Download Hurley Chapters 4-5

Ch.4: Working Class Env’talism
 Note how organized labor generates a class-based, as
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opposed to ethnicity-based, form of solidarity.
Does this seem part of the assimilation process? What
do you think it means for urban development and social
movements, generally?
Note how the New Deal and Cold War were related to
an accomodationist labor mov’t. (79)
The Steelworkers were better on civil rights than they
were on race at work and way better on race at work
than they were on env’t.
Does capitalism need racism, or classism?
Ch.4: Working Class
Environmentalism II
 A “tough stand against pollution conflicted
with the union’s efforts to establish more
cordial relations with management.”
 I stress the accomodationist character of labor
unions to draw a parallel with middle class
env’talists.
 For both unions & env’talists PRODUCTION
decisions are left to corporate managers and
business owners.
Ch.4: Working Class
Environmentalism IIa
 Union negotiations focus on wages, not
democracy in production (which would be
multiracial), and ecological movements focus
on preservation or waste disposal.
 What is produced is not regulated.
 What goes in to production is regulated.
 What is done with it is regulated.
Ch.4: Working Class
Environmentalism III
 When there were wildcat strikes (w/o union
authorization – often by minority workers)
over working conditions, what usually
occurred was exhaust fans, hiring more
workers, or rotations.
 THIS IS KEY: Like acid rain, this is as an
attempt to dilute pollution’s health and
ecological effects -- pollution was redistributed,
and/or workers got greater protection from
dangerous environmental byproducts of
production.
 Same thing with OSHA regulations.
Ch.4: Working Class
Environmentalism IV
 Working class consumerism and the rise of a
mass culture was a part in the consolidation of
a coherent working class environmental
sensibility w/in and w/o work.
 Higher wages + more time = > consumption
and non-work outdoor activities.
 A key to the mass culture/consumerism of the
post-war period was the 40 hour work week,
paid holidays, and benefits: these led to “less
time on bar stools” and more time bowling,
fishing and in athletics. (91-93)
Ch.4: Working Class
Environmentalism V
 Calumet Environmental and Occupational
Health Committee -- better educated workers
make demands on OSHA administrators…
want their own environmental testing. (99)
 Parallels between Workers for Democracy and
Pier Community Coalition and Calumet
Community Coalition/Congress. (101-2)
 Labor/community radicals and clergy worked
together on direct action on env’tal and
community issues. (105-6)
Ch.4: Working Class
Environmentalism VI
 Civil rights, minority power, and labor union
veterans feed the working class
environmentalism of the 1970s under the social
and economic conditions resulting from those
struggles. (108)
 The key is the combination of civil rights
victories in the context of rising env’talism
AND a national (oil) and sectoral (steel)
recession (which lead to environmental and
OSHA cost-cutting.)
Conclusion
 What have you learned about the general
tendencies of middle class and working class
environmentalism?
Hurley: Chapter 5:
Environmental Inequalities
ISS310
Spring 2000
Prof. Alan Rudy
4/06/00
Main Points/Questions?
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism
 Poor sanitation, overcrowded housing and rats.
 Mayor Hatcher rejects the idea that
environmental reform and social justice are
incompatible.
– What group/struggles was Hatcher
associated with before successfully running
for mayor in the late 60s? (122)
 Hurley argues that overcoming “racist labor
unions, white property owners and political
machines” was not enough to reclaim the city
for black workers and their environment.
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism II
 “Black steelworkers, shop owners, and teachers
earned substantially more than janitors, elevator
operators, and messengers… But the sting of
racism had no regard for class boundaries.”
 “The fight for better jobs in the steel mills
incorporated a demand for more healthful
working conditions, and the drive to integrate
community facilities raised questions about
equal access to urban space.” (p.113)
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism II
 So, the question is: Does Gary turn out to be a
good, or better, place to be black than other places
or not?
– If it is better, why?
– If it isn’t better, why not?
– Put another way, what are the criteria for better?
• For example, is a separate but equal income
hierarchy better? or are there more issues involved
with “better?”
• If there’s more, what comprises “more?”
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism III
 Civil rights in the work place would mean
an end to discriminatory hiring practices
and job assignments as well as safer
working conditions.
 Synergy between union, civil rights, and
community/env’t direct action.
 NOTE: the coke plant was the rate limiting
step in the steel plant – wildcat strikes by
minority workers were very successful.
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism IV
 NOTE: the successful struggles of African
American steel workers in the 1970s coincided
with the downturn in the steel industry, job
downsizing and it’s backlash against the
env’talists.
 If African Americans were making job gains at a
time of overall job reduction, could it be that this
situation contributed to the collapse of the
multiclass & multiracial env’tal coalition?
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism V
 The key to understanding civil rights struggles is
that it was much more than a struggle over a level
political playing field – more than voting rights.
 It was also about economic equality within the
mills (remember the racist job assignment and
promotion systems organized by corporations and
unions) and residential-environmental equality
within the city and suburbs. (118)
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism VI
 Racism in environmental amenities and recreation
on the beach – a lot like the environmental
movement.
 Note the different class politics re: seizing the
beach Young Citizens for Beachland Democracy
vs. NAACP.
 Without access to free use of the shore (esp. in the
face of police indifference) why should AfricanAmericans work with middle income whites to
defend the shore against development? (122-23)
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism VII
 Overcrowding + higher incomes  blacks
moving out from the central city. However, white
flight, avaricious realtors and blockbusting 
better housing came at the cost of dirty air.
– What is “blockbusting?”
– Where did it work best?
– What happened afterwards to newly black
areas?
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism VIII
 Note how industrial taxes and social &
environmental regulation are related.
– If gov’t is supposed to address social problems,
it can only do so with reliable tax revenue.
– Does it seem right that the corporation making
money from workers and the environment
should pay taxes to address the problems of
workers and (their) environments?
Chapter 5: African-American
Environmentalism IX
 Note how public health and environmental
regulation are related.
 Note how civil, political and economic rights are
interrelated with residential and environmental
freedom.
 Note how “simple” things like reliable sanitation
services, small parks, abandon car and litter
removal can make a difference but the key is
reducing pollution.