Sharing history: ILWU International Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams spoke at Local 19’s Education Committee in February.
On February 22, Local 19’s Education Committee hosted a talk on by ILWU International Secretary Treasurer Willie Adams who discussed the ILWU’s Civil Rights history. Approximately 55 people attended the talk at the Local 19 hall.
Adams highlighted the history of the ILWU’s support for Civil Rights in the US and around the world. He also discussed the commitment made to integrate the union by ILWU cofounder Harry Bridges in 1934 to illustrate the historical roots of the ILWU’s commitment to racial equality. He spoke about the ILWU’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and the refusal by ILWU members to handle South African cargo. He also highlighted the important role of African-Americans within the ILWU,including Local 19’s Frank Jenkins, Local 23’s Ernie Tanner and Local 10’s Cleophas Williams. These men held leadership positions in their locals at a time when many other unions excluded Black workers from union membership. Adams also spoke about the ILWU’s relationship with honorary ILWU member, Dr. Martin Luther King. King who spoke at Local 10 just a few months prior to his assassination in 1968. After his murder, Local 10 members shut down the port to honor his life and protest his death.
Adams said he was excited to present on this topic and that organizing Black History events was one of the first union activities he became involved in when he started working on the waterfront in Tacoma.
“The ILWU continues to support important struggles for racial and\ social justice,” Adams said, noting the union’s recent support for the indigenous struggle at Standing Rock. He also recognized the leadership of emerging young workers in the ILWU. “This generation continues to be the driving force for change,” he said. Adams will be joining in the March 24th “March for Our Lives” event in Washington, DC organized by high school students in the aftermath of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
The talk was part of Local 19’s education program. Other recent events have included a presentation by IBU Secretary Treasurer Terri Mast who spoke on the threat posed by anti-union polices, including so called Right-to-Work rules on all of organized labor and steps that could be taken to address that threat.
“These workshops are important because this gives us an opportunity to pass down our rich history and traditions, and make our union stronger by educating the membership,” said Local 19’s Education Committee Chair, Jodi Itman. She said that the events wouldn’t happen without the generous support from the Local 19 membership and the many volunteers on the Education Committee. Future workshops being planned include an introduction to Robert’s Rules of Order, Women on the Waterfront, and a discussion on the beginnings and evolution of the ILWU.