A Revered Labor, Human Rights and Civil Rights Leader
William “Bill” Lucy, one of the most influential figures in the labor movement and a champion of civil rights, passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 90 in his Washington, D.C., home. For nearly four decades, Lucy served as the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), becoming a towering figure in the fight for workers’ rights, equality, and justice in America and abroad.
Lucy’s career spanned more than 60 years, during which he helped shape the labor movement, advancing the rights of workers and linking their struggles with broader human rights movements. He co-founded the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), played a pivotal role in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and was the first African American president of Public Services International (PSI), the largest global trade union federation.
Born on November 26, 1933, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Susie Bell and Joseph Lucy, Lucy’s upbringing in a working-class family deeply influenced his later activism. His father was a self-taught mechanic and musician whose sporadic work meant the family frequently moved. Lucy’s early exposure to economic instability would shape his lifelong commitment to improving workers’ conditions.
In his youth, Lucy attended school in Memphis until World War II, when his family relocated to Richmond, California, after his father was recruited to work in the wartime shipyards. Lucy completed high school in 1951 and took a job with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, working in a naval shipyard in California.
Lucy’s entry into the labor movement came in 1953 when he secured a job with the Public Works Department in Contra Costa County, California. There, he became active in the county’s employee association, a group that lacked real bargaining power for workers. Lucy, along with other members, sought to transform the association into a true union. They eventually succeeded, affiliating with AFSCME as Local 1675 in the mid-1950s. His efforts caught the attention of AFSCME’s national leadership, leading to his rise within the union.
In 1968, Lucy’s role in the labor movement took on a new dimension during the historic Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, a pivotal moment in the struggle for labor and civil rights. After two sanitation workers were killed by a malfunctioning garbage truck, their coworkers, represented by AFSCME Local 1733, went on strike to demand safer working conditions, better pay, and union recognition.
Lucy traveled to Memphis, his hometown, to assist the strikers in their fight. His leadership and advocacy helped galvanize national attention and support for the workers, many of whom carried placards emblazoned with the slogan “I AM A MAN,” a declaration of their humanity and dignity in the face of oppression. Lucy and local pastor Rev. James Lawson are credited with coining the phrase, which would go on to become an iconic symbol of the labor and civil rights movements.
During the strike, Lucy marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had come to Memphis to support the sanitation workers. Tragically, King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while in the city. Despite the profound loss, Lucy continued to fight for the workers, eventually helping them win union recognition from the city.
This struggle solidified Lucy’s place as a key leader in both the labor and civil rights movements. His involvement in the Memphis strike demonstrated his belief that labor rights and civil rights were inherently linked. For Lucy, the fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, and union representation was also a fight for dignity, equality, and justice for all people.
In 1972, Lucy became AFSCME’s secretary-treasurer, a position he held for 38 years. In the same year, he co-founded the CBTU, the first labor organization in the U.S. to condemn South Africa’s apartheid regime. The CBTU aimed to amplify the voices of Black workers in the trade union movement and address the systemic racism that often marginalized their contributions.
Lucy’s work extended beyond American borders, particularly in the 1980s, when he became deeply involved in the movement to end apartheid in South Africa. As a co-founder of the Free South Africa Movement (FSAM), Lucy helped lead the U.S. campaign to impose economic sanctions on the apartheid government. The FSAM organized protests and demonstrations, pressuring companies to divest from South Africa. This movement played a critical role in the eventual dismantling of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990.
Lucy was part of the team that organized Mandela’s U.S. tour following his release. One of Mandela’s stops was at the AFSCME International Convention, where he was warmly received by union members who had supported the anti-apartheid cause. In 1994, Lucy led an AFL-CIO delegation to monitor the first democratic elections in South Africa, in which Mandela was elected president.
Throughout his career, Lucy served on numerous boards and committees, including the executive council of the AFL-CIO, the NAACP, TransAfrica, and the Africa-America Institute. He was widely recognized for his contributions, with honors from various organizations, including being named one of the 100 most influential Black Americans by Ebony magazine.
In 1994, Lucy became president of PSI, the world’s largest union federation, further cementing his role as a global labor leader. He was re-elected to the AFL-CIO’s executive council in 1995, continuing to advocate for workers’ rights on both national and international stages.
Tributes from Labor Leaders
Upon his passing, Bill Lucy was remembered as a giant in the labor movement by those who worked closely with him. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond released a joint statement, saying, “Our movement has lost an icon. Bill Lucy’s leadership was unmatched, from his role in writing the powerful words ‘I Am A Man’ during the Memphis strike to founding the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. His vision bridged generations and backgrounds, showing the strength of unity across the labor movement.”
AFSCME President Lee Saunders also paid tribute, describing Lucy as “one of the most accomplished and influential trade unionists ever — in any country, at any moment in history.” Saunders acknowledged Lucy’s unwavering dedication to advancing the dignity of all working people, from the Memphis sanitation strike to his international work dismantling South African apartheid.
Rev. Terry Melvin, the current president of CBTU, echoed similar sentiments, remembering Lucy as a “giant amongst giants” and a “supportive mentor” in the labor and civil rights movements. He highlighted Lucy’s enduring influence not just as a leader, but as a “father in the movement,” who inspired countless activists to continue the fight for justice.
A Legacy of Commitment to Human Dignity
In response to Lucy’s passing, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement describing him as a “giant” and “patriot” who dedicated his life to advancing the cause of civil, human, and labor rights. Harris noted his pivotal role in the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike and his commitment to universal values of freedom, dignity, and solidarity, which guided his work in founding the CBTU and fighting against apartheid in South Africa. She acknowledged the profound impact of his legacy on generations of working families who continue to benefit from his efforts.
Lucy’s legacy as a labor leader was not just his ability to organize and lead, but his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human dignity. He saw the struggles of workers as deeply connected to broader social issues, including racism, poverty, and inequality. For Lucy, the labor movement was a vehicle for social change, capable of transforming not just workplaces but societies.
Bill Lucy retired from his role as AFSCME secretary-treasurer in 2010 but continued to be an influential voice in the labor movement until his death. His final message to the union’s members was a call to continue the fight for social justice, to ensure that all workers have the opportunity to live with dignity.
Lucy is survived by his family and a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of labor leaders and activists. His life’s work serves as a reminder that the fight for workers’ rights and human dignity is far from over.