Frontlash

Infobox Union
name=Frontlash
full_name=Frontlash


founded=1968
country=United States of America
office=
people=
website=
affiliation=AFL-CIO
members=
native_name=
current=
head=
dissolved_date=1997
dissolved_state=
merged_into=
footnotes= Frontlash was a non-profit organization founded in 1968 to help minority and young people register to vote and to engage in voter education. [Stetson, "Youth Group Is Pressing Blue-Collar and Minority Voters' Drive," "New York Times," August 15, 1972.] Initially sponsored by the AFL-CIO, the United States Youth Council, and the NAACP Youth Council, the AFL-CIO became the group's most important financial sponsor and essentially took over Frontlash in 1971, becoming the labor federation's outreach program to younger Americans. Frontlash folded in 1997.

The organization was conceived by Penn Kemble, a socialist and member of the Young People's Socialist League. The "Frontlash" name was a play on words: The organization would work to counteract the "backlash" against liberalism by blue-collar workers. Kemble was the organization's first executive director. [Martin, "Penn Kemble, 64, Is Dead," "New York Times," October 23, 2005; Muravchik, "Comrades," "Commentary," January 18, 2006.]

tructure

Frontlash was funded almost entirely by the AFL-CIO after 1971. It was led by an executive director, who was appointed by the president of the AFL-CIO. Membership in Frontlash was extended to anyone, although the organization focused on building membership among people 30 years of age and younger. Local chapters formed primarily on college campuses, but some chapters formed in large cities (as the creations of AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils; their membership often remained minuscule). Frontlash chapters were usually democratic in nature, although they relied heavily on funds and staff from AFL-CIO appointed leaders in the central labor bodies. This dependency significantly checked the ability of Frontlash chapters to engage in independent action.

1970s

Frontlash conducted its first voter registration campaign in 1968. Passage of the 26th Amendment in July 1970 lowered the voting age to 18. The AFL-CIO became, with only minor exceptions, Frontlash's financial backer and essentially took over the organization. Kemble, whose interest in the organization had waned, stepped down and Charlotte Roe became the group's executive director.Roberts, "Youths Signing Up for '72," "New York Times," September 26, 1971.] Frontlash's 1972 voter registration effort was extensive, focusing on the top 12 most heavily-industrialized states. Frontlash's strategy was to go door-to-door and register voters. The organization also co-sponsored a Youth In Politics Institute to teach high school students their rights as voters and motivate them to get involved in politics. Frontlash also worked with the United Federation of Teachers to produce a film about voting rights which was subsequently distributed to high schools across the country. ["Coalition Seeking New Youth Voters," "New York Times," April 14, 1971; Apple, "Youth Vote Likely to Aid Democrats," "New York Times," May 10, 1971.] Frontlash tended to register about 3 Democrats for every 1 Republican. [Roberts, "Working Youth: The 17 Million 'Invisible' Voters," "New York Times," May 11, 1972.]

1980s

In the 1980s, Frontlash focused more on economic and social issues of concern to the AFL-CIO than voter registration. In 1981, it sold more than bumper stickers, buttons and t-shirts emblazoned with the Polish flag and the word Solidarność to raise money for the Polish Workers Aid Fund—a charity established by the AFL-CIO in 1980 to help the Polish trade union, Solidarity. [Feinberg, "Polish Union Buttons Down Support," "Washington Post," December 24, 1981.] Under its new executive director, Jessica Smith, Frontlash also opposed the subminimum wage proposed by the Reagan administration. ["A Debate On the Subminimum Wage," "New York Times," March 31, 1985.] Its two-year culminated in protests outside Burger King restaurants nationwide. The protests included the United States Students Association, College Democrats of America, the Gray Panthers, and the National Council of Senior Citizens. The protests drew nationwide media attention, and led the Reagan administration to abandon the proposed subminimum wage. [Sinclair, "Wage Protest Bridges The Age Gap," "Washington Post," March 21, 1989.] Frontlash also supported the AFL-CIO's boycott of the Coors Brewing Company, stressing Coors's donations to organizations that supported cuts in federal student aid programs. [Prial, "Union Boycott of Coors Extended to New York," "New York Times," March 9, 1987.] Frontlash also partnered with the nascent youth service organization, City Year, in 1989 and provided workers and financial backing for the group in its first year. [Wyman, "Fledgling Youth-Service Corps Prepares For First Tour of Duty," "Boston Globe," August 17, 1989.]

Frontlash's third executive director, Joel Klaverkamp, expanded the organization's permanent presence into two additional states in 1987, bringing the total to 10.Dine, "Union Leaders Decry Child Labor Abroad," "St. Louis Post-Dispatch," February 23, 1989.] [Marks, "AFL-CIO Pursues Young Members," "St. Petersburg Times," March 9, 1987.]

1990s

In the 1990s, Frontlash's new executive director Cheryl Graeve launched what would become the organization's most visible campaign. Known as "Toycott," the campaign—which began in 1989 but did not receive national media attention until 1991—highlighted the use of child labor in the manufacture of toys and other consumer goods in China and sold in the United States. ["Labor, Consumer Groups Urge Boycott of Chinese Toys," "Associated Press," November 25, 1991.] Frontlash formed a coalition of student groups at the 500 largest universities in the U.S. to build support for the Toycott campaign. [Belsie, "U.S. Labor Movement Adopts Global Strategy," "Christian Science Monitor," February 27, 1989.] Frontlash also received the support of the National Consumers League and the Democracy for China Fund. ["Labor, Consumer Groups Urge Boycott of Chinese Toys," "Associated Press," November 25, 1991; "Activists Plan Boycott of Toys Made By Chinese Child Laborers," "Chicago Tribune," November 28, 1991; Neufeld, "Toys 'R' Us Asked to Pull Toys Imported From China," "Washington Times," December 11, 1993.] The campaign survived Frontlash's demise in 1997, leading to the formation of United Students Against Sweatshops later that year.

Frontlash also formed the "Student Coalition Against Busters" (SCAB), which singled out large law firms for engaging in what Frontlash called anti-union activities. ["Students Accuse Four Law Firms of 'Union Busting'," "New York Times," December 16, 1990.] It also protested against companies which recruited on college campuses and had broken their unions, most notably International Paper. ["Group Opposes Visit By Paper Company," "Syracuse Post-Standard," October 6, 1991.]

In 1994, Frontlash expanded its Toycott campaign to focus on consumer clothing and other consumer goods manufactured in sweatshops. Frontlash targeted the Phillips-Van Heusen shirt-making corporation, Nike, the Dole Food Company, Mattel and other companies whose products were created or harvested in low-wage countries. The campaign, titled "Come Shop With Me," was supported by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and was supported by the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the National Consumers League. [Barrett, "Campaign Set to Hit U.S. Firms That Source Goods Overseas," "WWD," December 16, 1994.] The campaign initially failed to win much press attention, [Barrett, "Press Muffles Sourcing Outcry," "WWD," December 19, 1994.] but in 1996 Frontlash began targeting Nike specifically and began setting up protests outside the company's "Niketown" stores. While the Nike protests garnered some national attention and public support, the collapse of the "Come Shop With Me" campaign significantly weakened Frontlash. [Green, "Nike, Jordan Challenged On Conditions," "Journal of Commerce," July 25, 1996; "Sporting Goods Protesters Hit Chicago," "United Press International," July 13, 1996; Bowers, "Ex-Worker Accuses Nike of Poor Factory Conditions," "Washington Times," July 16, 1996.]

Demise

The number of Frontlash chapters declined significantly in the 1990s. By 1995, only a few remained, and nationwide membership numbered in the hundreds rather than thousands. The AFL-CIO folded Frontlash's operations into other departments, and quietly shuttered the organization in 1997. [Contiguglia, "Capitol Hill Veteran Is New Chief of Staff In Rockefeller's Office," "Roll Call," April 9, 1998.]

Notes

References

*"Activists Plan Boycott of Toys Made By Chinese Child Laborers." "Chicago Tribune." November 28, 1991.
*Apple, Jr., R.W. "Youth Vote Likely to Aid Democrats." "New York Times." May 10, 1971.
*Barrett, Joyce. "Campaign Set to Hit U.S. Firms That Source Goods Overseas." "WWD." December 16, 1994.
*Barrett, Joyce. "Press Muffles Sourcing Outcry." "WWD." December 19, 1994.
*Belsie, Laurent. "US Labor Movement Adopts Global Strategy." "Christian Science Monitor." February 27, 1989.
*Bowers, Paige. "Ex-Worker Accuses Nike of Poor Factory Conditions." "Washington Times." July 16, 1996.
*"Coalition Seeking New Youth Voters." "New York Times." April 14, 1971.
*"A Debate On the Subminimum Wage." "New York Times." March 31, 1985.
*Dine, Philip. "Union Leaders Decry Child Labor Abroad." "St. Louis Post-Dispatch." February 23, 1989.
*Feinberg, Lawrence. "Polish Union Buttons Down Support." "Washington Post." December 24, 1981.
*Green, Paula L. "Nike, Jordan Challenged On Conditions." "Journal of Commerce." July 25, 1996.
*"Group Opposes Visit By Paper Company." "Syracuse Post-Standard." October 6, 1991.
*"Labor, Consumer Groups Urge Boycott of Chinese Toys." "Associated Press." November 25, 1991.
*Marks, Marylyn. "AFL-CIO Pursues Young Members." "St. Petersburg Times." March 9, 1987.
*Martin, Douglas. "Penn Kemble, 64, Is Dead." "New York Times." October 23, 2005.
*Muravchik, Joshua. "Comrades." "Commentary." January 18, 2006.
*Neufeld, Matt. "Toys 'R' Us Asked to Pull Toys Imported From China." "Washington Times." December 11, 1993.
*Prial, Frank J. "Union Boycott of Coors Extended to New York." "New York Times." March 9, 1987.
*Roberts, Steven V. "Youths Signing Up for '72." "New York Times." September 26, 1971.
*Roberts, Steven V. "Working Youth: The 17 Million 'Invisible' Voters." "New York Times." May 11, 1972.
*Sinclair, Molly. "Wage Protest Bridges The Age Gap." "Washington Post." March 21, 1989.
*"Sporting Goods Protesters Hit Chicago." "United Press International." July 13, 1996.
*Stetson, Damon. "Youth Group Is Pressing Blue-Collar and Minority Voters' Drive." "New York Times." August 15, 1972.
*"Students Accuse Four Law Firms of 'Union Busting'." "New York Times." December 16, 1990.
*Wyman, Anne. "Fledgling Youth-Service Corps Prepares For First Tour of Duty." "Boston Globe." August 17, 1989.

External links

* [http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=tf3n39n6cg&doc.view=entire_text&brand=oac Frontlash San Francisco Collection, 1965-1973. Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University]
* [http://gencat.eloquent-systems.com/webcat/systems/gma/resource/export/html/rg_70.html RG50: AFL-CIO Support Groups/AFL-CIO Constituency Groups RG50-001. AFL-CIO Support Groups/AFL-CIO Constituency Groups. Frontlash Records, 1968-1997. George Meany Memorial Archives, National Labor College.]