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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1992)
Page 16...The Portland Observer...January 15, 1992 A Philip Randolph LABOR and MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY Martin Luther King On Labor Unions JANUARY 20, 1992 E xcerpts fr o m K in g 's last book "W h e re D o W e G o F ro m H e re ," 1967, submitted by Jamie Partridge and Donna J. H a m m o n d . W ith in the ranks o f organized la b o r there are nearly tw o m illio n N e groes. N o t o n ly are they found in large numbers as w orkers, b u t they are con centrated in key industries. In the tru ck transportation, steel, auto and food industries w h ich are the backbone o f the n a tio n ’ s econom ic life , Negroes m ake up nearly 20 percent o f the organ ized w o rk force, although they are only 10 percent o f the general population. T h is potential strength is m a g n ifie d fu rth e r by the fact o f th e ir u n ity w ith m illio n s o f w h ite w orkers in these occupations. A s co-w orkers there is a basic co m m u n ity o f interest that tran scends m any o f the u g ly d iv is iv e ele ments o f tra d itio n a l prejudice. There are undeniable p oints o f fric tio n , fo r exam ple, in certain housing and educa tio n questions. B u t the s -v e rity o f the abrasions is m in im ize d by the more com m anding need fo r cohesion in un University of Oregon Erb Memorial Union 13th and University Streets 9:45-11:00 a m. Panel organized by Labor Education and Research Center: “The Labor Movement and the Civil Rights Movement-The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. 11:15-12:30 2:15 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Panel including: Norman Hill, head of A. Philip Randolph Foundation, African-American Labor Coalition Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, activist-co-worker with MLK; Nikki Giovanni, poet March from U.O. Erb to Hilton Hotel-Eugene Conference Center (Labor union contingent led by Norm Hill-join us at 13th and University and bring your union signs, hats, jackets, banners) ion organizations. I f m anifestations o f race prejudice Rally at Hilton-Comments by Norm Hill and others w ere to e ru p t w ith in an organized plant, it w o u ld set in to m otion m any correc tive forces. I t w o u ld not flo u ris h as it does in a neighborhood w ith nothing to in h ib it it but m o rb id observers lo o kin g fo r th rills . In the shop the union o f f i cials from highest to lowest levels would be im m e d ia te ly in vo lve d , fo r internal discord is no academic m atter; it w e a k ens the union in its contests w ith the "All progress is precarious and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem." em ployers. Therefore an im portant self-interest motivates harmonious race relations. Here Negroes have a sub stantial w e ig h t to b rin g to bear on a ll measures o f social concern. The labor m ovem ent, especially in Martin Lather King, Jr. HUD’s community commitment. . . . If s working in your neighborhood. Calvin Jackson's HUD jobs helped his contractor business grow enough to add a fifth employee "H U D handles repair bids fairly, and their equal opportunity policy really works," says Calvin. As a real estate sales agent and broker. Danielle Tranlong has helped several area families buy their first home through HUD. " I'v e always found the H U D people to be extremely cooperative, and all o f my clients have received their bid decisions within five days." Construction worker Roger Crow has purchased H U D properties to supplement his current income and to provide for his retirement. "Fixing up H U D homes for rental property or eventual resale is definitely a good, long-term investment I ’ ve talked to a number o f people who have done it. and they’ ve never regretted it." “ We weren't looking for a home because we didn't think we had enough money saved to buy the size o f home we wanted." says Cynthia and Francisco Dominguez. " A friend told us about a H U D home she knew o f in the neighborhood. We called a real estate agent, submitted an offer, and in just eight weeks we were moved in." DEPARTMENT OF MOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT t=ï The emergence o f social in itia tive s by a re vita lize d labor m ovem ent w o u ld be taking place as Negroes are p lacing econom ic issues on the highest agenda. The c o a litio n o f an energized section o f labor, Negroes, unem ployed and welfare recipients may be the source o f pow er that reshapes econom ic rela tionships and ushers in a breakthrough to a new level o f social re fo rm . The to ta l e lim in a tio n o f p o ve rty, now a practical possibility, the reality o f equal ity in race relations and o ther profound structural changes in society m ay w e ll its e a rlie r days, was one o f the fe w great in stitu tio n s where a degree o f h o sp ita l ity and m o b ility was available to N e groes. W hen the rest o f the nation accepted rank discrim ination and preju dice as o rd in a ry and u s u a l-lik e the rain, to be deplored but accepted as part o f n a tu re -tra d e unions, p a rtic u la rly the C IO , leveled a ll barriers to equal m em bership. In a num ber o f instances Negroes rose to in flu e n tia l national o ffice . Today the union record in relation to N egro w orkers is exceedingly un even, but the p o te n tia lity fo r in flu e n c begin here. T o play o u r role fu lly as Negroes w e w ill have to strive fo r enhanced representation and influence in the labor m ovem ent. O u r young people need to th in k o f union careers as earnestly as they do o f business careers and profes sions. They co u ld do w orse than em u late A . P h ilip R andolph, w h o rose to the executive c o u n cil o f the A F L -C IO , and became a sym bol o f the courage, com passion, and in te g rity o f an en lightened la b o r leader. Indeed, the question may be asked w h y we have ing union decisions s till exists. In m any o f the larger unions the w h ite leader ship contains some men o f ideals and m any m ore w ho are pragm atists. Both groups fin d they are benefited by a constructive re la tio n sh ip to th e ir N e gro mem bership. F o r those co m p e llin g reasons, Negroes, who are almost w holly a w o rkin g people, cannot be casual tow ard the union m ovem ent. T h is is true even though some unions rem ain incontestably hostile. In days to com e, organized labor w ill increase its im portance in the des tinies o f Negroes. A u to m a tio n is im produced o n ly one R andolph in nearly h a lf a century. D is c rim in a tio n is not perceptibly but in e xo ra b ly pro d u cin g dislocations, skim m in g o f f u n skille d the w hole answer. W e a llo w e d o u r selves to accept m iddle-class p re ju labor fro m the in d u stria l force. The displaced are flo w in g in to p ro life ra tin g dices tow ard the labor m ovem ent. Y e t th is is one o f those fie ld s in w h ich service occupations. These enterprises are tra d itio n a lly unorganized and p ro vide lo w wage scales w ith longer hours. higher education is not a requirem ent fo r high o ffice . In shunning it, we have lo st an o p p o rtu n ity. L e t us try to regain it now , at a tim e w hen the jo in t forces o f The Negroes pressed in to these serv ices need union p rotection, and the union m ovem ent needs th e ir m em ber ship to m aintain its re 'a liv e strength in the w hole society. On this new fro n tie r Negroes may w e ll become the pioneers that they were in the early o rg a n izin g N egro and labor m ay be facing an h is to ric task o f social reform . The P o rtla n d C hapter o f the A. P h ilip R a n d o lp h ! nstitute meets the 2nd T hursday o f each m onth a t 1125 S.E. M a d iso n , suite 103A. Q uestions? C a ll 235-9444. Guests are welcomed. days o f the th irtie s... The Port of Portland honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by celebrating our cultural history in recognition of King’s struggle for civil rights for all people. The Port is an equal oppor tunity em ployer, com mitted to af firmative ac tion. For informa tion on em ployment op portunities with the Port, call the 24- hour job Hotline at (503) 231-5478. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY ■ 1992 by HUD. Portland Office The people al the U.S. Department o f Housing and Urban Development salute the history o f minority achievement and support the future o f equal opportunity in all o f life's endeavors. Port of Portland A I * A I '♦* * '• *•' • *•# *< * * • • * » t » • *•• V A