Fighter, Leader, Pioneer

My most significant and lasting memory at AFSCME’s 39^th annual Convention in Boston, was meeting and talking with retiring Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME, Bill Lucy.  In the words of Bill Lucy, “Those that make history seldom see the footprints that they leave because the path is always before them!”  

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Bill started with AFSCME as a part of AFSCME Local 1675 in California. Soon after, Bill came to work for former AFSCME President Jerry Wurf. Recognizing his strengths, President Wurf sent Bill to Memphis to assist the striking sanitation workers in 1968. He worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1968 Memphis strike until the civil rights leader's assassination. In the end, AFSCME members won the recognition Local 1733 deserved.  

At AFSCME’s convention in Houston Texas in 1972, Bill was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME, a position he has held until his retirement this year. That same year, he helped found the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, creating a voice for African American workers. Later, Bill founded the Free South Africa Movement against Apartheid. He was one of many who helped to free Nelson Mandela from prison. In 1994, Bill Lucy became the first African American president of Public Services International (PSI), a trade union federation of over 500 public sector unions in over 140 countries.

Bill Lucy has remained at the center of AFSCME’s growth as a public sector union, now over 1.4 million members. He spent his time helping to negotiate contracts, “jacking up” politicians, marching with striking workers, and displaying solidarity wherever he went. He never forgot his roots and always remembered he was just a union member, a trade unionist. He displayed a common touch with workers everywhere. He continues to inspire us. He has always believed our union has been a force for good and he has lived his life always “trying to just help somebody”.

Bill spent over half an hour one day just talking to our Local 34 delegation on the convention floor. He spoke of the importance of leadership in the union coming from the rank and file. He reminded us that the union needs to be built from the bottom up. That’s why he was supporting Danny Donohue, a rank and file member, to succeed him. Unfortunately, with over 1.3 million ballots cast the margin of defeat was 4000 votes. But remember, there is another convention in two years. In the words of Danny, “We’ll be back!”  

In his parting comments to AFSCME, he left us with this thought: “If I can help somebody as I travel along this way, then my living will not have been in vain.” He simply wants history to say “Bill Lucy did the best he could”.  

In solidarity Bill - you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten!  

John Herzog, Local 34 member