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 New York City’s Lower East Side 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 Pete Seeger 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.