Black Lives Matter at Work

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COPS IN THE HOUSE OF LABOR
3. In November 2014, following the non-indictment of Darren Wilson, the
union released a statement, prepared by the Working Group to Address
Anti-Blackness, in support of the movement for Black lives. It read that
“being Black and being of Color is a labor issue,” noting systemic racism
in the UC system and its reflection in the makeup of the union itself.
4. In December, the Black Interests Coordinating Committee was formed.
The BICC was empowered to choose the issues most important to them
and bring them to the Joint Council.
5. Over the course of the school year, members took action with the
movement for Black lives. On May Day, the union endorsed and
participated in dock workers’ shutdown of the Port of Oakland.
6. In July, a member of the BICC presented a letter to the Joint Council
calling on the AFL-CIO to end its affiliation with the International Union of
Police Associations. It read, “police unions serve the interests of police
forces as an arm of the state, and not the interests of police as laborers.”
It detailed the history of police unions and their conflict with the labor
movement at large.
7. After the letter was put out, the union quickly called a vote to endorse
it. Although some were concerned with specific points of language, the
original resolution overwhelmingly passed. Honoring the language of the
original letter was a concrete way to support both the voices and
concerns of Black union members. Given that the union is only 3% Black,
it was important that the room didn’t micromanage the language.