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Blockbusting
A labor union whose full name is the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers. This union represented a wide range of factory workers in defense manufacturing industries during and after World War II. However, it was completely segregated: no African Americans were allowed to join. Eventually, the Boilermakers opened “auxiliary union chapters” for African Americans like Frank Stevenson, but these affiliated chapters provided their members virtually no labor protections, while demanding they pay the same monthly dues. This was typical of white labor unions during the 20th century: it took decades for them to fully integrate, in part because the government chose not to force them to do so any sooner. This led to African American workers losing out on work, pay, and labor protections, which in turn contributed to residential segregation.
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Boilermakers Term Timeline in The Color of Law
The timeline below shows where the term Boilermakers appears in The Color of Law. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 10: Suppressed Incomes
...first moved to Richmond to work at the shipyard, Frank Stevenson couldn’t join the all-white Boilermakers’ union, so he joined the black “auxiliary union chapter[]” instead, and received no protection for...
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...Francisco, a group of black workers decided not to pay their union dues to the Boilermakers’ African American branch, which offered them zero protection. They were laid off, but appealed to...
(full context)
