Union: Sue Ayers

Union: Sue Ayers

In this video Sue Ayers explains how she obtained her ITU membership.

Zilvinas Paludnevicius

Drs. John S. and Betty J. Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center Collection

American Sign Language

A video featuring an ASL interview with Sue Ayers, an older white woman seated at home.

Sue Ayers: I met some friends. I was curious and asked them about ITU and what it was. They told me that you had to pull a ITU card. I asked, “Where do I pull one?” They told me there were many locations, but you had to go where they needed people. I understood that, but I didn’t know which town needed people, it was vague. One friend informed me that I should go to North Carolina. They had heard that some shops in North Carolina needed workers. They said, “They’ll give you an ITU card, so try to go there”. After they told me that I decided to go to North Carolina. I went to that town, but they didn’t need anyone. I was disappointed, but moved on to the next town. Again, I wasn’t needed. Ugh! I wondered, and decided to try the third town, the last one, and see if they needed workers there. The secretary was responsible for filling out paperwork, interviews, and ITU, that was her job at the print shop. I went into the shop, but she wasn’t there and wouldn’t be in until the night shift. I was there in the afternoon, and after learning she wouldn’t be there until the night, I went out around the town. I didn’t know the area at all but that’s what I did. I went back in that night and was led to the secretary, all I could think was, “Finally!”. I was so hopeful this would work out. She gestured to me to hold on and she walked away. I figured she was getting papers for me to fill out or something, which was fine by me. She came back with someone, I looked at who it was and what a surprise! I hugged and said hello to one of my classmates from Gallaudet College. She had left Gallaudet too, but I didn’t know where she went. And we reunited there in that shop, out of all the places we could have met. The secretary saw that we knew each other and that maybe helped me, but I don’t know for certain. After I filled out the paperwork, the secretary asked me if I could work there. I looked at her a little unsure. They were still using the old timey hot metal there. I didn’t know hot metal, I only knew cold type, with paste up, etc. The shop was in the process of changing to cold type, and they asked me if I would work there once they changed to cold. I said yes that was fine. My ITU application was being processed and sent out. I had to wait three months before I could pull my card. So I went back to Maryland, stayed for three months, and went back to get my card. Finally I got it, I was excited. It was such an important card, everyone had told me so.

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