James Brown Jr. oral history interview, December 6, 2011

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: BrownJ_L2012-03

Staff Only

James Brown, Jr. oral history interview

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Traci Drummond. Brown recounts his early work experience at Harold’s Mobile Service, working on cars as a Teamster under Harold Stull, who was also a former IAMAW member. Brown recalls his early positions within the union, and describes the politics behind the breakoff of McDonnell/Douglas from district 9 during his time as an organizer for the district lodge. Brown discusses the impact of the PATCO strike and NAFTA on the labor movement. Brown describes the retiree healthcare plan that he helped establish for his district lodge. Brown provides commentary on the state of younger union people, disagreeing with the charge that younger people have “never really had to fight.” Brown then describes the auxiliary and advisory roles he served in external agencies, including his time as president of the Tool-and-Die Conference.

Dates

Creation: December 6, 2011

Creator

Brown, James, Jr. (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

James Brown, Jr. was born April 27, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri to James E. and Ruth Brown. His father was a member of the United Auto Workers, and Brown recalls a 1937 strike of the Chevrolet plant in St. Louis in which the elder James Brown participated. Prior to joining the IAMAW, Brown worked with the Teamsters as a gas station mechanic. Brown later worked for Continental Can, and joined the United Steelworkers. As the United Steelworkers and the IAMAW organized different divisions of the shop, Brown transitioned into the IAMAW when he successfully applied for an apprenticeship through the company’s machine shop while he was attending trade school. From 1978 to 2003, Brown held a variety of positions within district lodge 9, including organizer, business representative, assistant director, and director, before moving to the International lodge as administrative assistant to Midwest Territory Vice President Alex Bay in 2003. Brown held the administrative assistant for a mere ten months before succeeding Bay as Midwest Territory Vice President upon his retirement, a position that Brown held until his own retirement in 2006. Brown also held the presidency of the Tool-and-Die Conference from 1985 to 2010, and served auxiliary and advisory roles to a multitude of external agencies, including the Missouri State Council of Machinists, the St. Louis Labor Council, and the United Way of St. Louis, among others.