Virgil Thompson Oral History Interview
Streaming Media
Description
Virgil Thompson started his Union life as a member of the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) working at the Fender Guitar Plant in Fullerton, CA. Thompson then joined UAW Local 2244 working at New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI) in Freemont, CA. where General Motors and Toyota built cars. In 1996, Thompson moved back to New Mexico to work for GE in the South Valley of Albuquerque where he joined the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers (IAM Local 794). Thompson shares his support for Unions and the benefits of Union membership. He has been active in Labor and Community activities in New Mexico. Thompson also plays 5-string banjo and has played in an IAM and ARA band; he views music as an organizing tool "like Joe Hill."
Publication Date
3-29-2016
Keywords
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM); Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); reasons for union membership; working conditions; workplace benefits; history of IAM; Labor education; safety on the job
Disciplines
Labor History
Publisher
Digital Initiatives and Scholarly Communication, University Libraries, University of New Mexico
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Matthews, Adam; Virgil Thompson; and Richard Wood. "Virgil Thompson Oral History Interview." (2016). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wphnm/18
Comments
1280x720; MP4; No institutional restrictions are placed on the use of this collection. Use of material is allowed for educational and research purposes. The University Libraries do not hold copyright.