Bert Powers
Encyclopedia
Bertram Anthony "Bert" Powers (March 8, 1922 - December 23, 2006) was an American labor leader who was best known for leading his union, the New York Typographical Union No. 6 into a 114 day strike
against four New York City newspapers in 1962-1963. Powers was born in Cambridge, MA and died in Washington, DC at the Washington Home hospice of pneumonia.
He became a printer
after a 1937 accident and moved to New York City in 1946, where he eventually rose to become vice president of the New York local of the International Typographical Union
in 1953. Powers was elected president of the ITU local in 1961 and faced a December 1962 end of the existing labor contract with the New York Publishers Association, the trade and bargaining association for nine New York City newspapers.
After talks failed, he called a strike on December 8, 1962, which ended March 31, 1963, and lasted for 114 days. As a result of that strike, Mr. Powers gained local and national attention, and his photo was on the cover of TIME magazine for the March 1, 1963 issue with the blurb: "Is Labor's Only Weapon a Monkey Wrench?"
In 1974, Powers and the publishers reached an historic deal. In return for guaranteed jobs for the printers then working, the publishers were free to computerize (or automate) the setting of type, thus gaining labor savings and faster composing of the page contents for each edition.
Powers retired as president of the local in 1990, after the ITU had merged into the CWA
in 1987.
1962 New York City newspaper strike
The 1962-63 New York City Newspaper Strike ran from December 8, 1962 until March 31, 1963, lasting for a total of 114 days.-Preliminary actions:...
against four New York City newspapers in 1962-1963. Powers was born in Cambridge, MA and died in Washington, DC at the Washington Home hospice of pneumonia.
He became a printer
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
after a 1937 accident and moved to New York City in 1946, where he eventually rose to become vice president of the New York local of the International Typographical Union
International Typographical Union
The International Typographical Union was a labor union founded on May 3, 1852 in the United States as the National Typographical Union. In its 1869 convention in Albany, New York, the union—having organized members in Canada—changed its name to the International Typographical Union...
in 1953. Powers was elected president of the ITU local in 1961 and faced a December 1962 end of the existing labor contract with the New York Publishers Association, the trade and bargaining association for nine New York City newspapers.
After talks failed, he called a strike on December 8, 1962, which ended March 31, 1963, and lasted for 114 days. As a result of that strike, Mr. Powers gained local and national attention, and his photo was on the cover of TIME magazine for the March 1, 1963 issue with the blurb: "Is Labor's Only Weapon a Monkey Wrench?"
In 1974, Powers and the publishers reached an historic deal. In return for guaranteed jobs for the printers then working, the publishers were free to computerize (or automate) the setting of type, thus gaining labor savings and faster composing of the page contents for each edition.
Powers retired as president of the local in 1990, after the ITU had merged into the CWA
Communications Workers of America
Communications Workers of America is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States representing about 550,000 members in both the private and public sectors. The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada representing about 8,000 members...
in 1987.