John J. DeLury

This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.

Jay Nelson Tuck moderates.

Guest is John J. DeLury, President of Sanitation Men's Association. He discusses questions related to public employees right to strike. The Sanitation Men's Union is part of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Panelists include: Stan Siegel, Henry Kurtz, Jim Farrell, Ed Stover, and Peter Franklin.

Questions:

Jimmy Hoffa will never run Local 831. DeLury has taken stands against Hoffa. Local 831 has exclusive bargaining rights for sanitation workers in the city of New York. DeLury does not believe that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will be returned to the AFL-CIO while Hoffa remains in control.

DeLury believes that the Senate investigation committee is working with the National Manufacturers Association and the various Chambers of Commerce to destroy the Labor movement - he calls it a plot to bring about the "scab law" (Right to Work law).

The Local 831 recognized five years the need for a more liberal pension system. DeLury got an independent study to confirm that sanitation workers face greater risks that police or firefighters. It was determined to be the second most hazardous job in the country, second to logging.

DeLury believes the sanitation department is being discriminated against - the fire department and police department both enjoy better benefits because there is some "glamor" related to the risks they take. He does not believe the police should be allowed to strike.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 72130
Municipal archives id: LT8255