Founder and leader of the ILWU, Harry Bridges was one of the outstanding labor leaders of the 20th Century.
Here are two important videos of Harry Bridges from different decades: (1) a newsreel interview from 1950 after his conviction on perjury charges; (2) his memorable 1986 speech to Local 23 celebrating the 100th anniversary of longshore unionism in Tacoma
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This 1950 newsreel clip shows Harry Bridges following his perjury conviction for denying that he had been a member of the Communist Party. He replies to reporters' questions showing the wit and radical idealism for which he was famous. (1 minute)
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In 1986, Local 23 celebrated 100 years of longshore unionism in Tacoma. 85-year-old Harry Bridges shared his memories of the local, the 1934 strike, the struggle to win coast-wide union recognition, and the importance of interracial unionism. And he reminds the audience of the words he lived by all his life: “put your faith in the rank-and-file.” (8 min) Click here |
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