Speeches

CMCA CONFERENCE
Civility and Civil Rights
Feb. 25, 2006

Prepared Remarks of
Andy Douglas,
OCSEA Executive Director

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Sisters and Brothers, Ladies and Gentlemen, President Alexander – good morning and thanks to Sister Smith for that kind introduction!

I first want to thank CMCA chair Michelle Hunter and her vice-chair Regina Flemister as well as committee members Hugh Williams, Daphne Smith, Debbie King, Elvira Gonzalez and Annie Person for helping to organize this conference. Michelle’s team has done a great job and we appreciate them, and they deserve our congratulations for pulling this weekend together.

As your Executive Director, I’m pleased to welcome you to this important conference and I know that much will be learned from the speakers and seminar leaders.

In a few moments, I’d like to update you on the status of our contract negotiations, a matter that’s important to all of us.

But first, allow me to offer some thoughts on how we can use the important topics of this conference in our work as union members and community leaders.

As I thought about the theme of our gathering today and the many challenges our union members face, both minority and non-minority, I settled on the importance of civil rights AND civility. 

In the last year, we marked the passing of two great civil rights leaders, Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks.

Our labor union history was enriched by both of these American heroes. 

We remember Rosa Parks refusing to obey segregation laws and her courage helped spark a movement that helped America deliver on the sacred promises of our Constitution. 

We remember Coretta Scott King as a strong and vibrant partner with her husband as they blazed a path that we all have followed in the last four decades. 

And, as union leaders, we remember that our brothers and sisters worked side by side with Mrs. Parks and Mrs. King as they made history. 

In 1955, a leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids union named E.D. Nixon helped organize the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott with Rosa Parks and both Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King.  We celebrated the 50th anniversary of that great achievement just last year.

As a former Supreme Court Justice, I was privileged to add a few minor touches to the struggle and legal portrait that is the American Civil Rights Movement.  I have often been asked what I considered the most important case I decided during my 22 years as a Judge and Justice. My answer has always been the same. The case I have been most proud of happened right here in Dayton.

(Here tell the story of Sam and the Dayton Power and Light Co.)

Unfortunately, these kinds of cases still exist and such actions occur far too often. As union leaders, you and I reap the rewards of the Civil Rights Movement, but along with that comes the solemn obligation that each of us must do our part on our watch to preserve the great legacy. We must not ever, ever let anyone forget that the struggle was real and continues yet today.

But we ought not embrace the crucial mission of civil rights without also recognizing the crucial need for civility.

My father was a minister, and he taught his children the Golden Rule.  Treating others the way we want to be treated is a simple truth. 

But we too often forget that this childhood lesson can serve us well throughout our lives. 

For example, if we want management to treat us with respect – and we do – then we must set the right example and treat each other with respect.  If we can’t – or won’t -- deal with each other in a fair way, we undermine our ability to seek fairness in our workplace.

We can rightly be proud of our achievements in civil rights but let us also be proud of our civility.  These two pursuits go hand in hand and we will be better people, and better union members when we strive for both.

In that vein, I’m pleased to discuss with you the progress we’ve made in our negotiations.

We have now concluded our Regional Meetings explaining the contract and getting ready for the vote. We visited 9 cities in six days. At each site I explained that our Membership – YOU – had given us two main mandates. We were to secure wage increases in each of the three years of the contract and we were to hold the line on health care.

I’m delighted to report to you that your Team heard your commands and that we carried out your instructions. You know that we negotiated a double digit wage increase package over the three years and we not only held the line on health care – we improved the benefits substantially. Are there things in the contract that your Team doesn’t like? Yes – but be assured that we, this time, gained far more than was compromised.

For the most part, at all of the meetings we were received well and, as I have been discussing with you, our Sisters and Brothers, except for a few, practiced the civility that I have mentioned to you. Time and again we were thanked for our efforts and the voting is reflecting that.

To conclude my report, then, I’m pleased to announce that as of 5:00 o’clock last evening, 65% of those voting the green ballot and 68% of those voting the red ballot have voted to accept the contract. This means that 2 out of every 3 voters are voting “yes.” The Team and I thank you for all of the support and help we received from you.

Now to return to where I began, again, we’re glad that you’ve come to this important conference. 
In the spirit of Rosa Parks, let’s remember the words of that great lady.  She told us:
“Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.”

With those wise words in our minds and the great example of Mrs. Parks and Mrs. King in our hearts, let’s leave here more prepared and more united than ever before.

May God Bless and Keep each of you and bless our Union, as well.

Thank you.