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Memories of a Union: Bartender recalls value of solidarity
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by Kara Janney
the Arbiter
“If you can keep a union honest, then union is the only way to go.” • Lew Lewis
Lew Lewis is one of organized labor’s biggest fans. Since his great-uncle was John L. Lewis, an historical figure in the organizing of coal miners, it is no surprise that Lew reveres organized labor so highly.
Union membership is also a family tradition for Lewis. Lewis’ father and grandfather both were members of the Sheetmetal Workers Union, and Lew has been in quite a few unions as well. The Teamsters, Carpenters Union, and the Laborers Union all are part of Lewis’ labor union experience.
When Lewis moved to Idaho in 1960, he anticipated making about the same wage being a carpenter as he did in Missouri. He was shocked to learn that most of the carpenters in Idaho only made $3.50 an hour. He earned $12 an hour in Missouri, largely because they had a strong Carpenters Union there. There is no disputing that being in the union definitely has its benefits.
In Idaho, which is a right-to-work state, workers can be fired much more easily than if a union were present to mediate between the employee and the company. If an employee is a member of a union, and the company they work for wants to fire them, then it is the company’s burden to produce documentation showing the employee’s incompetence.
However, in a right-to-work state, it is much easier for an employer to release an employee for the least of reasons.
“I don’t understand how right-to-work’ ever got passed in the state of Idaho,” Lewis said. ” It is such a bullshit thing because they (legislators) misled people to think that if the unions had less power, then more money would be going into the paychecks of the people.”
At this point in the interview, Mike Dobson, a regular at the Iron Gate, walked over to share his union experience. “Yeah, right to work for less. Painters’ wages haven’t gone up in 10 years. When I was in the Cement Finishers Union I made $18 an hour, and as a journeyman painter you make only about $15 an hour. Wages and benefits have always been better for people who are in unions.”
“I think too many people think unions are a bunch of gangsters, or something. I know people who will call you a Communist for being in a union. Isn’t that ridiculous?” he said. “Because you want to get a decent wage for a decent day’s work, some people think you are some bad person. What’s bad is that the companies get away with treating people the way that they do. A union can shut a company right down, and that’s a good thing if the company is treating its workers poorly. Companies can be unfair•that’s why we need unions.”
Lewis is no longer in a union. He bartends, but asserts he would join a Bartenders Union if Idaho had one. He accepts that the unions aren’t strong like they were before, but retains hope that upcoming generations will revive unions and recognize the benefits of organized labor.
Whether you are pro-union or anti-union, or just don’t care either way, the pioneers of the labor movement, like Lewis’ great-uncle, are the people who made working in America something humane and desirable.
Kara Janney (The Arbiter)
