“The mood is uneasy. The streets are quiet and show their pain through the paint-chipped curbs, cracked sidewalks, and boarded alleyway doors—there’s no foot traffic. Crowds no longer gather to hide the city’s worn-down façade. Off in the distance, church bells ring. No one is listening. And soon it will be overtaken by the sounds of emergency vehicle sirens dashing off to care for troubled souls during troubled times.
This is a new reality. It’s the reality of life lived from a distance—at least six to 12 feet apart.” That’s how reporter Al Neal opens his March 19 report – “Silent streets: Life halts, but not for all workers” -- in the People’s World. He’s writing about St. Louis, but of course it could be anywhere. Or everywhere. We’ve got a link on our website, dclabor.org; it’s a good read. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1990, a 32-day lockout of major league baseball players ended with an agreement to raise the minimum league salary from $68,000 to $100,000 and to study revenue-sharing between owners and players. Today’s labor quote is by Mark Twain, a lifelong member of the International Typographical Union. On this date in 1886, Twain delivered a speech entitled "Knights of Labor--The New Dynasty," extolling the commitment by this early American labor federation to fair treatment of all workers, regardless of race or gender. Mark Twain, who said: “Who are the oppressors? The few: the King, the capitalist and a handful of other overseers and superintendents. Who are the oppressed? The many: the nations of the earth; the valuable personages; the workers; they that make the bread that the soft-handed and idle eat.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus, which stands up for union members and their families. At unionplus.org you’ll find useful links to coronavirus resources from the AFL-CIO, as well as Union Plus Hardship Help Benefits. Check it out at unionplus.org
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