Boston Teamsters standing
up to the sickening trolls
of Westboro
Baptist Church gave union members everywhere a sense of pride. But it was
far from the first time the Teamsters have had to deal with hate groups.
Being on the front lines
of the civil rights movement, the Teamsters Union has had to deal with its fair
share of hatred, including from the Ku Klux Klan.
In a 1946 issue of Teamster magazine
(then called “The International Teamster”), a story ran about organizing
efforts in the South. “Industry Mobilizes for Fight as Klan Rides Again,” reads
the headline to a story about the push to organize in the South:
It
appears, therefore, that the unions will face organized resistance on an
unprecedented scale before the deplorable standard of living in the southern
states can be increased through union contracts.
A
more sinister aspect of the industrial resistance is the revival of the Ku Klux
Klan almost simultaneously with the labor campaign.
Under
the pretext of “Saving the South from Communism,” the Klan is preparing to
inject itself into the struggle to maintain the open shop.
Every
union organizer will probably be branded a “Communist” as the Klan attempts to
ride the crest of a wave of patriotic prejudice to organize the South itself
and promote the sale of cotton fabrics woven into the hoods and shrouds of its
official costume.
But the union’s history
with the Klan goes back to the turn of the century, to the earliest days of the
Teamsters Union—all because the union fought for colorblind contracts and
gender equality. Here’s
more from Teamster.org:
The
Teamsters did not just talk equality -- they lived it. Early Teamsters would
not allow southern locals to follow the practice of segregation, and in fact
threatened to pull charters in cases where this was violated. The first local
in New Orleans was governed by an Executive Board that consisted of black and
white members, defying southern tradition. By 1906, editorials in the Teamsters
magazine were making impassioned pleas for all local unions, but especially
those in the south, to organize African-American workers.
The
International Brotherhood of Teamsters also championed the cause of women's
rights early on. The following was printed in the July 1917 issue of the Teamsters
Journal:
"Equal
pay for equal work should become a constant, vigorous slogan among all
employees in all crafts. The strength and brains of women and girls are
exploited the world over and especially so in the United States. All working
men and women should become actively, and, if necessary, drastically interested
in fighting for equal pay for duties performed by either sex. The standard of
living in every workingman's home is lowered by sexual inequality of pay and
both sexes should band together and swat the curse from all parts of the earth
where it exists."
Later
that same year the Teamsters won a clause in a contract for women laundry
workers that required equal pay regardless of race. This was a huge achievement
and became the first "color blind" contract for workers. This action
brought criticism and even threats to the union and its leaders, but they would
not be intimidated. By 1919 the Teamsters adopted "Equal Pay for All"
as their national slogan.
The Civil Rights Movement
As the
civil rights movement grew in the 1950s and 1960s the Teamsters became very
involved. The union provided money and supplies to many civil rights groups,
including the more than 700 families living in "Freedom Village," who
faced retribution for registering to vote in 1960.
The Teamsters had a good working relationship
with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with representatives on civil rights
boards and committees. And, union members and leaders were active participants
in the movement at a time when such actions were considered risky, if not down
right dangerous for any organization.
Scores
of Teamsters members were among the more than 200,000 people who participated
in the historic March on Washington in 1963. Buses carrying Teamsters arrived
from near and far, some driving through the night to join the activities on
time. Members who attended described the event as "the greatest peaceable
demonstration in the history of the nation." Others reported feeling great
pride in the union for its support of the civil rights movement.
But the
Teamsters' involvement in social causes was not without consequences.
Viola
Liuzzo, the wife of a Teamster business agent was murdered as she drove
Marchers to Selma, Alabama in 1965. Dr. King as well as many rank-and-file
members, James R. Hoffa and other Teamster leaders attended her funeral.
The Teamsters have met
prejudice with demands for equality for a century and have dealt with far more
formidable hate groups than the pathetic
clowns of Westboro.
But it’s great to see that the union still stands strong in the face of
intolerance.
