Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR)

Al Bilik Papers

drice — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:00:39 -0400

Al Bilik served on the District Council 51, Cincinnati, Ohio and was an active labor member within the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Sensitive to the relationship of the larger international union working with and depending on the strength of locals and councils, he helped American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union members Victor Gotbaum, Rob Hastings, Jerry Wurf, Joseph Ames, Norm Schut and Father Albert Blatz, form the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR).

Formed in the early 1960’s, COUR worked on AFSCME constitutional reforms to broaden the powers of the Secretary-Treasurer and International Executive Board, giving affiliated unions more authority in determining local policies and programs. COUR supported Jerry Wurf to become the new AFSCME President and opposed the candidacy of AFSCME President Arnold Zander in the international convention held May 1962 in Kansas City. At the 1964 Denver convention COUR campaigning eventually worked to oust Zander and establish Wurf as the new AFSCME President. Al Bilik later became the assistant to AFSCME President Jerry Wurf.

Al Bilik’s papers contain correspondence from active COUR members, but does not contain correspondence written by Al Bilik.

(11396) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:13:42 -0400

Outgoing President Arnold Zander swears in new officers, including new President Jerry Wurf, at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO. From left: Vice Presidents Don McCullar, Harry Gray, William Richard, Lillian Roberts, John Caldwell, Ruby Wicker, Steve Clark, Secretary-Treasurer Gordon Chapman, President Jerry Wurf, and Vice Presidents Rena Ainsworth, N. B. Crippen, Father Albert Blatz, and James A. Broyer.

(11397) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:14:45 -0400

A delegate at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO shows his support for reform candidates.

(11398) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:15:37 -0400

AFSCME leader Joseph Ames speaks to the 1964 Convention in Denver, CO. Seated at the table are Al Bilik and Dorothy Bonneau.

(11400) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:17:33 -0400

A delegate shows her support for reform candidates, Lillian Roberts, Gordon Chapman, and Jerry Wurf, at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO.

(11401) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:18:58 -0400

Former President Arnold Zander (seated left) listens as President Jerry Wurf addresses the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO. Also seated are International Vice Presidents Rena Ainsworth and James Broyer.

(11403) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:20:58 -0400

A delegate at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO speaks on the floor while showing her support for reform candidates.

(11404) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:21:53 -0400

Jerry Wurf casts his vote at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO. Wurf won the election and became International President.

(11405) 1964 AFSCME Convention

pneirink — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:22:56 -0400

Jerry Wurf and Gordon Chapman’s campaign poster hangs over the AFSCME 1964 Convention floor in Denver, CO.

(11565) Committee on Union Responsibility

jruss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:38:52 -0400

Members of the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) lift their leader, Jerry Wurf, in celebration. COUR won the AFSCME election in 1964, and Jerry Wurf succeeded Arnold Zander as president of the union.

(11566) Committee on Union Responsibility

jruss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:55:29 -0400

Leaders of the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) enact see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil in 1962. From left: Robert Hastings, Jerry Wurf, Al Bilik.

(11567) Committee on Union Responsibility

jruss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:02:16 -0400

Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) leaders from left: Father Albert Blatz, Jerry Wurf, James Broyer, and Gordon Chapman. Blatz and Broyer were international vice presidents. Gordon Chapman was international secretary-treasurer under both Arnold Zander and Jerry Wurf.

(11568) Committee on Union Responsibility

jruss — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:18:16 -0400

Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) leaders Gordon Chapman (left) and Jerry Wurf greet supporters at the 1963 COUR Conference in Milwaukee.

(38564) Committee for Union Responsibility Conference, Chicago, 1963

scaloia — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:17:59 -0400

Members of AFSCME’s Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) at a conference in Chicago. At left is Lillian Roberts, and at center is Robert Hastings.

(38565) AFSCME COUR Conference, Doris Moulton, Milwaukee, 1963

scaloia — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:33:22 -0400

Doris Moulton, Local 426 Milwaukee Public Library Employees, Speaks at the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) conference in Milwaukee, 1963.

Upon her passing in 1974, AFSCME President Jerry Wurf remarked, “Doris Moulton played a quiet, but effective and decisive role in the development of the Union, particularly in the early 1960s.” See Public Employee issues from April 1974 and February 1965.

(38566) Committee on Union Responsibility, Milwaukee, 1963

scaloia — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:37:56 -0400

Members of the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) chat during a 1963 COUR conference in Milwaukee. COUR supported reform candidates for AFSCME leadership in 1962 and successfully campaigned for Jerry Wurf's presidency, among other new leaders, in 1964.

(38567) Committee for Union Responsibility, Jerry Wurf, Harry Gray

scaloia — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:43:55 -0400

Members of the Committee for Union Responsibility (COUR) hold hands during a conference. Fourth from left is Jerry Wurf, who with the support of COUR, successfully ran for president of AFSCME in 1964. Third from right is Harry Gray, a successful candidate for International Vice President the same year.

(38568) Committee on Union Responsibility Members, Milwaukee, 1963

scaloia — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:46:27 -0400

Members of the Committee on Union Responsibility (COUR) gather at a conference in Milwaukee, 1963. At left is Lillian Roberts.