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
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