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Wylie, Spencer (audio interview #1 of 1)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This single interview with Spencer Wylie was conducted as part of a student project on desegregating unions during WWII. 1980-04-30
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- 2019-09-25
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- NEH
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- SUBJECT BIO - Spencer Wylie, labor and civil rights activist, rose from menial floor sweeping jobs to become a certified maintenance welder at the beginning of WWII. While working at the shipyards, he participated in the boycott of the Boilermakers Jim Crow Auxiliary A35. When he began working at US Spring and Bumper in 1944, he became a member of the UAW and quickly rose up the ranks. He served as local and Western District education director, directing civil rights education campaigns. In the late 1940s, Wylie was elected Trustee of the CIO and at the time of the merger of the AFL-CIO, he became a state VP. Wylie represented the UAW and CIO on the boards of the NAACP and Urban League and played a prominent role in the California civil rights movement and Democratic Party in the 1950s and 1960s. The interview with Wylie was conducted as part of a student project on desegregating unions during WWII. TOPICS</b> - Boilermakers Union and segregation; racial discrimination; CIO; UAW; IAM; community coordination with CIO/UAW; NAACP; Herbert Ward; and A; Philip Randolph and March on Washington Movement;FEPC; WWII and sentiment among African American community; UAW organizing strategies; seniority and quota system in trade unionism; postwar climate in labor movement; and impact of Taft-Hartley Act;CIO; Taft-Hartley Act; Revels Clayton; community activism; Boilermakers Union; and segregation; The audio quality of this side of the tape is poor;
- File: lhduswylie1.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-5:37)... Brief introduction In 1940-41, he moved to California and found work as a sweeper in a shipyard. He attended welding school in the evenings and became a certified maintenance welder. When he joined the Boilermakers Union he was required to pay dues, but prohibited from attending union meetings. In 1944, he joined the UAW and went to work at U.S. Frame and Butler Company. The UAW encouraged him to participate in union activities, and he worked on the Education Committee. He also received training in other areas to increase his skills. He describes his experience as a candidate for the Voting Committee. He won this campaign and began working for the UAW on a full-time basis. Although Whites in the UAW acknowledged their prejudice, Wylie believes that it was necessary Blacks participate in the structure of the UAW. He continued to be promoted within the UAW and eventually became the vice president of the AFL/CIO as a representative of the CIO. (5:37-10:40)... As a member of the Boilermakers Union, he refused to participate in or support the Jim Crow local. He was not involved in the lawsuits challenging the local because he left the union and went to the UAW. However, he describes the discriminatory policies of the Boilermakers Union, and also contends that a few of the Black leaders were taking advantage of the situation for selfish reasons. Although his first experience with trade unionism was negative, when he joined the CIO he recognized that the organization was dedicated to improving both working conditions and conditions within the community. His responsibilities at U.S. Frame and Butler included making mechanical parts for automobiles and airplanes. When he was appointed as the educational director for the UAW, he organized training and educational courses for airplane and automobile plants in seven western states. (10:40-12:29)... The CIO complemented the community's interest in the labor movement, and many people were disappointed when the AFL and the CIO merged. The UAW worked within the community and directed the union in ways to help the community. Approximately 85 percent of the UAW Educational Department were Black. As educational director, he worked with communities in seven western states. After four years in this position, he was promoted to the legislative director and worked in this capacity until he retired. (12:29-19:21)... The CIO was an outlet for social justice within the Black community. The NAACP and other civil rights organizations considered the CIO and the UAW allies and promoted their influence within the community. Walter Reuther, a CIO representative, acted as a spokesman for minorities and many people supported the CIO because of his actions. The CIO coordinated its efforts with the community on civil rights issues, restrictive housing, employment discrimination, and police brutality. Some members of the CIO also were members of the NAACP and the Urban League. Although the CIO was less discriminatory than the AFL, Wylie believes that many people in the rank and file of the CIO also were bigoted and associated with organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan. He recalls that the CIO/UAW struggled with the Communist Party because many communists tried to persuade the union to adopt their policies. The CIO was labeled as a communist organization during the McCarthy era. (19:21-26:00)... He discusses the competition between the IAM and the UAW in the 1940s in organizing the aircraft industry. During the initial phases of organizing, unions emphasized better working conditions, wages, and hours. Racial discrimination was not the only issue discussed. However, there Blacks and women were predominant in the aircraft industry, which impacted the success of the bargaining agreements during the war period. He digresses regarding Herbert Ward's influence and activity in the IAM. (26:00-29:30)... There were people in the community who believed that trade unionism was an instrumental movement working towards civil rights. However, most people depended on community organizations, such as the NAACP, for social action. Leaders in the CIO attended meetings held by community organizations in an attempt to garner support for the union. (29:30-31:18)... A. Philip Randolph and the March on Washington Movement had an impact in the Los Angeles community, although he does not recall whether any work was done here that mirrored Randolph's efforts. end of tape File: lhduswylie2.mp3 (0:00-1:11)... Tape begins abruptly with a discussion of the impact of the FEPC hearings on the labor movement in Los Angeles. He believes that the FEPC hearings affected the employers more than the unions. It was difficult to change AFL locals because of their strict adherence to skilled trades. (1:11-3:42)... The overall sentiment among African Americans during WWII was patriotic. The main argument during the war was equal opportunity in employment and desegregation. He recalls that the community was happy when President Truman enacted desegregation legislation. (3:42-12:14)... Wylie describes the UAW's process for organizing workers, which included concentrating on educating people in the community so that they would return to the factory and do the organizational work. The education committee of the UAW was active in providing employees with access to literature and an education. In organizing workers, the UAW emphasized union benefits and education. The race issue was not a focal point when organizing certain groups of people. He recalls that when he first started working in a plant, the Ku Klux Klan members employed there met and discussed his presence. Gradually, however, these people supported his activities. (12:14-14:58)... Once African Americans were organized and brought into the UAW, there was a gradual process of acquainting them with the other members of the union. He process fostered solidarity within the UAW. The UAW did not want to immediately force the members into a "brotherhood" association. Once people were exposed to each other, as well as to literature on fair employment practices, the UAW educated them about the history of the union and how important solidarity was to the labor movement. (14:58-17:30)... There is some confusion as to the time frame of the Watts Riot in Los Angeles and the riot in Detroit, and how these affected the labor movement in the Los Angeles area. (17:30-20:53)... Following WWII, many African Americans lost their jobs. He believes that the shortage of men in industry during the war provided opportunities for women to work. However, while men were fired after the war, many women maintained their positions. He believes that this was not a good situation for society. He discusses his feelings towards the current conditions within the labor force, indicating that women are promoted or appointed to positions more often than men. (20:53-23:54)... He believes that the seniority system disadvantaged Blacks in the labor movement. However, the Supreme Court ruled that if someone was rejected employment at a shop, they could be hired in place of someone who had been there for several years. Blacks also opposed the quota system and fought for more affirmative action programs. (23:54-28:03)... He continues the discussion on seniority issues within the labor movement. He believes that the UAW protected workers against discriminatory terminations and employment practices. Walter Reuther laid the foundation within the UAW that concentrated on the protection of union members. (28:03-31:23)... Following the war, some of the war industries were transformed from defense manufacturing to other modes of production, e.g. UAW-organized industries were encouraged to construct prefabricated housing, and some companies sold cars. Wylie digresses regarding the Taft-Hartley Act and its impact on the labor movement in the Los Angeles area. In general, he does not think that it significantly impacted the membership of the UAW. end of tape File: lhduswylie3.mp3 (0:00-3:14)... Tape begins abruptly with a discussion on racial discrimination in employment. Although the UAW did not discriminate, there was prejudice among the rank and file. He believes that actively participating in the labor movement was an important factor in combating racial discrimination. The CIO was built on the idea of organizing industrial unions, which also meant that different ethnicities and races would join together and form a solid unit of action. (3:14-7:40)... There is an interruption in this segment because of the telephone. Outside his activities with UAW, he also was involved in community and civil rights organizations, such as the NAACP and the Urban League. He discusses his relationship with Revels Clayton and Clayton's role in the labor movement. (7:40-9:27)... He discusses his experiences in the Boilermakers Union, indicating that he left the organization after a short time because of its discriminatory policies. Besides refusing to participate in the Jim Crow local, he was not involved in any activities that organized against against the segregated local. End of tape
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