William Lucy (labor leader) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Lucy
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Lucy in 1984
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| Born | November 26, 1933 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | September 25, 2024 (aged 90) |
| Alma mater | UC Berkeley |
| Occupation | Labor and community organizer |
William Lucy (born November 26, 1933 – died September 25, 2024) was an important American leader for workers' rights. He worked for many years with a large group called the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). From 1972 to 2010, he was their Secretary-Treasurer, which is a very important job.
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Early Life and Education
William Lucy was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 26, 1933. He grew up in Richmond, California. In the early 1950s, he went to the University of California, Berkeley. There, he studied civil engineering, which is about designing and building things like roads and bridges.
After college, Lucy worked for Contra Costa County. He was a materials and research engineer for 13 years. During this time, he also started to get involved in helping workers. He later served on the board of directors for the NAACP, a group that works for civil rights. William Lucy passed away on September 25, 2024, at the age of 90.
Leading the Labor Movement
Lucy joined a local branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in 1956. This group helps workers get fair pay and good working conditions. By 1965, he was elected president of his local group. The next year, he started working full-time at AFSCME's main office in Washington, D.C..
From 1972 to 2010, Lucy was the Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME. This meant he helped manage the group's money and important decisions.
Founding the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
During his time at AFSCME, William Lucy helped start the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU). He worked with other Black union leaders like Nelson Edwards and Cleveland Robinson. Lucy was the first president of CBTU and held that role until 2013. This group worked to make sure Black workers had a strong voice in unions.
International and National Roles
William Lucy also became a leader on a global scale. In 1994, he was elected president of Public Services International. This was a big achievement, as he was the first African American to hold this important international position.
In 1995, he joined the executive council of the AFL–CIO. This is a very large group of unions in the United States. He also served as a vice-president for several departments within the AFL–CIO.
Supporting the Memphis Sanitation Strike
In 1968, William Lucy played a key role in the Memphis sanitation strike. This strike involved mostly Black sanitation workers in Memphis who were fighting for better wages and working conditions. Martin Luther King Jr. also supported these workers.
Even after King's assassination in April 1968, Lucy continued to help the workers. He worked hard to make sure the strike ended successfully. Many people say Lucy helped create the famous slogan, "I Am A Man!" This powerful phrase became a rallying cry for the Memphis strikers.
Fighting Apartheid in South Africa
William Lucy also helped start the Free South Africa Movement. This was a group that worked against apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a system of unfair laws that separated people by race. Lucy was involved in this movement for over 20 years.
He was part of a group that watched the elections in South Africa when Nelson Mandela became the first Black president. This was a historic moment for freedom and equality.
