Buttons - Union - 1993

Don't Risk Our Future

I-601, I-602

Washington Federation of Teachers

On the curl: Air Power Graphics, 1-206-568-3490

Buttons - Union - 1989

FIGHT BACK! Save BENEFITS!

WFSE/AFSCME

On the curl: Grays Harbor Stamp Works 800-894-3830

Buttons - Union - 1989

United Together For a STRONG CONTRACT!

WFSE/AFSCME

On the curl: Grays Harbor Stamp Works 800-894-3830

Buttons - Union - 1989

Save Our State

WFSE/AFSCME

On the curl: Grays Harbor Stamp Works 800-894-3830

Buttons - Union - 1989

 

 PAY State Employees FAIRLY, WPEA

Curl has: Grays Harbor Stamp Works, 800.894.3830

I suspect this dates back to the 1989 Washington State surplus budget issue and Governor Gardner not honoring his political promises to the Washington Public Employees Association.

Buttons - Union - 1989

Booth Buster, 3%

Washington State Governor Booth Gardner, a Democrat, angered his political base when he failed to make good on his promise to raise state worker salaries even though the public coffers has an unexpected windfall. This button suddenly surfaced and was handed to me by member of a labor union.

This button was playing off the popularity of both of the Ghostbusters movies. The original was released in 1984 (the year Gardner was elected), and Ghostbusters II was currently out when this anti-Gardner image was made.

Buttons - Union - 1991

AFT

This button was issued to me when I joined the American Federation of Teachers as a member of the faculty at South Puget Sound Community College, 1991-2000.

Buttons - Unions - 1970s

We're in Here For You, You're Out There For Us

Back in the early 1970s I interviewed several people who were participants or eyewitnesses to the Nov. 11, 1919 Centralia Massacre as well the subsequent 1920 trial in Montesano (a great uncle of mine testified). The fact I was related to people on both sides of this tragic incident, plus those willing to talk to me were looking at the end of their lives and were feeling confessional, gave me a unique and not very admirable view of this blot on Washington State history.

In the course of these interviews, someone gave me this IWW re-issue button.

Buttons - Union - 1990s?

 

UFCW Local 44, AFL-CIO-CLC

Under the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Buttons - Union - 1979

IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 9th District, Local 46, May 1979

Under the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Buttons - Union - 1945

Lumber & Sawmill Workers Local 2761, U.B.of C. & J. of America, Labor Omnia Vincit, A F of L, Jan Feb Mar 1945

Curl has: Pac Coast Stamp Wks, Seattle

Buttons - Union - 1944

Lumber & Sawmill Workers Local 2761, U.B.of C. & J. of America, Labor Omnia Vincit, A F of L, Oct Nov Dec 1944

Curl has: Pac Coast Stamp Wks, Seattle

Buttons - Union - 1942

Lumber & Sawmill Workers Loc. 2761, U.B.of C. & J. of America, Labor Omnia Vincit, A.F. of L., Oct Nov Dec 1942

Curl has: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Buttons - Presidential Campaign - 1992

Clinton Gore '92

On the curl: G.H. Stamp Works, Aberdeen, Wash.

Notice the union label is part of the display.

In 1992 I saw something I have never seen in a presidential election before or since. In McCleary, a town with a healthy chunk of 1938-1940 immigrants from Arkansas (I live in a part of town known as Arkie Hill), there were home-made signs for Clinton in front yards. In fact as I recall, in our town, George Herbert Walker Bush, the Republican incumbent, placed third behind Clinton and Perot in 1992.