Apprentices and apprentice instructors from L-69 and other area lodges take part in a march in Little Rock, Ark., for the Employee Free Choice Act. Behind them is Little Rock High School, site of an infamous civil rights incident in 1957 in which the state’s governor kept black students from entering the then all-white school.
NEARLY TWO DOZEN members of Local 69 (Little Rock, Ark.) and other Boilermaker locals joined about 500 union members and supporters in a march on the Arkansas state capitol in July to urge support for the Employee Free Choice Act. The legislation would make it easier for workers to form unions, letting them decide whether or not to conduct secret ballot elections — instead of the employer making that decision. It would also stiffen the penalties for employers who illegally fire or intimidate workers during organizing drives, as well as provide mediation and arbitration, if needed, to secure a first contract between the parties.
“Along the way to the capitol, we stopped by the office of Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.),” said L-69 BM-ST Frank Brown. “In the past, Sen. Lincoln has supported and co-sponsored union bills, but she is currently undecided on Free Choice. She was not present when we arrived, but [I understand that] she has met with several national labor leaders in recent weeks, and she indicated that she shares their goals.”
Brown said one of the themes of the march was, “Workers rights are civil rights.” It was fitting, he said, that participants gathered at Little Rock Central High School prior to the event. “The school has been a hub of civil-rights activity in Arkansas. It became internationally known on Sept. 2, 1957, when Gov. Orval Forbus sent Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine black students from entering the all-white school. Those nine students, now known as the ‘Little Rock Nine,’ should have had a choice — and workers should have a choice also.”
Joining Brown in the march were, also from L-69, apprentice instructors Donnie Jones, Clay Rice, and Thomas “Tommy” Tucker, and apprentices Barrett Adams, Chris Bales, Zack Carmack, Roy Garrett, Jason Johnson, Seth Johnson, Johnathan Lindsey, Kevin Luna, David Maxwell, Kurtis Neal, Bill Pearson, Quincey Powell, John Rego, and Jerry Walter. Attending from other locals were apprentice instructor Clyde Brown, Local 263 (Memphis, Tenn.); apprentice Chris Harris, L-37 (New Orleans, La.); and apprentices John Brookbank and Trevor Porter, both of L-592 (Tulsa, Okla.).
