Rich Austin Jr. is former president of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 19, representing over 1000 longshore workers on Seattle’s working waterfront. He is the grandson of a longshore worker and has worked on the docks himself since a young age. Austin has spoken in several classes and is passionate about bridging the gap between the academy and working people. He believes that by working together the labor movement can only get stronger and has been inspired by the younger generations’ commitment to labor research and advocacy. Austin is also a longstanding member of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies Visiting Committee.
Topics:The ILWU and its History, Unions Today, Longshore Work, Union Leadership/Organization
