W.J. Usery, Jr. oral history collection [sound recording] 1987,Aug. 26 [Tape 15].

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W.J. Usery, Jr. oral history collection [sound recording] 1987,Aug. 26 [Tape 15].

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50777765

The merger between the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the competition for the AFL-CIO by international unions, as recollected by Usery, begins this tape. Dealings between unions and the U.S. Sugar Company, specifically successful negotiations spearheaded by Usery are cited. Segregation with the union between blacks and whites is discussed, along with Usery's orchestration of an integrated meeting, which he describes as the "most significant moment in [his] life to that point." Racial equity within unions and Usery's proactive works on behalf of African-Americans are discussed at length, with accounts of Usery's negotiating on behalf of two black workers and a description of a meeting in the black community. Reaction of the local union's president to the meeting in the black neighborhood and descriptions of the difficulty involved in arranging an integrated meeting are noted, along with an account of the racially mixed meeting. KKK opposition to the union is detailed, also, while Usery's involvement with NASA is covered. Military involvement with labor and NASA, Usery's work in organization and arbitration associated with the missile and NASA programs, and technological advances in aerospace are described. Usery compares the roles of union officials versus those of mediators, and he also relates his various relationships with E'Dalgo, Roy Brown, Al Hayes, Franklin Nix, Roy Siemiller and Jesse McGlon, describing the negotiation styles of E'Dalgo and Brown as well as his confrontation with Al Hayes and the destruction by jealousy within the labor movement.

1 sound cassette.Transcript (32 p.)

Georgia State University

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SNAC Resource ID: 7632351

Georgia State University

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