Arthur Batson, Jr., the feisty union leader who was once jailed for battling strike breakers and later served as President of the Industrial Union of Marine Shipbuilding Workers of America (IUMSWA), succumbed to cancer on November 10, 2007 at Veterans Hospital in Long Beach, CA. He was 72.
The Korean War veteran began his career with the Shipbuilders Union in 1959 as an electrician at General Dynamics in Quincy, MA. He soon became Shop Steward and was elected Local 5 President in 1970. Tow contentious strikes ensued over General Dynamic’s use of strike breakers, leading to multiple brawls at the shipyard gates.
Batson was elected Vice President of the IUMSWA in 1975 and served as president from 1982 untill his retirement in 1994. In 1988, Batson helped negotiate the historic merger agreement between the IUMSWA and the IAM. The Shipbuilders Union continues their proud legacy today as IAM District 4.
Workplace health and safety were among the many issues Batson fought for during his career. An autopsy is being conducted to determine if the cancer that killed him was related to asbestos exposure during his years in the shipyard.
