Thursday, January 1, 2015

News: Cartoonist Barry Deutsch’s great comic, “Ten Reasons We’re Against Unions” was one of the most popular posts on the AFL-CIO’s blog in 2014. The comic pokes gentle fun at common arguments against unions. One panel shows a worker asking “other than weekends, lunch breaks, overtime pay, parental leave, pension plans, higher wages, and sick leave, what good have unions ever done?” In another panel, a worker says “Who’d want more power at work?” Check it out at aflcio.org/Blog

Here’s today’s labor history:
On this date in 1875, women weavers formed a union in Fall River, Massachusetts.  
In 1920, John L. Lewis was elected president of the United Mine Workers. Fifteen years later he became a leader in the formation of what was to become the Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO.
In 1966, members of the Transport Workers Union and Amalgamated Transit Union working for the New York City transit system began a successful 12-day strike.

Today’s labor quote is by John L. Lewis:
I am an American, free born, with all the pride of my heritage. I love my country with its institutions and traditions.  With Abraham Lincoln, I thank God that we have a country where men may strike. May the power of my government never be used to throttle or crush the efforts of the toilers to improve their material welfare and elevate the standard of their citizenship.