The American Federation of Government Employees and two top environmental groups last week launched a “Save the EPA” campaign to force lawmakers to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink.
AFGE is teaming up with the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation to protect the EPA from expansive budget cuts and internal restrictions imposed by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, an avowed climate change denier. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1887, steel-drivin’ man John Henry, born a slave, outperformed a steam hammer at either the Coosa Mountain Tunnel or the Oak Mountain Tunnel of the Columbus and Western Railway near Leeds, Alabama. Other researchers say the contest actually happened near Talcott, West Virginia. In any case, John Henry is a symbol of physical strength and endurance, of exploited labor, of the dignity of a human being against the degradations of the machine age, and of racial pride and solidarity. During World War II his image was used in U.S. government propaganda as a symbol of social tolerance and diversity. Today’s labor quote is by Upton Sinclair, the socialist and author of The Jungle, who was born in Baltimore on this date in 1878. Upton Sinclair, who said: "If we are the greatest nation the sun ever shone upon, it would seem to be mainly because we have been able to goad our wage-earners to this pitch of frenzy.” Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org.
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