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WA Labor Education and Research Center

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Born in 1920, Will Parry came of age during the Great Depression. He became active in the Communist Party in Washington as it strove to organize the poor and unemployed, and he played a vital role in the labor movement’s resurgence. Will was a journalist for Communist Party newspapers, including the People’s World, a publication that continues in digital form. He covered labor and political struggles of the time and also served in the Coast Guard during World War II.
The political climate in the U.S. became more conservative after the war, and Senator Joseph McCarthy—as well as many Republicans and Democrats—called for suspected communists to be blacklisted from the media, labor movement, and all levels of government. Parry stuck to his principles when he stood up to the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1954, invoking his constitutional rights when questioned about his work and his political affiliations. As a result of the Cold War witch-hunts, People’s World was forced to make cuts in staff, and Parry lost his job.
He struggled to find work, and was eventually hired by Longview Fibre in Seattle. There, he became a rank and file activist, and was elected by his coworkers to be the lobbyist for their union, the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers. He was among the first instructors to bring labor studies to higher education in Washington by teaching at Shoreline Community College. In his retirement, he formed the Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) and fought to protect and strengthen Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare for all generations.
Will Parry donated his books to the Labor Center when it relocated to South Seattle College’s Georgetown Campus in 2010. His generous donation of 430 volumes almost doubled the size of our library. His collection of books includes some of the greatest studies in labor and working-class history. Each book he donated contains a bookplate with an AP news photo of Will at a 1954 House Committee on Un-American Activities hearing. The pin he’s wearing says “Joe must go”—a statement against Senator Joseph McCarthy. We at the Labor Center are grateful for Will’s donation to our library, and for his lifetime of leadership in the struggle for social justice. Will passed away on May 13, 2013, at the age of 93.

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The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center

at South Seattle Community College

-About Us-
The Labor Center was established in 1987 to provide direct education and research services in higher education to unions in Washington State. This remains essential Labor Center work. Building on our successful programs, the Center now seeks to develop new learning opportunities in community college classrooms for all workers and students. A labor education program threaded throughout the Washington State Community and Technical College system, in effective collaboration with community-based organizations, can build valuable partnerships between colleges, labor organizations, and the communities they are part of. We endeavor to provide workforce education that empowers workers and communities for economic advancement and civic engagement.

-Mission Statement-
The mission of the Labor Center is to deliver high-quality education and training programs for the working women and men of Washington State. Our curriculum builds the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to improve their work lives and their communities, and promote a just economy through collective action. As a unique program within higher education in the state, we use the best practices of adult education to serve our dynamic and diverse labor force.

Luogo

6737 Corson Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98108

Pagina principale

http://WALaborCenter.org

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