Julie Margolin

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Julius (Julie) Margolin (1916-2009) was a New York activist and life long Communist Party USA member.

Early life

Born on Manhattan's lower east side in 1916 -- the oldest of five children -- Julie quit school to help support his four younger brothers and sisters. His first job was as a busboy at Grand Central Station.

While working at Silver's Cafeteria in Brooklyn he was approached^[1]by a union organizer, and a whole new world opened to him. Margolin then helped to organize the Food Workers Industrial Union Local 110 (not a member of AFL-CIO). "We were young and militant," Julie says, "and we were determined to build a strong union." Despite increasing violence supported and financed by employers and directed against union organizers, Julie Margolin persevered. Through those efforts, the movement branched out into Manhattan and organized the cafeterias there.

Activism

During the beginning of the depression, Margolin helped to organize the Worker's Alliance. Around 1938, he worked to organize the Newspaper Guild, walking the picket line with its President, Heywood Hale Broun. In 1940, he got his Seaman's papers and joined the Merchant Marine. Though World War II had not begun, the Germans were torpedoing ships, and Merchant Marine ships often came under attack. Since they were commercial, the ships were not armed. Consequently, they suffered more casualties than did the military ships. Margolin lost many friends and received four combat bars while sailing through World War II.

During those years, he worked aboard ships as a rank and file organizer to increase the membership of the National Maritime Union, which was in the forefront of the trade union struggle.

During his travels in the Merchant Marine, Margolin organized^[2] and demonstrated in many different countries, including Italy, Greece and Spain.

Later he was in Brazil in '63-64 when the U.S. overthrew President Goulart. He was tear gassed by Peron "thugs" in Buenos Aires at the bank workers' strike. He made many pilgrimages to Cuba, where he helped to build houses, pick fruit and cut sugar cane. Julie laughs when he says, "Cutting sugar cane was the hardest job I ever did in my life."

In 1949, the men of the Merchant Marine were denied the right to sail or work: they were "screened off" ships. After Julie was barred from ship work, he worked on construction and as a machinist for the remainder of his work life.

In the US, he helped organize students at City College. He served three months on Riker's Island for protesting against the Korean War and was arrested many times for civil disobedience actions in protest of the Vietnam War.''

Today, Julie continues his lifelong struggles in the labor and peace movements. As he describes it, he is "still fighting phony wars and puppet governments." As a recording artist, he has made three CDs with union activist and fellow Chorus member, George Mann: "Miles to Go before We Sleep" (labor and Civil rights and folk songs); "Hail to the Thief" (songs in protest of the Bush/Gore election results); and "Just a Few Bad Apples" (songs in opposition to the Bush administration policies).

Until recent years, as a retired member of the Motion Picture Studio and Mechanics Union Local 52, Margolin continued to represent that union on the New York City Labor Council.

Musical activism

Margolin joined the New York City Labor Chorus^[3] because he was delighted to find a group which would sing the message of solidarity, not only in concert halls but at labor strikes and demonstrations.

Better World Awards

The New York Communist Party hosts an annual Better World Awards banquet.

Past honorees and speakers include : former NY State Assemblyman Frank Barbaro; Marvel Cooke; Domino sugar workers, ILA Local 1814; Ernesto Jofre (UNITE); Julie Margolin; NY State Senator Bill Perkins; Chris Silvera, Teamsters local 808; NY City Councilwoman Letitia James; Rev. Lucius Walker, Pastors for Peace; former US Congressman Major Owens; Betty Smith, International Publishers; NY City Councilman Robert Jackson; Adolfo Fana; Make the Road by Walking; TWU Local 100, NY Taxi Workers Alliance; Brooklyn for Peace; Estelle Katz etc. ^[4]

References