In 1925, Pullman porters at the Pullman Company reached out to A. Philip Randolph, for his guidance and leadership in starting a new union. On Aug. 25, 1925, Randolph, a visionary civil rights leader and labor organizer, founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP).
The Pullman Company, known for its luxurious sleeper cars, fiercely opposed the unionization efforts of its workforce. The porters, predominantly Black men, endured grueling working conditions, low wages, and racial discrimination. They were often subjected to demeaning treatment and were expected to be subservient to the mostly white passengers they served.
Under Randolph’s leadership, the BSCP embarked on a 10-year struggle against the Pullman Company. The porters remained committed to their pursuit of justice and equality. Their fight was a historical moment in the labor movement and became a symbol of the broader civil rights movement. The Pullman Company finally recognized the BSCP in 1935.
When the BSCP merged with BRAC, now the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), in 1978, they formed the Sleeping Car Porters System Division. This merger is why TCU/IAM is a member of Amtrak’s On-Board Service Workers Council.
“Our history is rich. The Sleeping Car Porters was founded 99 years ago today by A. Philip Randolph and merged into TCU in 1978,” said TCU/IAM National President Artie Maratea. “That proud history is alive today in the men and women working onboard trains across the country. The Sleeping Car Porters and the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and his belief in organized labor is a celebrated source of pride that TCU/IAM will continue to uphold.”
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