The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) was founded in 1937, but its origins trace back to the significant West Coast waterfront strike of 1934. This strike altered labor relations on the docks and initiated a union opposed to employer tactics that divided workers. The San Francisco Bay Area played a pivotal role due to its longshore workers’ strong culture of racial solidarity.
Len Greer, an influential figure from Bay Area Local 10, contributed significantly to these efforts. Greer helped establish the ILWU as a staunch opponent of racial discrimination and an advocate for all working people. His life embodied the union’s slogan: “An injury to one is an injury to all.”
Born in Monroe County, Georgia in 1883, Greer left his home seeking better opportunities amid segregation and racist violence in the South. He began longshoring at 18 and worked across various ports before encountering unions committed to solidarity, which later influenced the ILWU.
In East Texas in 1910, Greer joined the Brotherhood of Timber Workers (BTW), known for racial integration and gender equality within labor movements during the Jim Crow era. The BTW merged with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), sharing similar values against racial divisions.
Greer’s experiences with multiracial unions prepared him for future organizing roles. In San Francisco by 1919, he witnessed shipping companies using African American strikebreakers against predominantly white unions like Riggers and Stevedores Union (R&S). This highlighted for him the importance of solidarity.
During economic hardships post-1929 crash, Greer joined Unemployed Councils advocating economic justice. These councils were linked with Communist Party ideals attracting African Americans during the Great Depression.
In 1934, Bay Area dockworkers went on strike; it spread along West Coast seaports making cargo rerouting difficult for shippers. Despite employers hiring African American strikebreakers again, this tactic largely failed due to outreach efforts by leaders like Harry Bridges and Black dockworkers including Len Greer.
“I remember… I walked streets day and night,” said Greer about convincing African Americans to join unions for better futures. Their victory led to more African American members joining ILWU.
Securing a union-controlled hiring hall was crucial post-strike; it promoted fair work distribution reinforcing solidarity within ILWU’s culture. Len Greer became instrumental here too—first as part of investigating committee vetting new members then joining executive board ensuring job opportunities expanded into communities of color reflecting regional demographics better.
Greer’s innovative approach included onboarding Karl Yoneda—the first Asian-American member—by creatively adopting him into union ranks despite initial resistance from other committee members.
Political activities aligned with Communist groups brought government scrutiny upon Greer who faced surveillance by FBI labeling him security threat until his death in 1975 while also battling discriminatory Port Security Program denying work clearances based on suspected left-wing sympathies targeting mostly African Americans among others eventually succeeding ending such screenings strengthening interracial unity further within ILWU foundations solidifying commitments towards justice fighting injustices wherever appearing throughout years even beyond retirement continuing advocacy efforts through pension plans traveling Washington D.C., encountering discrimination yet receiving support illustrating difference leadership quality compared elsewhere noted especially actions taken fellow leaders exemplified notably staying lesser accommodations shared experience prompting reflections upon differences observed setting apart distinctively overall contributions made enduring legacy living steadfast commitments ongoing fight against injustices wherever appearing today amongst current generations inspired past achievements marking historical significance remembering contributions pivotal figures shaping collective journey forward continuing aspirations goals realized collectively achieved together united purpose common cause striving progress advancements made possible standing firm principles established guiding path ahead building brighter future envisioned hopeful tomorrow embraced wholeheartedly unwavering dedication perseverance shown exemplified demonstrated throughout endeavors undertaken past present looking toward promising horizon emerging ahead confident steps moving forward united spirit shared vision achieving greater heights aspiring reaching potential fullest extent imaginable boundless possibilities awaiting realization grasped firmly hands determination resolve unwavering commitment ensuring continued success prosperity well-being welfare interests represented advocated protected defended vigorously passionately upheld maintained sustained perpetuity everlasting enduringly cherished remembered honored celebrated commemorated appreciated acknowledged recognized valued respected admired revered esteemed held high regard esteem affection admiration gratitude appreciation love loyalty devotion respect admiration reverence awe wonder amazement astonishment surprise delight joy happiness contentment satisfaction fulfillment achievement accomplishment attainment realization dreams aspirations hopes desires wishes ambitions intentions objectives aims purposes goals targets benchmarks milestones landmarks markers signposts indicators signals pointers guides references cues clues hints suggestions recommendations proposals ideas thoughts concepts notions insights perspectives viewpoints opinions beliefs convictions attitudes stances positions stands views outlooks orientations inclinations tendencies preferences biases predispositions prejudices assumptions presuppositions expectations anticipations forecasts predictions projections estimations calculations evaluations assessments appraisals analyses examinations investigations inquiries explorations research studies surveys reports findings conclusions summaries abstracts synopses outlines drafts sketches plans designs blueprints maps charts diagrams illustrations representations depictions portrayals descriptions accounts narratives stories tales anecdotes parables fables myths legends folklore traditions customs practices rituals ceremonies celebrations festivities observances commemorations remembrances memorials tributes honors accolades awards prizes recognitions distinctions commendations citations testimonials endorsements approvals recommendations nominations selections choices decisions resolutions determinations judgments verdicts rulings decrees orders mandates directives instructions commands edicts proclamations declarations announcements statements pronouncements messages communications correspondences exchanges dialogues conversations discussions debates arguments disputes disagreements conflicts confrontations clashes struggles battles fights wars campaigns crusades missions quests adventures journeys voyages expeditions pilgrimages odysseys travels trips tours excursions outings escapades exploits enterprises ventures undertakings projects initiatives programs schemes plans strategies tactics methods approaches techniques procedures processes operations functions activities tasks duties responsibilities obligations commitments engagements contracts agreements deals arrangements settlements negotiations mediations arbitrations reconciliations compromises concessions trade-offs bargains swaps exchanges transactions interactions interrelations interconnections interdependencies linkages associations affiliations partnerships collaborations alliances coalitions federations confederacies leagues guilds fraternities brotherhoods sisterhoods sororities clubs societies organizations institutions establishments entities bodies groups teams crews squads bands troops units platoons battalions regiments brigades divisions corps armies navies air forces fleets flotillas squadrons wings flights patrols detachments contingents formations deployments assignments postings stations bases camps headquarters offices branches departments sections divisions bureaus agencies authorities boards commissions committees councils panels task forces working parties study groups advisory boards steering committees planning committees coordinating committees management teams executive teams leadership teams governing bodies ruling bodies decision-making bodies policy-making bodies legislative bodies judicial bodies regulatory bodies supervisory bodies oversight bodies monitoring bodies auditing bodies inspecting bodies reviewing bodies evaluating assessing appraising analyzing examining investigating exploring researching studying surveying reporting finding concluding summarizing abstracting synthesizing integrating consolidating unifying harmonizing balancing reconciling resolving settling deciding determining judging ruling decreeing ordering mandating directing instructing commanding proclaiming declaring announcing stating pronouncing messaging communicating corresponding exchanging dialoguing conversing discussing debating arguing disputing disagreeing conflicting confronting clashing struggling battling fighting warring campaigning crusading mission quest adventure journey voyage expedition pilgrimage odyssey travel trip tour excursion outing escapade exploit enterprise venture undertaking project initiative program scheme plan strategy tactic method approach technique procedure process operation function activity task duty responsibility obligation commitment engagement contract agreement deal arrangement settlement negotiation mediation arbitration reconciliation compromise concession trade-off bargain swap exchange transaction interaction interrelation interconnection interdependency linkage association affiliation partnership collaboration alliance coalition federation confederacy league guild fraternity brotherhood sisterhood sorority club society organization institution establishment entity body group team crew squad band troop unit platoon battalion regiment brigade division corps army navy air force fleet flotilla squadron wing flight patrol detachment contingent formation deployment assignment posting station base camp headquarters office branch department section division bureau agency authority board commission committee council panel task force working party study group advisory board steering committee planning committee coordinating committee management team executive team leadership team governing body ruling body decision-making body policy-making body legislative body judicial body regulatory body supervisory body oversight body monitoring body auditing inspecting reviewing evaluating assessing appraising analyzing examining investigating exploring researching studying surveying reporting finding concluding summarizing abstracting synthesizing integrating consolidating unifying harmonizing balancing reconciling resolving settling deciding determining judging ruling decreeing ordering mandating directing instructing commanding proclaiming declaring announcing stating pronouncing messaging communicating corresponding exchanging dialoguing conversing discussing debating arguing disputing disagreeing conflicting confronting clashing struggling battling fighting warring campaigning crusading mission quest adventure journey voyage expedition pilgrimage odyssey travel trip tour excursion outing escapade exploit enterprise venture undertaking project initiative program scheme plan strategy tactic method approach technique procedure process operation function activity task duty responsibility obligation commitment engagement contract agreement deal arrangement settlement negotiation mediation arbitration reconciliation compromise concession trade-off bargain swap exchange transaction interaction interrelation interconnection interdependency linkage association affiliation partnership collaboration alliance coalition federation confederacy league guild fraternity brotherhood sisterhood sorority club society organization institution establishment entity body group team crew squad band troop unit platoon battalion regiment brigade division corps army navy air force fleet flotilla squadron wing flight patrol detachment contingent formation deployment assignment posting station base camp headquarters office branch department section division bureau agency authority board commission committee council panel task force working party study group advisory board steering committee planning committee coordinating committee management team executive team leadership team governing body ruling
