Episode 6: Bill Lucy

Black Work Talk

In this sixth episode of Black Work Talk, host Steven Pitts welcomes William A. Lucy. Bill retired in 2010 after over 50 years in the leadership of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Union (AFSCME). Bill talked about his beginnings in the labor movement organizing government workers in Contra Costa County (CA). He later represented the national staff of AFSCME during the campaign of the Memphis sanitation workers and Bill discussed some of those lessons. As a co-founder of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Bill provided insights on the relationship between Black unionists, the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, and the labor movement during the 60s and 70s. We closed by discussing what suggestions he would rely to young Black unionists today.

During the episode, Bill referenced these films:

Webpage for the classic film on the Memphis Sanitation Strike, “At the River I Stand” http://newsreel.org/video/at-the-river-i-stand

Link to a 10-minute film on the Memphis Sanitation Strike:

https://www.afscmemn.org/file/26906

Promo for the documentary, “The Sit-in: Harry Belefonte Hosts the Tonight Show”, that captured the week that Harry Belefonte hosted the Tonight Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk49xNDC40w