Labor Activities, 1966-1992

Link first joined the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in 1935 while he was teaching history at Mt. Hermon School for Boys in Northfield, Massachusetts. At that time, Link's principal concern was to resist the signing of a teachers' oath and Governor [of Massachusetts] James M. Curley's attacks on the freedom of speech and the academic exchange of ideas. Link became a founding member of the United University Professions (UUP) and attempted to establish teachers unions wherever he taught in the 1930s-1950s (South Carolina, New Jersey, and Colorado). Link's work in the AFT and UUP is illustrated by this series (although only since the year 1966). Especially noted is his role as Vice President of the State University Federation of Teachers in the early 1970s; his leadership in the area of Membership Development for the UUP (even after retirement from active teaching in 1977, Link travelled around the country helping to organize higher education unions on seven other campuses while offering advice to organizers on countless others); his inspiration in the creation of the Council of Active Retired Members (CO-ARM); and his support of union activities in many fields throughout the world.

Link's unflinching support of unionism has brought him several awards. In 1985, he was recognized for his fiftieth year of involvement in the AFT. At the same time, Link helped initiate the scholarship for service-minded students which bear his name. Five years later (1990), he received the prestigious Diamond Service Award from the AFT. All of these events are chronicled in this series.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the commitment to unionism brought a good deal of opposition into the lives of Link and others of similar minds. Two early significant grievance cases against the administration of the State University of New York System, those of William Bruce and George Cranford, are examined in this series. In both cases, Link played the role of unofficial advisor to the aggrieved parties rather than active participant.