[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENT IN HONOR OF CURTIS McCLAIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2005

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Curtis McClain, a 
champion of the trade union movement and trailblazer for racial 
equality, who passed away November 6 after a long battle with cancer. 
Friends and colleagues will gather on December 3 to pay tribute to his 
lifetime of service to the working men and women of America.
  Born of humble means in Akron, Ohio, World War II provided Curtis 
passage to a new life. After his discharge he relocated to San 
Francisco to find work. He found it in ILWU Warehouse Local 6 working 
at Schmidt Lithography. He said, ``I went into the paper seasoning 
department where work was sweaty, hot and dusty. Although it was the 
last place I wanted to work, I needed the job so I stayed for 14 
years.''
  Curtis became frustrated by post-war discrimination against African-
Americans in the labor movement. Being passed over repeatedly for 
promotion due to race inspired Curtis to form a group of African-
Americans in Local 6 called the Frontiersmen. Their encouragement and 
that of International and other local officers drew Curtis into 
leadership positions. In 1960, Curtis became in the first African-
American to be elected Business Agent for Local 6.
  By 1969, Curtis was an important labor leader in San Francisco and 
was elected Local President, followed 2 years later by a position on 
the International Executive Committee of the ILWU. In 1977, he broke 
another racial barrier when he was elected ILWU Secretary-Treasurer, 
the position he held until retirement in 1990.
  Curtis served with ILWU International President Jimmy Herman. 
Together they fought for a democratic and diverse trade union and 
guided their membership through turbulent times.
  Longtime Local 6 leader LeRoy King, who helped found the Trailblazers 
with Curtis, remembers: ``He was a natural leader. He helped lead the 
efforts to break the color line, not only in the ILWU, but in other 
unions and in the community. He was an outstanding negotiator and union 
officer. And he took care of business for the members.''
  Curtis was a tireless advocate of working people. He helped form the 
alliance between the Teamsters and the ILWU that created the Northern 
California Warehouse Council, whose influence stretched to the Oregon 
border. Curtis was also instrumental in the civil rights movement, 
opening up employment opportunities to people of color in San 
Francisco's auto and burgeoning hotel and tourism industries.
  Curtis McClain also led in movements for social justice, peace, and 
disarmament. Mayor Jack Shelly appointed him to the San Francisco Human 
Rights Commission, and Mayor George Moscone appointed him to the San 
Francisco Fire Commission where he served for 12 years.
  Curtis McClain reminded us what can be accomplished with 
determination and belief in the person working right beside you. His 
hard work for social justice and workers' rights broke barriers and 
deepened the ties of our wonderfully diverse community. Our thoughts 
are with his family and friends as they gather to remember him, and we 
thank them for sharing Curtis with us.

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