| Summary: | In this interview, Robert Washington discusses his industrial work at a clay pipe plant as well as his work with the local USW. Washington worked at W. S. Dickey Clay Manufacturing Company, which made sewer pipe and fittings as well as flue lining and brick. He describes the process of making fittings, which was his job for many years. He explains that they were paid by the piece and with incentives. The advantage of the job was a person could work the hours he wanted and still make decent money if he was willing to work hard. The disadvantages were the workers had few benefits and the work was hot and hard. He recalls the story of a man whose hands were cut off in an accident, and he eventually returned to work. Washington believes the union was important because people can get more accomplished together than apart. He says the union came in 1938, the Brick and Clay Workers. That local disbanded and they reformed under the USW. He was president of that local for many years, until he had to quit the union to take a promotion to inspector, then foreman. As union leader, he was often called to help organize in other places, and the company gave him leaves of absence. Washington describes an incident with a group of white inspectors who didn't want to join the USW, who instead formed a new Brick and Clay Workers. The USW decided to strike with them, but they were in breach of contract, so they had to go back to work. The Ku Klux Klan joined the inspectors on their strike, and Washington was called to D.C. to testify about the incident. Washington talks about segregation on the job. He says blacks couldn't be mechanics or carpenters, as well as foreman and other positions of authority. They also had segregated facilities for a long time. Changes came about 1966, because of the union and also because of new civil rights laws. Washington also discusses living through the Depression. He says they raised animals and kept a garden, and friends would often help each other out, trading food. He also says the communist party was attempting to win people over by paying their bills. He says his family was never on relief.The digitization of this collection was funded by a gift from EBSCO Industries.
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