laws. They affecting union women in the period, an additional 67 teachers when it ruled in the case of overflow audience. Among those members had lost their jobs in historians’ attention. In this finely chores and help look after her supported alternatives to the ERA twentieth century. Pastorello at the four municipal colleges Brooklyn College professor Harry were relatives of some of the the purge. The Nazi invasion of textured study of Hillman’s life children while she was away. including the “Women’s Status stumbles, however, in explaining teachers who lost their jobs here the Soviet Union that June put lost their jobs, as well as over 300 Slochower that his summary Pastorello succeeds in bringing her Most of the book focuses on Bill” in the post-World War II the grounds on which union in NYC in the 1940s and ‘50s, an end to the Committee’s purge. city schoolteachers. Other states dismissal under the City Charter subject from under the shadow Hillman’s public, not private, period. feminists continued to back of her husband, prominent labor as well as scholars researching But its impact lived on, for adopted similar laws, but few §903 violated due process life. We learn that Hillman’s Hillman’s life became most protectionism through much leader Sidney Hillman. It places related topics at the Tamiment’s it had invented some of the created as many victims as New protections. Although academic work for the ACWA was far compelling in the decades of the 1960s even as laws such York did. freedom figured as a “concern” Bessie Hillman at the center of Frederick Ewen Center on techniques and trained some of ranging and included developing following her husband’s sudden as Title VII of the Civil Rights of the Court in that and other the history of industrial unionism death in 1946. As a tribute Academic Freedom. the personnel who carried on Due process violated the union’s education programs Acts of 1964 were making them rulings, it never acquired the beginning with the Progressive Era and organizing workers in to Sidney Hillman, and an A constitutional lawyer, the attack on teachers in the Heins explained how the invalid. She informs us that they specific protection of the First and extending to the emergence “runaway” shops in small town acknowledgement of Bessie did not, unlike their middle-class Heins centered much of her well Cold War era. In particular, the Supreme Court dealt with of second wave feminism. While Amendment. Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Hillman’s work, the union’s reform allies, do so in defense of researched and cogently argued Committee forced the Board cases arising out of the anti- not breaking any new conceptual The turning point came in She was especially effective at executive board appointed her one maternalism, or in the belief that study on anti-Communist purges of Higher Education to adopt Communist purges. Until Earl ground, this story of Hillman’s 1967, when the Court finally winning over reluctant African of the ACWA’s twenty-two vice women’s frailty marked them as that took place here in New Warren’s appointment as Chief long and productive life offers a a series of policy resolutions struck down the Feinberg Law, American workers. Although presidents. They never imagined deserving of special treatment. York. In introducing her book, Justice, the Court’s rulings window through which to view forcing its employees to testify overturning the earlier Adler passed over for acknowledgement she would take the active role she In a somewhat muddled passage she placed the purges in national offered little protection for the significance of gender on the before legislative committees decision. The administration in these decades of the 1930s and did in running the union: besides Pastorello explains that union historical context, noting that victims of the purges. In 1952, changing shape and character of on penalty of dismissal, and at SUNY Buffalo required 1940s Hillman understood the travelling extensively overseas to women acted “on the basis of events in New York played an for example, the Court upheld the labor movement over much of ultimately proscribing members an anti-Communist oath as importance of her contribution. represent the ACWA (Pastorello women’s entitlement.... They outsized role in developing the the last century. of the party from employment the dismissal of science teacher a condition for employment. “I was Bessie Abramowitz before notes that union leaders did this sought empowerment as citizens techniques for silencing left-wing Pastorello traces the source of as a way to get her away from the in its four colleges. At the Irving Adler under the Feinberg Harry Keyishian, a young English he was Sidney Hillman,” she rather than charity as refugees” teachers at all levels everywhere. Hillman’s devotion to workplace headquarters) Hillman renewed height of the Cold War purges Law. In many cases, the Court professor who as a student had commented late in life (193-94). (60-61). Union women may justice to her Russian Jewish her professional and personal have understood these protective Cold War in classrooms in 1949, the state adopted held that public employers witnessed some of his teachers at Drawing on the work of childhood in the late nineteenth friendships with a wide array of measures as hard-won gains but One of the most effective the Feinberg Law, requiring had the right to set conditions Queens College fired, refused to Dorothy Sue Cobble and others, century shtetl. The practice of women union leaders and other this intriguing suggestion that of these attacks was that of an anti-Communist oath as a for employment, echoing an sign. Pastorello argues that Hillman arranged marriage and women’s liberal activists. Together they they served as an underpinning the infamous Rapp Coudert condition for employment. That, 1892 ruling by Oliver Wendel A lively discussion followed, embraced a “social feminist inequality clashed with new helped establish union women’s to citizenship claims deserves Committee, a New York and a provision of the NYC Holmes that a public employee ideology.” This was a practical with questions about the and often radical ideas leading place in second-wave feminism considerable more explanation Charter (§903) dating from an “may have a constitutional State Legislative investigating right-wing teachers who had Hillman and other women of her feminism that sought worker in such areas as equal pay and than it receives in this otherwise right to talk politics, but he has body. Authorized by the earlier corruption investigation, cooperated with investigators, for generation to leave the shelter of solidarity but drew as well on the pregnancy leave. Hillman served compelling book. no constitutional right to be a State Legislature in 1940, the allowed education authorities to example, or the anti-Semitism of the close-knit community and Progressive-inspired notion that on John Kennedy’s Presidential Dennis Deslippe, Associate committee was originally created summarily dismiss any teacher policeman.” New York purges, or some points seek a new life abroad. Inspired women workers needed protective Commission on the Status of Professor American Studies/Women to investigate school financing who refused to sign the oath Not until 1956 did the Court about Constitutional law. In by socialist and reform political legislation to address the worst Women and other influential & Gender Studies Franklin & and administration. But a or to testify. In the Cold War change course, she explained, (Continued on page 10) currents swirling around her in excesses of industrialism. It was an panels. Marshall College

8 Summer/Fall 2013 New York Labor History Association 5