Labor under Siege: Big Bob McEllrath and the ILWU?s Fight for Organized Labor in an Anti-Union Era

"A meticulous contribution to the oral history of an important sector of the US working class centered around the accounts of Big Bob and influential activists within the ILWU during a crucial period for organized labor."

New York Labor History Association

"In Labor Under Siege, historians Harvey Schwartz and his colleague, the late Ron Magden, have crafted an extraordinary volume of labor history and biography through skilled and meticulous use of oral history interviews...While [the book] is clearly about "Big Bob" McEllrath and why he matters in the constellation of the Union, it also serves as a useful guide to the contours of the history of the ILWU since the 1990's and how its legacy has endured."

The Dispatcher - ILWU

"The strength of Labor under Siege lies in what the author calls an oral history-based ?view of how decisions were taken and policy carried out to ensure the ILWU?s sustainability during a challenging time for all of labor.?"

Beyond Chron

"Clear and informative . . . The individual voices of participants are resonant and compelling."

Independent Publishers of New England Book Awards

"Labor under Siege offers an intimate, engaging portrait of Big Bob McEllrath."

Oregon Historical Quarterly

"Labor under Siege provides a vivid, inside portrait of a union and its leaders facing major challenges. The oral history format allows the reader to understand the participants through their own words."

Southern California Quarterly