Progressive ILWU still struggles with internal racism

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/3940



Progressive ILWU still struggles with internal racism

Black longshore workers say the I-L-W-U is refusing to deal with racism, despite the Union’s progressive civil rights history. For Workers’ Independent News, Jacob Fenston reports from Portland Oregon.

By Jacob Fenston

At the I-L-W-U’s International Convention in May, a resolution was voted down that would have given official recognition to the African American Longshore Coalition.

Deborah Stringfellow is the A-A-L-C Executive Secretary, and a member of Portland’s Local 8:

71 voice and seat important.MP3 (0:24)
“It’s very important that we have a voice and a seat and that we are allowed to speak for ourselves, because no one can tell my story, no one can tell my history on the waterfront. No one can tell the pain, no one can tell where we’ve been, or what we’re going through, but us. Unless you’ve walked in my shoes.”

Stringfellow says I-L-W-U leaders are relying on the Union’s past civil rights accomplishments while refusing to recognize present-day racism.

For Workers’ Independent News, I’m Jacob Fenston.