Playing in traffic
PHOTO BY WENDI FITZGERALD
On July 12, 1999 — 10 years ago to the day, yesterday — between 200 and 300 activists, most of them African-American, some of them prominent leaders, staged a brief shutdown of Interstate 70 at Goodfellow Avenue.
Now another shutdown has been threatened, for today, on the eve of Major League Baseball’s All-Star game. Such a move might be seriously counterproductive.
The issue is the same today as it was 10 years ago: state contracting practices on transportation projects, which long had discriminated against minority contractors and women-owned businesses. The 1999 shutdown was planned carefully and choreographed closely. Police were at the ready and made 125 arrests.
There was some grandstanding. The Rev. Al Sharpton blew into town and did what he does. But there was no resistance or angry words. The highway was back to normal within about an hour.
Over the next several weeks, talks began on how to improve the public contracting system to provide more opportunity for qualified contractors — and how to hold government agencies accountable to make progress. Then-Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan participated.
As talks dragged on, a second shutdown was threatened. Some protesters abandoned the moral high ground to angle, unsuccessfully, for a $1.8 million contract to do minority “outreach.”
But serious political, community and labor leaders stayed at the table and reached a settlement. Among its fruits was creation of the Construction Prep Center, which provides training to adults interested in working in construction trades, and the Construction Career Center, a charter high school that helps to prepare students for a full range of careers in building arts and professions.
Last week, a small but vocal group of African-American contractors and activists made vague threats to commemorate the 1999 shutdown just in time to embarrass the city before the All-Star game.
Their grievance is drawn from data recently released by Missouri’s and Illinois’ departments of transportation. The reports show significant disparity in the number of contracts awarded to white-owned businesses and those given to women and minority contractors.
Both minority-owned and women-owned businesses are classified under federal law as “disadvantaged business enterprises.” Recent reports from both departments of transportation clearly show that disparity remains, particularly in the number of contracts awarded to minority contractors.
The issue is serious, especially given that more than $600 million in contracts will be let for the pending Mississippi River bridge project. The numbers make it clear: Minority contractors still haven’t achieved a full measure of fairness.
But it’s important to note the current disparities were revealed by the transportation departments themselves, as part of their efforts at accountability. They held public hearings last week announcing that they would ask the Federal Highway Administration to allow them to focus on minority contractors separately, while continuing efforts to involve more women-owned firms.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has an impressive record in promoting disadvantaged business enterprises, having vigorously and successfully defended its ambitious program in a lengthy federal court action. The Missouri Department of Transportation has a respected manager overseeing its civil rights division. Now would be a good time for top department leaders and the governors of both states to reaffirm their commitments.
Ten years is a long time to be patient, but another highway shutdown would be a foolish stunt that could set back sincere efforts to do the right thing.
Garrison,
I assume you go around naked most of the day with all your rantings against the off-shoring of the clothing industry. I mean, a real UNION person wouldn’t wear that foreign garbage.
Had to laugh the other day, saw a sign on a business that actually said PARKING FOR AMERICAN VEHICLES ONLY. Too bad it was a Sunday, would have liked to see how many were actually on the lot.
So, How many black electricians have you hired in those 18 years Garrison?
Garrison… You say 12 year old Asian girl can do the job despite exhaustion from a 16 hour day and the encumbrances of heavy chains. Why would American consumers want to exorbitant prices so an angry union worker can do the same job for $30 an hour plus lifetime benefits? Then after thirty years of working when he feels like it, he expects to buy a quarter million dollar motor home to commute each winter for another twenty years to his retirement property on the Gulf Coast.
Unions are like government, fire, and water. All are great until they rage beyond their beneficial roles and cause devastating hardship on innocent people. Not all robber barons wear cuff-links. Some wear steel toe boots.
The proponents of card check do not have the honesty or courage to admit they are trying to force union membership on those who do not want it. When pursuesion fails they use deception. When both fail they seek to coerce and intimidate. They stoke the fires of envy and hate until they destroy the very jobs they covet.
I have always wondered how important a job you did if you could be replaced by a 12 year old girl who not only outworks you but does so while chained to her work station.
A-
You obviously can’t grasp the concepts.
A majority of Americans don’t believe in human bondage or indentured servitude. Conservatives like yourself (who usually claim a religious and arrogant tilt) amazingly don’t find any moral degradation to chaining kids to sewing machines as long as it allows them to purchase Wal-Mart speedos for $2.49. I didn’t say anything about unions or the garment industry demanding $30 an hour. Stop playing the extremes. It makes you look foolish and unable to present a valid discussion.
AJ…The sign was on the Plumbers Local 36 parking lot several years ago.
They towed foreign made cars off the lot.
Looney.. I currently employ 4 Blacks, 1 woman and 16 White electricians.
They’re all highly trained, well qualified and earn $33/hr. plus benefits.
If you need your house wired, I will give you a free 5 year warranty and will replace any electrical system in your home if you’re unhappy with the installation….Ask your favorite sloppy “rat” employer if he will do the same.
Garrison,
If there’s one thing at my house I’ll hire union for it’s electrical work. It’s something I just don’t have a good knowledge in. When your house was built in the 30’s, it’s difficult to figure out how things were done. I’ve always had good work done by the union electricians I’ve hired. Those people know their stuff. If I had a way to get a hold of your company I’d ask for a quote on my next electrical job.
Thanks AJ.
I’m glad you appreciate skilled union labor.
Skill union workers should be appreciated.
It is that just that for Blacks, trade unions in construction just leave a sour taste in one’s mouth. For Blacks, the doors for skilled union training has been closed for so long to them and the stories that those who have gone through those doors tell of the hell that they must endure sounds like the 50’s and 60’s. The ignorance that Blacks endure from the other union workers is ridiculous to the point that many young Black people prefer to pass to the construction industry. Today’s Black youths have not been trained or prepared to perseverance through such ignorance.
But the main reason why most Blacks do not bother with the union is because many have become aware of so many Blacks who went down to that technical school and passed with flying colors only to be placed on a list to never be contacted again. They know about all those who went through the training only to complete training and not get any work, when a few years later, the White boys who were down there in class with them all were working steadily, purchased new homes and was taking care of wives and children very well in their modest homes while they are still calling the union looking for placement only be given a million excuses. While the only thing they are still hearing in the public is that they can’t find Blacks to pass the tests.
Of course a lot of this is due to nepotism in the construction industry where everyone have the in and is more important than the Black person desiring work and a steady career. When things gone on so long so unfairly, I know that it defeats itself and that is what we are witnessing in this industry right now. We never learn from history. There was enough work out there that it was just foolish to treat Blacks the way the construction industry did. It is time for Blacks to prepare themselves during this awful down time that this country is experiencing.
Garrison - I’ve never belonged to a country club, and to the best of my recollection, have only been to one once - for a church breakfast. So I guess you’re more familiar with country clubs than I am.