This sidewalk memorial was created by ilwu members in the san francisco bay area in front of the local 10 dispatch hall. Browse or search through the voice of the federation digital archive, 19351941 the voice of the federation was the newspaper for the maritime federation of the pacific, a consortium of unions that formed in the wake of the 1934 pacific coast waterfront and maritime strikes. In my seventeen years as organizing director, i would often take my lunch down to the third floor of the unions. He has lectured before many groups, including the california historical society, the san francisco museum and historical society, and the san francisco history association. In advance of his sun8 appearance at the howard zinn book fair, he sat. From 1947 through 1959 there were too many longshoremen for the number of jobs available so the books were closed. Waterfront workers history university of washington. Gerdts, an engaging account of the rise of culture and the arts in americas great frontier city by the bay with guest appearances by oscar wilde, mark twain and a host of others. Browse and buy a vast selection of longshore unions books and collectibles.
Harry bridges retired in 1977 amid the accolades of almost everyone associated with the west coast shipping industry. San francisco dockers call strike to confront white nationalist rally submitted by ed on aug 21 2017 10. The new kind of unionism born of the 1934 maritime strike was not confined to the docks. In california, 7,000 national guardsmen, equipped with tanks and field pieces, reinforced by police, special deputies, citizens committees, were arrayed against. In 1916 the blue book signed a contract with the shipowners in san francisco to act as the sole representative of the. Finally in 1959 a large group of us, between 600 and 800, were added to the books. Longshoremen in san francisco, then the major port on the coast, were required to go through a hiring hall operated by a company union, known as the blue book system for the color of the unions membership book. Embody the spirit and go into struggle and battle for victory.
University of washington press 2009 over a period of 75 years, the international longshore and warehouse union ilwu has earned an enviable reputationcertainly on the pacific coast of the united states and canadaas an exemplary union, one that fights for the rights and interests of its own members while joining in. It was at this point that he began longshoring on the san francisco docks. Jan 02, 2016 how a union built integrated affordable housing in early 1960s san francisco. The ilwu library in san francisco now functions under the guidance of robin walker, the unions current director of educational services, librarian and archivist.
Harvey schwartz is an oral historian at the labor archives and research center, san francisco state university, and curator of the oral history collection. Victory is ours only if we struggle, said one of several who spoke at. The history of the ilwu, the record of its origins and traditions, is about workers. An historical and sociological study of the ilwu on the san francisco. The ilwu story, three decades of militant unionism. The history of the ilwu, particularly its sf bay area branchcalled. On march, production workers at san francisco s anchor steam brewery made history by voting to join the. Harry bridges july 28, 1901 march 30, 1990 was an australianborn american union leader, first with the international longshoremens association ila. Adams, president bobby olvera, jr, vice president mainland wesley furtado, vice president hawaii ed ferris, secretarytreasurer administration alexandra jurczak, office managerexecutive secretary rebecca m. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
In 1920 bridges moved permanently to san francisco where he worked for a time as a sailor until the afl affiliated sailors union of the pacific was crippled in a 1921 strike. International longshoremens and warehousemens union. Review of dockworker power race and activism in durban and the san francisco bay area, by peter cole university of illinois press, 2018 almost alone among unions, the international longshore and warehouse union ilwu employs a fulltime librarian and archivist. San francisco, ca march 6, 2020the international longshore and warehouse union ilwu and the pacific maritime association pma issued the following joint statement today in response to the impact of the spread of the coronavirus on dockworkers and operations at west coast port terminals. Solidarity stories, an oral history of the ilwu a book reading by harvey schwartz. Come visit and learn about the ilwu and its history, read about unionism and about the people who unload the ships that come into elliott bay. San francisco history center, sf public library while the government brought case after case against union president harry bridges from the 1930s to the 1950s, trying to nail him as a communist, to deport him, and so on, the workers in the ilwu firmly controlled the labor process along the waterfront and managed to establish some. The industrial workers of the world had attempted to organize longshoremen, sailors and fishermen in the 1920s. Shop longshore unions books and collectibles abebooks. Harvey schwartz is curator of the oral history collection at the international longshore and warehouse union ilwu library in san francisco. An historical and sociological study of the ilwu on the san francisco waterfront seattle magden, ronald. Summary the international longshore and warehouse union, born out of the 1934 west coast maritime and san francisco general strikes under the charismatic leadership of harry bridges, has been known from the start for its strong commitment to democracy, solidarity, and social justice.
Executive offices 1188 franklin street, 4th floor san francisco, ca 941096800 phone. Three decades of militant unionism, second edition, revised. In 1937, he led several chapters in forming a new union, the international longshore and warehouse union ilwu, expanding members to workers in warehouses, and led it for the next 40 years. Ah quon mcelrath oral history an ilwu longshoreman remembers pearl harbor author, historian, participant in history, david selvin passes bill chester oral history carl damaso. These and other publications about the ilwu can also be read at the ilwu library, 1188 franklin street, room 324, san francisco, ca 94109. Published by the international longshore and warehouse. The international longshore and warehouse union ilwu is a labor union which primarily represents dock workers on the west coast of the united states, hawaii, and in british columbia, canada. Send address changes to the dispatcher, 1188 franklin st. Harvey schwartz the international longshore and warehouse union, born out of the 1934 west coast maritime and san francisco general strikes under the leadership of harry bridges, has been known for its commitment to. Shaping san francisco excerpted from a onehour documentary called redevelopment. What are the best books about san francisco urban history. San francisco history skip to main search results amazon prime. There was no regular work, and to get a job workers had to subject themselves to the hated shapeup. Prominent among the new faces was a san francisco longshoreman named.
A strong supporter of oral history, walker has digitalized some of the collections analog tapes and plans to pursue this effort further. Sep 01, 2011 two of his books are local bestsellers. Jul 05, 2014 without it different ports could play one group against another, said harvey schwartz, who has written books about the ilwu. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Bibliography includes bibliographical references p. Later, after world war ii, there would be a copra heyday along san francisco s islais creek at pier 84known to waterfront workers as.
This book unrolls the history of the union from its origins to the present, words, and dozens of rare photos of the union in action. Schwartz is one of the most important labor oral historians in the country and has published a new book on the 75th anniversary of the san francisco general strike, solidarity stories, an oral history of the ilwu. A marxist analysis, this clip shows the frustration of the retired longshoremen in the yerba buena project area when ilwu president harry bridges failed to support their struggle against displacement. The international longshore and warehouse union, born out of the 1934 west coast maritime and san francisco general strikes under the charismatic leadership of harry bridges, has been known from the start for its strong commitment to democracy, solidarity, and social justice. Origins of the ilwu warehouse division 19341938 by harvey schwartz, international longshore and warehouse union. A list of books about the history of san francisco, its people and its landmarks. The book will appeal to students and scholars of labor history, social and economic history, and social change, as well as trade unionists and anyone interested in labor politics and history. Nearly 10,000 longshore division workers voluntarily. A concise history and guide and historic walks in san francisco.
The ilwu story, three decades of militant unionism international longshoremens and warehousemens union. International longshore and warehouse union wikipedia. This book unrolls the history of the union from its origins to the. California the march inland in the san francisco bay area, 19341938 sam kagel. History of the 1934 waterfront strike in portland, oregon. The history of the ilwu, the record of its origins and traditions, is about workers who built a union that is democratic, militant and dedicated to the idea that solidarity with other workers and other unions is the key to achieving economic security and a peaceful world. Feb 12, 2015 here are some classics of san francisco history books worth a trip to green apple to find a copy. The strike peaked with the death of two workers on bloody thursday and the san francisco general strike which stopped all work in the major. Robinson believed in the power of the union, and in the power of the people. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. A pictorial history of the 1934 sf general strike with a narrative by warren hinckle, silver dollar books. The nehfunded solidarity stories, an oral history of the ilwu by harvey schwartz. Stocked with breathtaking vistas, sultry fog, and a boomandbust history, it has. Nine ilwu members attended kings funeral in atlanta, including harry bridges and cleophas williams.
The evolution of the international longshore and warehouse union. Islands organizer, 19441946 harry bridges oral history jerry. Of stevedores and book slingers national endowment for the. It also represents hotel workers in hawaii, cannery workers in alaska, warehouse workers throughout the west and bookstore workers in portland, oregon. He fought to change the conditions of women within the ilwu just as fiercely as he fought against the apartheid regime of south africa. He is the author of building the golden gate bridge. Anisse gross is a writer and editor based in san francisco. It began with the militancy of west coast longshoremen, then inspired a march inland to organize warehouse and industrial workers. The rich narratives of waterfront work, democratic unionism, and interracial organization in solidarity stories will make the book interesting to a wide range of readers.
Its only 7by7 miles, making it americas tiny urban treasure. List of books and articles about san francisco history. Local 19 of the ilwu is located on the seattle waterfront. It is the story of the international longshore and warehouse union, known worldwide as the ilwu. Tales from san francisco s historic waterfront, 18491934.
The spring mobilization committee to end the war in vietnam, 1967. The book is accessible and would be excellent for classroom use. Artistic life in early san francisco by birgitta hjalmarson, william h. At zinn fair, peter cole explores sfs unique history of labor and. Rankandfile activist, 19361939 billie roberts hendricks.
Traditions conference to learn lessons from ilwu history and apply them to current struggles. Beniamino benny bufano october 15, 1890 august 18, 1970 was an italian american sculptor, best known for his largescale monuments representing peace and his modernist work often featured smoothly rounded animals and relatively simple shapes. That same year ilwu led a march of 25,000 through the streets of san francisco, supported by the san francisco labor council, to demand freedom for innocent political prisoner mumia abujamal. The city is the heart of the san francisco bay region and with oakland and san jose. The warehouse workers, with their close ties to the waterfront that in the early days of the union came from working near the docks and handling cargo brought on and off the ships by longshoremen, also helped build the ilwu and they too shared in its achievements. Francis square housing development play center photo courtesy of san francisco history center, san francisco public library.
Published by the international longshore and warehouse union. The 1934 west coast waterfront strike also known as the 1934 west coast longshoremens strike, as well as a number of variations on these names lasted eightythree days, and began on may 9, 1934 when longshoremen in every us west coast port walked out. In the early 1930s, san francisco was the top port on the pacific coast. As for copra, or dried coconut meat, the source of coconut oilit had long been worked in san francisco bay when bridges landed. Organizing has been essential to the ilwu s success since the founding of our union. Highlights of the peoples history of san francisco are featured in these short video clips. The paper briefly served as the official communications organ for west coast longshoremen. San francisco was gripped by the first general strike in america in fifteen years, the second in the history of american unionism. The earth shook, the sky burned by william bronson, originally published in 1956 and continually reissued is still the best history of the 1906 eart. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. San francisco history center, san francisco public library, san francisco, ca. The international longshore and warehouse union, born out of the 1934 west coast maritime and san francisco general strikes under the charismatic leadership. To meet it, reaction mobilized its entire strength.
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