Well, when I first began working in the union organization, we stuck to
working conditions, we never got outside in any politics and into the
community. That all changed when we formed the CIO, we have become more
conscious of the community and feel that we should play a part in the
community and in other activities. We should make the union a family
affair. I think that labor unions should play a greater role in all
phases of life and activity. I think that we as a labor movement have
not done the job of public relations that we could have done and should
have done. So many times, the things that unions do, like helping
colleges, giving to different charity organizations or relief when
there
Page 21 are disasters, it is never known outside
of the labor movement or the members themselves. So many people think
that all the union does is collect its dues and the few heads of the
union live high on them. Well, there is nothing further from the truth.
This dues money is used for the welfare of the members for the most
part, to protect their jobs, to give them legal advice and there are not
the tremendously high salaries that people think there are, certainly
not in my union. And as I say, I think that is what labor has to do,
they have to become . . . so many times, people say, "Well, I've got my
union . . . It doesn't matter over there with this other person, it's
none of their business. As long as my members are happy, what do I
care." Well, you've got to care about what the next fellow thinks about
your union, you've got to promote your union and believe in your union.
As I have often told the members in the shop, it is just human nature
for people to complain when they've got a grievance, but when that
grievance gets settled, they don't get back in that car with the people
they may ride to work with and who may not be members of the union and
say, "The union settled my complaint today 90% or 100% and I've got a
good union." Too many times, the members themselves hurt their own
unions unintentionally because they complain when they have problems,
but then when that problem is settled satisfactorily, they fail to talk
about it. Well, by the same token the unions, when we are in trouble and
out on strike or these things happen, naturally it is publicized. It's
big news, but when the unions send food into areas where you have floods
and things of that nature, it generally comes out in the union
publication. And that's awful. I think that the newspapers would do a
better job for us if we would let them, I think. Of course, they are
Page 22 primarily in business and will side with business
because that is where their money comes from and they don't want to step
on the toes of the business community, but some of it is our fault, I
think. And I think that we should do more. I'm proud and I've never been
ashamed to be a member of the union. I feel today as I did then, I am a
shirt worker first, I do not feel like I am a professional organizer. I
am just a representative of our membership. I am trying to further the
union because every non-union shop, unorganized, is a threat to our good
conditions in the union shops.