[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING ROBERT ``BOB'' WOODSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, Robert ``Bob'' Woodson, the 
eighth of nine children, was born in Carroll County, Mississippi, to 
the late Mamie Dixon Woodson and John Woodson.
  During his infant years, Bob's family relocated to Yazoo County, 
Mississippi. His dad being a sharecropper, Bob was raised on a 
plantation.
  Bob attended a one-room country school from first through eighth 
grade, then was bused more than 70 miles, one way, to attend high 
school in Yazoo City. Although a high school was closer to where he 
lived, busing was used to maintain segregation. After graduating from 
high school in 1956, Bob was ordered to report for induction into the 
United States Armed Forces. However, being the only son at home to 
assist his dad with farming, the plantation owner was able to secure a 
permanent deferment.
  Because of Bob's father's failing health, the family gave up farming 
to relocate to Jackson in the late 50's. Migrating from an agricultural 
to an industrial society, his first work experience was a carpenter's 
helper. Being impatient and discontent, Bob shortly thereafter obtained 
a job with Swift & Company, where he got his first exposure to the 
labor movement when he joined the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher 
Workers, AFL-CIO.
  Because of seasonal work, in July 1959, Bob became employed at 
Mississippi Products, a furniture manufacture facility, as a finish 
sprayer. At the time of employment, the United Brotherhood of 
Carpenters and Joiners (UBCJ of A) of the AFL-CIO was in its initial 
stages of trying to implement a union organizing campaign. Due to the 
vicious anti-union climate, Bob became quietly involved trying to 
convince his fellow workers of the advantages of labor unions.
  After 3 years of much agony and frustration to overcome racial hatred 
promoted by company management, and then Mississippi's Governor Ross 
Barnett and the entire business community to keep the work force 
divided; finally in 1963, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and 
Joiners of America won an election at Mississippi Products and was 
certified as bargaining agent for the plant by the National Labor 
Relations Board, NLRB.
  After negotiating a contract, workers were afraid to become union 
members. Due to the lack of participation within the union by 
employees, in September of 1965, Bob became employed full-time for the 
Union for the sole purpose of recruiting workers to become union 
members. During the first year of his activity, door to door soliciting 
increased the membership from 20 percent to over 60 percent. For the 
next 17 years, Bob held the combined positions of vice-president and 
business agent; and president and business agent of the Local Union. 
This was the beginning of many firsts for Bob Woodson.
  In 1966, Bob was the first black elected to the executive board of 
the Mississippi AFL-CIO. He participated in civil rights marches, ``not 
out front,'' but concentrating more on voter registration.
  In 1968, Bob was a ``Loyalist'' delegate to the Democratic National 
Convention. In 1972, Bob organized the Mississippi A. Philip Randolph 
Institute, and was named chairman. In 1974, Bob was a delegate to the 
Historical National Democratic Charter Convention in Kansas City, 
Kansas. In 1975, Bob was the first black named to the ``Regular'' Hinds 
County Democratic Executive Committee. In May 1983, Bob continued his 
services as an International Representative traveling many thousands of 
miles on job assignments in several states, including: DC, Georgia, 
Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania.
  During Bob's career of more than 30 years as a full-time Union 
Representative, he received many hours of specialized academic training 
provided by the National Labor Relations Board in the George Meany 
Center for Labor Studies, in the area of contract negotiations, 
grievance and arbitrations, handling unfair labor practice proceedings 
and many other labor management relations.
  Some of Bob's experiences include: Head Negotiator, Administrator, 
Fiscal Officer, Labor Management Specialist, OIC Board Chairman, 
Director of Minority Affairs of Mississippi AFL-CIO for 12 years, 
president of Mississippi A. Philip Randolph Institute 1972-1979 Program 
and Evaluation Committee for Jackson Manpower Planning Council, and the 
list goes on.
  Bob was very active and influential in many political campaigns; and 
has received certificates of appreciation and recognition and several 
awards for his outstanding services, leadership and contributions to 
help improve working conditions for all people.
  Bob retired in May 1996, as a full-time Union Representative, after 
more than 30 years of service.

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