Senate Resolution No. 918

BY: Senator LARKIN

COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of a Civil
Rights milestone

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend events which evoke the historical, social and cultural
development of this great State, and pay tribute to the memory of
individuals of remarkable courage and strength of character, whose
purposeful lives embodied the spirit of the principles upon which this
Nation was founded; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of a Civil Rights milestone; and

WHEREAS, Shipbuilding is an industry with deep roots in Newburgh,
New York; during World War I, there was a strain in shipyards to keep up
with production deadlines due to the increased activity in times of
national defense; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, production deadlines were stressful at
the Chicago Bridge and Iron's Newburgh Yard, requiring them to hire
1,500 workers from all over the country, including 29 skilled
African-American craftsmen, one of whom was Ellsworth Potter; and

WHEREAS, According to their government contract, all workers were
required to be unionized, and all workers were to receive full union
benefits; the national Boilermakers Union was segregated and its
headquarters in Kansas told Chicago Bridge and Iron leaders to stay that
way by forcing the African-American welders and female workers to form
auxiliaries; and

WHEREAS, Unfortunately, auxiliaries did not offer full membership
benefits or even a full-status union card; with the determined Ellsworth
Potter as their leader, the men resisted; the company threatened the men
with dismissal and the likelihood of being immediately drafted for not
being in the lesser union situation; and

WHEREAS, Due to the deadlines required of the company, management
could not afford a showdown or a scandal; they realized the
African-American welders were highly skilled and greatly capable of
doing the work; Chicago Bridge and Iron's Newburgh Yard convinced the
Boilermakers Union headquarters in Kansas City to relent and was able to
handle the situation quietly and successfully; and

WHEREAS, As a result of his steadfast leadership, Ellsworth Potter
won not only full benefits for his African-American and women
co-workers, but the International Boilermakers soon relented and waived
union requirements for the rest of 1942, opening up doors for dozens of
other local African-Americans to start work at the shipyards in lesser
jobs and work their way up through the war years; and

WHEREAS, The heart and soul of these organizations have always been
individuals who have put forth the efforts to represent the interests of
workers and their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of a Civil Rights milestone; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Ellsworth Potter and the International
Boilermakers Union, Kansas City, Kansas.