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Mary Lynn Walker oral history interview, January 27, 2005

 Item — othertype: Oral History
Identifier: WalkerM_L2005-04

Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Lauren Kata. Walker discusses her background growing up in a large family at the end of the Depression, living on a farm and the responsibilities handed to the her as the eldest daughter, and her educational opportunities as a woman. On gender barriers that she had to break in order to become a key player within different unions, Walker explains how she proved a woman was capable of doing the job. She also talks about her work for AFGE during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with particular attention given to some of the executive orders and contracts negotiated under Kennedy, Nixon, and Carter. Walker addresses the changing regional attitude towards labor unions as well as outsourcing and other challenges facing the labor movement today. Union Represented: American Federation of Government Employees

Dates

  • Creation: January 27, 2005

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Mary Lynn Walker was born on June 2, 1937 in Brooks, Fayette County, Georgia into a large, farming family of fifteen children. After marriage, Walker graduated from Smith-Hughes Vocational School in Fayette County in 1955. She began her work with the labor movement while employed at the Atlanta Army Depot, becoming very active in the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) in 1968. During her stint with the AFGE, Walker held executive positions never before realized by a woman including the 14th District National Representative, the Director of Organizing, and the National Vice President for the 5th District. Walker has received numerous awards for her work with unions including the Labor Leader of the Year 2001 and for the work she did while being a magistrate for the Supreme Court in Virginia from 1985-1991.

Extent

2 Item(s) (transcript (106 pages) audio (2:53:42 duration))

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

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