James Arthur "Jim" Perry
James Arthur “Jim” Perry, 69, a Carson Valley resident since 1990, died in a head-on car accident on Highway 395 south of Minden, NV. Jim may be best known as the editor of UFLAC’s newspaper “The Los Angeles Firefighter,” a position he held for 40 years. In addition, for more than 20 years, Jim served firefighters in nearly every elected position at the “old” Local 748 and UFLAC, Local 112. He was instrumental in increasing the number of union members from a few hundred to over 3200. His pen was our sword.
Jim’s reputation as a hard worker came early in life. While in elementary school, he delivered newspapers on his bicycle during the week and pulled a wagon selling the Sunday paper. Later he worked as a soda jerk, fry cook and dishwasher at a local restaurant. He hand set pins at the local bowling center, mowed lawns, and worked in a bicycle repair shop. Jim also worked at a car wash and gas station - later becoming manager while still in high school. During summer vacations, Jim went to Northern California where he knocked almond trees for 60 cents an hour. He also worked on a turkey ranch, dug postholes and erected chain link fences.
Jim’s earliest union memories were of his grandfather, father, uncles, brothers and cousins as truck drivers and members of the Teamsters Union. He fondly remembered the fun he had at the annual Teamster’s Picnics. He described his Teamster relatives as rough and tough men who worked very hard for their families.
Following his parent’s divorce in 1950, his second father, John B. “Red” Melton, raised Jim in the San Fernando Valley. “Red” Melton immediately became the father to the six Perry children. The word stepfather never applied and the children were proud to call him “Dad.” Jim described him as the kindest, most considerate father possible . . . and he was a Union Man through and through!
When General Motors started its assembly line in the late 1940s, the working conditions were horrendous. Management was totally unconcerned about the dignity of the workforce. While working at GM, Red witnessed the degrading conditions that the workers had to endure so he attempted to organize a union and was fired for his efforts. Red later got his job back and was instrumental in organizing United Auto Workers, Local 645 where he was elected as the first president in 1948. Red’s selfless dedication to his fellow workers epitomized the highest tradition of trade unionism and inspired young Jim.
Through Red, Jim met many dignitaries, including Walter Reuther, National President of the United Auto Workers, Senator’s Hubert Humphrey and Adali Stevenson and others. Jim witnessed the courage and sacrifice of the UAW workers as they went on strike to better the wages and working conditions that we all enjoy today. Certainly the strength shown by members of Local 645 resulted from the faith and confidence they had in their leader, Red Melton. As a tribute to Red and in his memory, Jim dedicated his life to workers, wherever they struggle to live with dignity.
Jim joined the Army at age 17 and served in the California National Guard and Reserves for six years. After active duty, he pursued his ambition to become a Fireman or Policeman. Jim’s father-in-law was on the LAFD at the time and encouraged Jim to forget about being a “Cop” and become a “Fireman.”
In the interim, Jim went to work for the U.S. Postal Service. His first job was a Mail Handler and he joined that union . . . loading semi-trucks for $1.60 an hour. After six months, he became a Regular Carrier, got a twenty-cent raise, and joined the Letter Carriers Union.
During this time, Jim needed additional income, as he was expecting another child, so he took an additional job at night loading trucks for United Parcel Service. He joined the Teamsters Union while employed with UPS.
Soon after turning 21 in April 1961, Jim accepted appointment to the LAFD and started training at Drill Tower 89. During the academy, the department encouraged “Rookies” to join their preferred organizations; the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, the Los Angeles Firemen’s Credit Union, the CSFA and the Los Angeles Fire and Police Protective League (LAFPPL). There were no representatives from a union so Jim asked, “Isn’t there a Union on the LAFD?” The answer was “there is a small union but the LAFPPL handles all the politics and is an association of Firemen and Policemen, joined together for the benefit of all.” Subsequently, a training officer, Captain Dofel Brunetti, gave Jim the phone number of the “Firemen’s Union.”
The next night Jim called the union and soon Secretary-Treasurer George Lyman came to his house to discuss membership. Lyman was happy that Jim had inquired about membership but strongly advised him NOT to join the union until after his probation because there were many anti-union officers who would make it difficult for him. Jim told Lyman of his strong feelings about being a member of labor and that he wanted to join the Firemen’s Union NOW. He told Lyman about his father’s lifelong commitment to his own union. Lyman agreed to sign Jim up that same night –he was the only rookie to join the union in the training academy and still finished the highest in his class . . . even delivering the commencement speech at graduation. He immediately started attending union meetings and became very active in organizing.
The name of our union back then was Professional Firefighters, Inc., Local 748, IAFF, AFL-CIO. With 3600 members on the LAFD at that time, the union had only had a few hundred members. The LAFPPL had 95% of the members of the LAFD and another 6500 of LAPD. Any time the local newspapers mentioned that organization, they preceded the name by calling it, “the all powerful Fire and Police Protective League.” They hardly ever acknowledged Local 748, however, that would soon change.
Jim attended Valley College and earned an AS degree in Fire Science as well as his Teaching Credential. After Jim joined the LAFD, he continued his education through courses in Fire Service Training and Personnel Management at UCLA, Cal Poly-Pomona, and the George Meany Center for Labor Studies in Maryland, along with seminars on journalism and photography. He was a life-long teacher and learner.
Jim was promoted to Inspector in 1963; Captain I in 1967; Captain II in 1980 and retired from active duty in June 1981. During the course of his LAFD career Jim served many of the LAFD’s busiest fire suppression assignments. In addition, Jim was the Commander of the Public Relations and Public Service Units, the Photo Services Unit and Employer/Employee Relations Unit. Jim was the first LAFD Public Service Officer (PSO). He was also a Recruitment and Community Relations Officer and Coordinator for National Fire Service Recognition Day. Jim received many commendations for difficult rescues, including the American Red Cross "Life Saving Award of Merit" from President Kennedy for the LAFD's first successful CPR in a physical rescue incident.
Jim was a boxer during his Army days, founded the LAFD Boxing Club, and was the mentor and trainer for many young LAFD boxers. He was also the editor of the Firemen's Grapevine magazine for 14 years, as well as the Executive Editor of the American Firefighter magazine. Jim received more than 160 "Awards of Excellence in Journalism" from the Greater LA Press Club, the International Labor Communications Association, the Western Labor Press Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters.
In addition to his work with UFLAC, Jim was a Vice President of the International Labor Communications Association for 11 years; Vice President of the Western Labor Communications Association for 26 years and was a member of CWA, the Greater LA Press Club, the Press Photographers of Greater LA (where he was honored with an Honorary Life Membership), the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California and the Society of Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi);
Jim is survived by his wife Bookey and six children, John, Ron and spouse LeAnn, Christine and spouse Luke, Niles and spouse Lici, Justin and Michelle as well as six grandchildren Lindsey, Kayla, Josh, Randy, Jordan M and Jordan L; his brothers Frank and spouse Regina, George and spouse Sue; sisters Pat with spouse Joe, and Carol, with their children and grandchildren as well as friends too numerous to list.
Please visit the UFLAC website at www.uflac.org and post your remembrances, comments and stories about Jim on the blog so they can be bound in book format for Bookey and the family.
Photos by Ryan Ling, Mike Meadows, Jeff Zimmerman, Craig Durling & Valerie Lawrence