Ciampa, P.J.

AFSCME Communications Department Records

jruss — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:06:22 -0400

AFSCME has produced a regularly published magazine since its inception. Publication duties for this organ and other materials were accomplished by the Education and Publications Department for the first twenty years of AFSCME’s existence. The 1954 Convention, however, passed Resolution 14, establishing a Publications and Public Relations Department. This new department would continue to publish the AFSCME magazine and other materials and would also take on new media public relations duties both at headquarters, and importantly, in the field. Recognizing that current field staff’s duties did not include crafting AFSCME’s message during organizing campaigns and strikes, it was hoped that the new department would provide skilled public relations professionals on the ground. The new department was created on April 1, 1956. The Publications and Public Relations Department existed until 1971 when the name was changed to the Public Affairs Department. This existed until 2011 when the name was changed again to the Communications Department.

The AFSCME Communications Department Records document the public activities of the Department, AFSCME International, and AFSCME officials. Records include speech transcripts; press releases; surveys and polls; documents related to AFSCME biennial conventions such as transcripts of proceedings, correspondence, and planning documents; correspondence; publications; meeting minutes; clippings; photographs, slides, and negatives; audio and video recordings; and posters.

AFSCME Local 1733: Memphis, Tennessee Records

jruss — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:40:48 -0400

Sanitation workers in AFSCME Local 1733 in Memphis, Tennessee led a strike in 1968 to gain union recognition. The strike lasted for 65 days and garnered national attention as Local 1733's campaign for labor rights became fused with the struggle for civil rights. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lent his support to the strikers by visiting Memphis and leading marches. While there, on April 4, 1968, King was assassinated. The strike was settled soon after King's death. Local 1733 went on to wage other campaigns for workers' rights, including a push to raise wages for public employees in the summer of 1969, a school boycott in the fall of 1969 that corresponded to the NAACP's drive for more racially diverse representation on the Memphis City Council, and a push to unionize workers at St. Joseph Hospital in the fall of 1969.

The vast majority of this collection consists of newspaper clippings that follow these campaigns in both local and national publications. Some additional material relating to the strikers' strategies and the organizations formed to support the strikers such as Community on the Move for Equality (C.O.M.E.) and Memphis U.S.A. also appears.

AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: William Lucy Records

jruss — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:21:25 -0400

The AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer oversees the general financial health of the international union, keeping records for its locals, councils, and the headquarters staff. The Office keeps files on council and local trusteeships, maintains per capita dues payments by locals and councils, issues charters to new locals, and suspends and disbands locals or councils when problems arise. William Lucy held this position for 38 years, 1972-2010.

Lucy joined AFSCME as a civil engineer in Contra Costa, CA in 1956. A decade later, he was working for the International in Washington, D.C. Proving his leadership abilities during the 1968 sanitation workers strike in Memphis, during which Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated, Lucy became AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer in 1972. Alongside his work with AFSCME, Lucy also served with countless labor, civil rights, and civic organizations to advance causes for blacks, women, and workers locally in Washington, D.C., nationally, and internationally. Lucy helped found the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) in 1972 to represent African Americans in the labor movement. He was instrumental in the Free South Africa Movement's efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. He served as president of Public Services International (PSI) and as a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council. These activities are reflected in the Records. Lucy retired from the position of Secretary-Treasurer in July 2010 at the AFSCME biennial convention.

The AFSCME Office of the Secretary-Treasurer: William Lucy Records document the activities and operations of AFSCME International, the Office of the Secretary-Treasurer, and AFSCME’s state and local councils. The Records also convey the actions of William Lucy in a number of labor and civil rights organizations, including TransAfrica, the NAACP, CBTU, PSI, and the AFL-CIO. The Records include correspondence, reports, speeches, financial information, legal documents, convention transcripts and proceedings, publications, and meeting minutes. Several boxes of audio recordings of International Executive Board meetings are included, and a very small number of photographs appear in the collection.

AFSCME Organizing Department Records

jruss — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:27:42 -0400

This collection reflects the work done by and through the AFSCME Organizing Department, 1967-1972. Important subjects and people that appear in the collection include public employee organizing; recruitment; organizations; elections; strikes; Chairman of the AFSCME Judicial Panel Joseph L. Ames; International Field Director P.J. Ciampa; and International President Jerry Wurf.

AFSCME Publications

mcourtney — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 11:10:47 -0400

AFSCME Publications is a collection comprised of serials created and collected by AFSCME International, District Councils, and Locals. The collection also contains material produced as part of AFSCME’s biannual international conventions and articles published about AFSCME from an academic standpoint. The publications in this collection arrived at the Reuther Library over time and came from multiple sources.

The collection features AFSCME’s official publication, which was first known as The Journal of State and Local Government Employees (1937-1947), then Public Employee (1947-2007), and later, AFSCME WORKS (2007-2017). Much of the collection is made up of newsletters produced at the Council or Local level between 1968 and 1974, illustrating the issues relevant to different types of AFSCME workers during a formative time for the Union.

Note that this collection was updated in September 2019 with the final issues of AFSCME Works and issues of Council 5's Stepping Up.

Web Exhibit Announcement: I AM a Man

jruss — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:57 -0400

April 4, 2012 marks the 44th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. King had traveled to Memphis in the spring of 1968 to lend his support to striking sanitation workers, members of AFSCME Local 1733. We're pleased to announce the launch of a new web exhibit, created in conjunction with the Wayne State University Library System, explaining the events of that spring. Please visit the exhibit and share widely: (http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/iamaman/).

Johanna Russ was the Archivist for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) from 2008 until 2013.

AFSCME News Release, Leaders found in contempt

scaloia — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 11:42:57 -0500

A news release from AFSCME describers contempt charges against AFSCME President Jerry Wurf and other leaders, including P.J. Ciampa and Bill Lucy, during the Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike.

Termination form for Gerald McEntee

scaloia — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:03:01 -0400

In 1967, Gerald McEntee left his job as an International Representative to lead Council 33 in Pennsylvania. While there, he lead unprecedented organizing efforts and successfully campaigned for state-wide public employee collective bargaining rights. He lead AFSCME International as President from 1981-2012.

(3712) Wurf and King, Memphis

jruss — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:48:03 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf consults with Martin Luther King, Jr. who traveled to Memphis to lend support to the striking sanitation workers of Memphis Local 1733 in 1968. King was assassinated while in Memphis campaigning for the AFSCME Local.

(7485) AFSCME leaders in contempt of court, Memphis

jruss — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:42:59 -0400

AFSCME International Field Staff Director P.J. Ciampa (left), AFSCME International President Jerry Wurf (middle, with back turned), and then executive assistant to Wurf, William (Bill) Lucy (far right with pipe), receive contempt of court charges on March 6, 1968, during the Memphis Local 1733 sanitation workers’ strike.

(7529) AFSCME staffers watch King in Memphis

jruss — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:50:44 -0400

AFSCME International Field Director P.J. Ciampa (left), and AFSCME staffer Bill Lucy (center, in checked suit) watch as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. greets a crowd while in Memphis for the sanitation workers’ strike in late March or early April 1968.

(7629) Miami Beach organizational strike

jruss — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:06:45 -0400

AFSCME International leaders P.J. Ciampa (left) and William Lucy (with bullhorn) speak to a crowd of city employees during the strike for union recognition of Miami Beach Local 1544 in 1968.

(7630) Miami Beach Local 1544 recognized

jruss — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:03:20 -0400

Striking workers congratulate AFSCME Field Staff Director P.J. Ciampa following the union agreement with the city for a representation election. City employees in Miami Beach had struck for recognition of Local 1544 in 1968.

(7636) Atlanta sanitation workers march

jruss — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:41:05 -0400

AFSCME leaders P.J. Ciampa (center, front) and William Lucy (center, right in sunglasses) lead a march of Atlanta Local 1644 demonstrators in 1970.

(7642) Atlanta sanitation workers march

jruss — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:37:10 -0400

AFSCME leaders P.J. Ciampa (left) and William Lucy (right) appear in the foreground during a march for Atlanta Local 1644 sanitation workers in 1970.

(8889) Ciampa maced

jruss — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:38:00 -0500

AFSCME International Representative P.J. Ciampa is maced by police in Memphis during Local 1733’s sanitation workers’ strike.

(8891) King in Memphis

jruss — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:22:35 -0500

AFSCME International President Jerry Wurf (right) and International Representative P.J. Ciampa (standing) with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis during Local 1733’s sanitation workers’ strike.

(11306) 1971 AFSCME Area Directors Meeting

jruss — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:46:13 -0400

AFSCME leaders meet at the 1971 Area Directors Meeting in Washington, D.C. Seated at the back table, facing the camera, from left to right, are AFSCME International officers William Lucy, Jerry Wurf, P.J. Ciampa, and Joseph Ames.

(11423) 1968 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:41:21 -0400

AFSCME leadership and guests, including Organizer P.J. Ciampa, Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Ames, President Jerry Wurf, and Coretta Scott King, lead delegates in song at the 1968 Convention in Bal Harbour, FL.

(11426) 1968 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:45:09 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf honors Coretta Scott King whose husband Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated a few months earlier while supporting AFSCME sanitation workers in Memphis. AFSCME Organizer P.J. Ciampa looks on at the 1968 Convention in Bal Harbour, FL.

(24731) AFSCME Leaders Remember King

jruss — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:50:36 -0400

AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Joe Ames (left) and P. J. Ciampa (middle), organizer and leading negotiator during the successful 1968 sanitation workers strike, are seated on the dais in Memphis at the first anniversary memorial of Martin Luther King’s assassination.

(24743) King in Memphis

jruss — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:21:00 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf (right) speaks with an admirer of Martin Luther King, Jr. (left) who had traveled to Memphis to lend support to striking sanitation workers of Local 1733. AFSCME organizer P.J. Ciampa stands behind them.

(24744) P.J. Ciampa

jruss — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:33:03 -0400

P.J. Ciampa, an AFSCME organizer, speaks during the 1968 Memphis Local 1733 sanitation workers strike.

(24745) King in Memphis

jruss — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:39:10 -0400

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf (right) speaks to Martin Luther King, Jr. at a rally for the striking sanitation workers of Memphis Local 1733. AFSCME organizer P.J. Ciampa stands behind them.

(24747) King in Memphis

jruss — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:00:11 -0400

Martin Luther King, Jr. sits with AFSCME President Jerry Wurf at a rally for striking sanitation workers of Memphis Local 1733. AFSCME organizers P.J. Ciampa (left) and Jesse Epps (center) stand behind them.

(26991) 1978 King anniversary

jruss — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:09:16 -0400

Labor and civil rights leaders lead a march in Memphis on the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Leaders include AFSCME President Jerry Wurf, AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy, AFSCME Field Representative P.J. Ciampa, and Local 1733 leader and 1968 striker Taylor Rogers.

(27919) Ciampa Scholarship

jruss — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:26:21 -0500

From left: AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, Maragert Ciampa, Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy, and University of Baltimore President H. Mebane Turner. At a luncheon in Baltimore, AFSCME presented Mrs. Ciampa with a plaque commemorating the work of her late husband, P.J. Ciampa, an AFSCME organizing leader for 27 years. Ciampa worked tirelessly for the International as well as for Maryland Council 67. AFSCME also presented the University of Baltimore with $40,000 to establish a scholarship in Ciampa’s name for AFSCME members and their children.