Solomon Barkin and Sol Stetin Interviews

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: This is the continuation of an interview with Solomon Barkin.

Segment Synopsis: Solomon Barking discusses the state of the labor union movement in 1977, and why it is difficult to organize unions in the South.

Keywords: mill villages; union organizing

Subjects: Textile Workers' Strike (Southern States : 1934); Textile workers--Labor unions

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: To get back to the late '30s, and in the South, do you think that the recession that came in the fall of '37, do you think if that hadn't of come, or if it had been put off for another year or another six months that the South, that there would have been good inroads to organizing in the South?

Segment Synopsis: Solomon Barkin discusses the issues with using Northern style union organizing tactics in the South, and why African American mill workers were more willing to organize.

Keywords: African-American mill workers

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; Textile workers; Textile workers--Labor unions

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: As, as the textile workers' union, approached and went through the 1940s, do you think that the basic feeling amongst the leadership was, "let's solidify the North and it will filter to the South.", or were they thinking, "Well let's lay off the South to a certain extent, and get the North done ."?

Segment Synopsis: Solomon Barkin discusses organizing attempts in the South in the 1940s and 1950s, and issues in the labor movement in the 1970s.

Keywords: union organizing

Subjects: Textile workers--Labor unions

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: 1939, Textile Workers' Union is formed. First a little question, once it was formed how much influence did Sidney Hillman have?

Segment Synopsis: Solomon Barkin discusses the power structure of the Textile Workers' Union after its formation.

Keywords: unions outside the South

Subjects: Textile workers--Labor unions

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: This is a continuation of an interview with Sol Stetin.

Segment Synopsis: Sol Stetin discusses forming a dyer's union in New York and issues surrounding his citizenship status.

Keywords: union organizing; unions outside the South

Subjects: Textile workers--Labor unions; United Textile Workers of America

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: Was this strike in '34, the second strike that you reffered to, was that part of the great textile strikes in '34 or was --

Segment Synopsis: Sol Stetin discusses the textile workers' strike of 1934, the convention of the United Textile Workers' of America, and how the strike impact his union in New Jersey.

Keywords: United Textile Workers of America convention, August 1934; aftermath of the strike

Subjects: Textile Workers' Strike (Southern States : 1934)

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: In 1936, at the UTW convention--

SOL STETIN: Before we get to that in 1935 I went to New England.

Segment Synopsis: Sol Stetin discusses his union organizing, why he left the union in 1935, why he got back into union work.

Keywords: union organizing

Subjects: Strikes and lockouts--Textile industry; United Textile Workers of America

Partial Transcript: JIM CAVANAUGH: Okay, in 1936, United Textile Workers convention, a couple of significant things are going on.

Segment Synopsis: Sol Stetin discusses the 1936 United Textile Workers convention.

Subjects: United Textile Workers of America