This is your ACGTON Official Organ of Local 713 UNION PAPER UPW CIO SUPPORT IT!
Non political Vol. No. 10 Panama, June 15, 1948.
FREE HISTORIC TRIP MADE TO EAR OF AMERICAN PUBLIC One on Successful UPW Convention Local 713 Resolutions SILVER WORKERS GAIN Unanimously Adopted Answers Union Enemies Unanimous support to all the resolutions submitted by LaAmpudia Provides Convention Keynote cal 713 to the Second Biennial The second biennial convention of UPW Convention of the UPW CIO Many important receptions and meetings CIO from May 17 to 20 in Atlantic City was in held in Atlantic City, was featured the trip of the delegates to United effect a four day rousing, enthusiastic rededica given by the hundreds of detion of government workers to their objectives the speeches of delegates from legates present after they heard States.
of building a strong union and a better way to the Local.
Barely three hours after they against the odds.
life.
All the resolutions submitted had landed at Washington airAustin, whom many silver by the Local were reported out port, the delegates were the employees will remember, told Standing in the lobby of lux tion public employees. by the Resolutions committee. guests of honor at a banquet of his experience on the Zone urious Hotel Chelsea, the site banner militantly demanded, Prior to the presentation of the given by the Executive Board as added testimony. Osborne and of the convention, on Sunday End the Silver Gold Discrimi resolutions for adoption one of of Local 471, which had just Paul Robeson linked the silMay 16th, one could see dele nation in the Canal Zone! the Local 713 delegates was won its strike against Govern ver discrimination on the Cagates pouring in from all parts One sour note intruded upon given the opportunity to ad ment Services, Incorporated. nal Zone with the plight of of the United States as well the enthusiasm and resolve of dress the convention on the ge There the officers of the Local colonial people throughout the as outlying areas and terri the delegates. small group neral issue contained in the re expressed their heartfelt gra world, tories. The 520 delegates to the of delegates, numbering not solutions and all the other titude to the members of Local Abel Plenn, who has just convention represented vir over or 7, and styling them members of the 713 for the contribution they completed a delegation book Latin tually every state in the union selves as the Build The Union spoke on certain specific sub had made.
America, expressed his desire as well as the Canal Zone and Committee. began handing out jects.
They told of the sacrifices to write several articles for ma Hawaii. They comprised, city, expensively printed brochures (Continued on Page 2)
they had endured and the bru gazines on the silver workcounty, state, and federal work attacking UPW and its leadertality of the police who had ers.
ers and represented every con ship. Their headquarters was sent several members to the Out of this reception, came ceivable group of public ser a luxurious suite in one the Delegates Confer on hospital with cracked skulls. a committee composed of these vants from teachers to garbage most exclusive hotel in Atlan Credit Union Nevertheless, they said, the leaders to throw the spotlight collectors.
tic City. Their technique in The establishment of Federal strike was worth it, and we of public opinion on the Canal Westminster Hall in Hotel winning others to their cause Credit Unions on the Canal would go through the whole Zone and to mobilize sentiment Chelsea, which has been the was to snag an unwary dele Zone to give the so called sil thing again in order to keep for basic improvements in the living conditions of the workscene of many dramatic occa gate, transport him to the suite ver employees and their fa our union.
sions in trade union history in and them ply him with choice milies an opportunity to accuOn May 21st in New York ers.
cluding the historic first con Scotch or Bourbon. There was mulate savings on a small scale City, a reception was given the From New York the delegavention of CIO en 1938, was much wonderment at the la and borrow funds in emergen delegates by some of the out tion swung down to Washinggaily decked with banners pro vishness with which they oper cies, is closer to achievement standing leaders of the com ton. Here they met with the claiming the slogans of the na. Continued on Page 3) following a conference between munity. Paul Robeson, Abel veteran progressive Harold officials of the Federal Deposit Plenn, noted author; James Ickes, former Secretary of InLocal 713 delegation held in Osborne and Austin of the whose columns appear in hunWashington on May 26th. West Indian Society and others dreds of newspaper throughout Present at the conference were listened in shocked silence as the United States. The deleMr. Orchard of the FDIC, his the delegates told of their long gates expressed their appreciaPOWELL PLANS CANAL ZONE VISIT SOON (Continued on Page 3)
struggle on the Canal Zone (Continued on Page 3)
For the first time in the history of the socalled silver employees their own representatives were able to meet with a group of Congressmen in Washington to acquaint the lawmakers with the conditions prevalent on the Canal Zone and discuss with them frankly the urgent need for improvements.
This historic meeting was calling for a 40cl minimum, a held in the offices of Congress decent retirement system and man Adam Clayton Powell of equal job opportunities. All the New York, on May 25th and delegates had an opportunity was attended by the following to explain in detail the situaCongressmen: Mr. Eller (N. tion regarding the low wages, Mr. Havenner (Calif. Mr. poor housing and the lack of Sadowski (Mich. Mr. Klein consideration for the oldtimers (N. Mr. Blatnik (Minn. and the discriminatory pracMr. Isaacson (N. Mr. Bu tices carried on. It was obvious chanan (Penn. and Mr. Hu that the Congressmen were ber (Ohio. Also present be shocked about some of the consides the Local 713 delegation ditions and expressed a willingwere Brother Tommy Richard ness to correct them and exson and Bill Hayes, UPW le pose them.
gislative consultant.
In a press release issued by At this meeting there was Congressman Powell after this full discussion on the need for meeting he stated that The passage of the present bills (Continued on Page 2)
Help On Union Program Thomas Richardson announced at the International Convention of UPW CIO that a 1, 000 scholarship would be granted each year to some deserving student or teacher who is a member or dependent of a member of Local 713, for advanced educational training in a leading university in the United States.
Details on the method of selection and the date of the first scholarship will be given later.
Representatives of the United Public Workers of America, CIO call upon Congressmen to explain the plight of the Panama Canal workers. Seated, reading from left to right, Cong. Arthur Klein, Max Brodsky, Pascual Ampudia. Foster Bournes, and Cleveland Green. Standing, Cong. Leo Isaacson, Cong. Clayton Powell, Jr. Thomas Richardson, Cong.
Walter Huber, Ohio; Cong. Emanuel Celler, Joseph Sachs, Cong. Franck Havenner, Calif; David Alexis, Cong. John Blatnik, Minn. and Graham Lewis. BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL ERNESTO CASTILLEROR.