Carolina Alliance

        For Fair Employment

           (C.A.F.E.)

CAFE Youth and Allies

A Conversation with Leonard Riley, Jr.

of the ILA 

(International Longshoreman's Association)

A CAFE Dramatic Victory!!!!

        CAFE leaders are doing wonderful things in their chapters and within other groups and organizations.  One CAFE leader, in particular, has shown that he is committed to the work of CAFE and of social justice everywhere.

        Leonard Riley, Jr. a member of CAFE for over seven years now, is an example of a tremendous leader who has been involved for 30 years with the International Longshoreman Association (ILA), a union for people in the longshoreman profession.  Riley was able to shed some light on what the ILA and the Charleston Chapter of CAFE was working on and to offer other valuable insight regarding challenges to organizing, previous issues, and other topics.

        When asked about the greatest accomplishment of the ILA, Riley indicated that would have to be the issue revolving around the Charleston Five.  These were individuals who were arrested for picketing against unfair job practices.  Ten people were arrested in all and five were indicted with felonies.  The ILA networked with activists across the country and the world, seeking help and support for the Charleston Five, eventually setting up a defense camp for the Five.  Due to the work of the ILA and the many supporters, the Charleston Five were eventually freed.

        Riley indicated that the main challenge on the subject of the ILA was being able to organize a powerful union in a place that is a "right to work" state.  Riley said that being in a union in South Carolina is difficult when outside forces, like legislators and law enforcement agencies, are always looking for ways to undermine your work.

        The Charleston Chapter of CAFE does a lot of work around Hispanic Outreach including ESL classes and organizing the Mexican Embassy visits to South Carolina.  One of the major challenges to the Hispanic Outreach initiative, Riley stated, "was bringing African American and Hispanic people together." "We would have great political power if it happens," Riley said.  However, stereotypes and racial tendencies brought on by society (example:  Hispanics stealing jobs from Blacks, Blacks not wanting to work with people outside their race) makes it hard to establish trust between two groups.  It can be done, Riley believes, but it will take time.

        Currently, the Charleston Chapter is looking at establishing worker centers in the region.  They are currently developing plans for the worker centers, which will serve as resource outlets for people who want literature or talk to someone about job rights or problems, without having to worry about paying high legal fees.  "Sometimes folks get intimidated by lawyers because they have little money, but we hope that the worker centers will empower people once they get the answers to their questions," Rile said about the worker centers.  Riley aspires that some lawyers and community activists will donate some of their time to work with the initiative.  Funding sources are also being sought out.

        In closing, Rile offered some jewels of wisdom:  "CAFE is bridging the gap between workers and employers in a state where union representation and involvement is not smiled upon.  Our responsibility, thus, is to raise the hope of workers who do not have job security [that union representation can bring]."