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Widow with a Message
ILWU president Harry Bridges sent this letter to all Coast
Longshore and Clerks locals:
Dear Sirs and Brothers,
I recently asked for and received permission from Mrs. Shepard of Aux #4, whose husband
George W. Shepard, member of the ILWU Local 32, Everett, passed away in August of last
year, to reprint for the workers in our industry her eloquent letter which should be given
serious thought by our membership.
Mrs. Shepard's letter follows in full:
Brother Bridges,
This is a letter for these hard working hard-nosed longshoremen who, no matter what the
state of there health are going to work -- regardless. They mean to do right by there
families, but I am a good example of this idea.
My husband had a heart attack in 1957. After negotiations with the insurance company, they
decided it was due to emphysema. He took up barbering on a rehabilitation basis; worked at
that a few months and went back longshoring. The doctor tried to get him to retire -- but
no!
He had two more attacks then on July 9, 1965 he had a heart attack at 11:00 am and stayed
on the job till 4. He refused to take the doctors orders; passed away at home on the 11th
of August.
So here I am age 56, four major operations, no training. Can't get any insurance as I am
too sickly, so I have to work at anything I can get. Lost the pension, all hospitalization
and medical. Got a settlement , but that won't keep me very
long.
So I hope maybe this can be an example to some. He was a good union man. I am an auxiliary
member. I do have a home, thanks to the good wages of the union. He was 62 -- but when
they are too ill to work they should stop and think. We can't predict our own time to die.
Respectively,
Mrs. Geo. W. Shepard (Widow)
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