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April 6, 2018 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
... Could red-state teacher walkouts herald a return of the strike?
From Page 7
the world’s most active strikers.
From the 1950s to the 1970s,
millions of American workers
took part in strikes every year.
During the 1950s, there were an
average of 350 large-scale work
stoppages each year involving
more than 1,000 workers, a
record which more or less con-
tinued through the end of the
1970s. Strikes were part of the
common experience of working
people: Even if a worker had
never gone on strike, they were
likely to have a friend or family
member who had.
United in their unions, work-
ing people sacrificed on the
strike picket line, and reaped
greater prosperity, dignity and
security as their reward — for 40
years.
But strikes in America plum-
meted after 1980: According to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statis-
tics (BLS), 1981 was the last
year there were over 100 large
work stoppages (strikes or lock-
outs involving over 1,000 work-
ers). There have been fewer than
50 large stoppages a year since
1990, fewer than 30 a year since
2000, and fewer than 20 a year
since 2007.
Last year, the BLS reported
just seven large work stoppages,
the second lowest on record.
Today’s large strikes are also
more likely to be short, sym-
bolic, strikes, more like protests
than the bold production-halting
throwdowns of previous
decades. Take last year’s biggest
strike, for example, which didn’t
even end up on the BLS’ official
tally of large strikes. The AT&T
strike in May 2017 by 30,000
members of CWA failed to make
the government’s annual list of
large work stoppages because
the list only counts stoppages
that last for one shift or longer
based on a Monday through Fri-
day workweek. The AT&T strike
took place over the weekend,
and did not include a full shift on
Friday.
Could the rash of teacher
strikes signal a return of the
strike? One encouraging sign:
Public opinion polling shows
unions rising in approval. Up
from a historic low of 48 percent
in 2009, Gallup last year found
now 61 percent of Americans
approve of labor unions, and in
what may be a sign of things to
come, young people are the most
pro-union of all. One recent poll
showed that among Americans
under 30, unions’ approval rat-
ing is 76 percent.
IN MEMORIAM
GLENN SHUCK: Oct. 31, 1936 - March 26, 2018
Glenn Shuck, retired executive ket and toy distribution program
director of Labor’s Community for inner city kids, and a neigh-
borhood “family din-
Service Agency (LCSA),
ner” night for at-risk
died March 26 at age 82.
youth.
Shuck was eating
During his career
lunch at a restaurant with
Shuck served on nu-
his son when he col-
merous executive
lapsed. He passed away
boards, including the
the following day sur-
Northwest Oregon La-
rounded by family and
bor Council (NOLC),
friends.
United Way of the Co-
Shuck served as execu-
lumbia-Willamette,
tive director of LCSA from
Glenn Shuck
Worksystems, Inc., the
February 1993 until his re-
tirement in June 2010. He joined Workforce Investment Council of
the LCSA staff in 1985 follow- Clackamas County, and as out-
ing the closure of Oregon Steel reach coordinator to the Veterans
Mills after a lengthy strike by Workforce Investment Program.
Following his retirement in
Steelworkers Local 3010. Shuck
2010, NOLC presented him
was president of the local.
As a labor liaison at LCSA, with the inaugural Del Ricks
Shuck worked with partner agen- Community Service Award at its
cies to develop the initial Dislo- annual Labor Appreciation Night
cated Workers’ Job Training Part- banquet. He also received United
nership Act Title III project for Way’s Award of Excellence and
Multnomah and Washington its individual award for inspir-
counties. He also helped plan, de- ing union leadership in the
velop, and implement pre-layoff United Way campaign, along
(rapid response) services for the with a Volunteers of America
Portland Metro labor market.
All-Star Citizen award.
He was appointed executive
G LENN S HUCK was born Oct.
director in 1993 after executive 31, 1936, in Creston, Washing-
director Del Ricks suffered a de- ton. When he was 12 his family
bilitating heart attack.
moved to Portland. He attended
As director, Shuck founded Roosevelt High School.
Shuck got his first union card
LCSA’s Emergency Assistance
Program (now referred to as at age 17 working as a bike mes-
Helping Hands), which raises senger for Western Union. He left
thousands of dollars and serves that job — and high school — to
hundreds of families in temporary join the Air Force. Returning to
hardship situations. He also estab- Portland four years later, he
lished an annual holiday food bas- bounced from job to job. Along
the way he held union cards with
the Longshoremen, Telegraph
Union, Woodworkers, Teamsters,
Printing Specialties, Machinists,
Textile Workers, Laborers, Lum-
ber and Sawmill Workers, and fi-
nally the Steelworkers (now Lo-
cal 335), and as an associate
member of Office and Profes-
sional Employees Local 11.
Shuck met and married Bev-
erly Phillips in 1964. She had four
children from a previous mar-
riage, and together they had one
child, Glenn P. Shuck. Beverly
preceded him in death on May 30,
2017, after 53 years of marriage.
Shuck coached Little League
and Senior Babe Ruth baseball
in North Portland for 17 years
and, in 1974, was named “Base-
ball Man of the Year” by the Am-
ateur Baseball Association.
After retiring, Shuck served
as president of the Oregon Mili-
tary Support Network. In Decem-
ber 2013 that organization recog-
nized a dozen union locals for
their work helping veterans.
Shuck is survived by his chil-
dren, 15 grandchildren, 25 great-
grandchildren, and two great-
great grandchildren.
No service had been scheduled
at press time. Remembrances can
be sent to the veteran’s club
“Voiture Locale 99 of the 40 et 8”,
7607 NE 26th Ave., Vancouver,
Wash., 98665-0637, or to 5805 N.
Burrage Ave., Portland, Oregon,
97217.
Inspired by West Virginia, teachers in Arizona are threatening to strike as well.