Union Members

My dad, Sidney Schwartz, was a proud dues-paying union man. His father, Harry Schwartz, probably had a strong influence in that he, too, was a union member. Harry’s occupation was an electrician in New York City and he was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for at least 50 years. He received a pin as well as a (gold?) watch engraved with “Presented to Harry P. Schwartz by Local Union #3. 50 years loyalty in the IBEW 8-11-73.”

Harry entertained his family with stories about some of his more interesting jobs as an electrician. One I remember is him working high up on the Verrazano bridge as it was being built. According to Wikipedia, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when its construction was finished.

Construction on the bridge began in 1959 and was completed in 1964 during which time three men died in falls. Workers walked off the job for four days, demanding safety nets. Their demands were met and afterwards the safety nets caught and saved three more workers. [https://bklyner.com/25-facts-verrazano-narrows-bridge-bensonhurst/] Perhaps Harry’s labor union, IBEW, played a role in the negotiations. Here’s Harry with his pals at what looks like a construction site where they were working.

Sidney’s occupation was a printer. He started out working at The Washington Post, from 1955-1963. During the remainder of his career, he was a federal employee at the Government Printing Office in Washington, DC where he worked on the Federal Register, as well as other publications. He, too, received his 50-year membership pin from his union, which was the Communications Workers of America/ International Typographical Union.

Dad earned many awards during his 30+ years at GPO, including Award for Superior Service in 1968 and Special Achievement Award in 1974 and 1978. He held the position of Group Chief in 1990. Dad was also a member of UPIGA – Union Printcraft International Golf Association. He enjoyed many trips with his union golf buddies.

Their unions likely provided Harry and Sidney better wages and benefits and enabled them to work under more favorable conditions. As a federal employee with the Department of Health and Human Services, I’m represented by the National Treasury Employees Union. I didn’t fully appreciate the benefits of that representation until recently. NTEU negotiated with HHS to ensure employees’ safe and fair return to the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m grateful for labor unions and their efforts to safeguard our rights to decent working conditions with fair wages and benefits.