local 77 in the silent vigil of 1968
By Helen Yu
Official accounts of the 1968 Silent Vigil often fail to properly recognize the role played by the university worker’s union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 77. Founded in 1965, this majority African-American union for years pressured the administration to respond to workers grievances.[1] In 1966, forty-two maids – all black women – submitted grievances about their impossible workload, all of which the administration dismissed at the beginning stages of the grievance process.[2] Duke janitor Oliver Harvey was among the most prominent organizers. Local 77 also published a newspaper by and for Duke workers to advocate for worker’s rights.[3] Over the course of our research, we found that staff contributions to Duke are grossly overlooked. An installation commemorating Duke’s first labor union, the striking maids and Oliver Harvey would not only place staff as an integral part of life on campus, but also recognize their activism for equity and justice.
[1]. Ludwig, Erik, “Closing in on the ‘Plantation’: Coalition Building and the Role of Black Women’s Grievances in Duke University Labor Disputes, 1965-1968,” Feminist Studies 25, no. 1 (1999): 79-94.
[2]. Ibid
[3]. Sorensen, David, “Duke Labor Union Publishing Newspaper,” Duke Chronicle, 28 July 1982, Labor Unions Reference Collection, 1958-2001.Duke University. University Archives. Box 1, Duke University Archives.
[2]. Ibid
[3]. Sorensen, David, “Duke Labor Union Publishing Newspaper,” Duke Chronicle, 28 July 1982, Labor Unions Reference Collection, 1958-2001.Duke University. University Archives. Box 1, Duke University Archives.