Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living! – Mother Jones
There is no such thing as defeat in non-violence. – Cesar Chavez
I have pleaded your case from the pulpit and from the public platform–not in the quavering tones of a feeble mendicant asking alms, but in the thundering voice of the captain of a mighty host, demanding the rights to which free men are entitled – John L. Lewis
Inspired by the words of these titans of the labor movement in America and inspired by the success of Man Eegee’s United Nations project, I propose that we, as a community, delve in to the rich, but unheralded history of the labor movement and its leaders.
I further propose that we use this series of diaries to look at the current plight of workers in America.
I know that even among progressives, there is often an “ick” factor when it comes to talking about unions. They are big bureaucracies filled with flawed and sometimes corrupt people. In the media and in most history classes, if labor is mentioned at all, the emphasis is on this corruption, or on the inefficacy of the unions, or of labors’ “pinko” tendencies. We miss out on the color, the courage and the tenacity of the unionists who risked so much and achieved so much for working men and women.
Unions, organized labor, workers are still under attack – and always will be. We need to learn from labor’s past so we can emulate success and avoid pitfalls.
Starting on September 2, I would like to roll out a series of diaries to celebrate the heritage of workers in this country. If there is sufficient enthusiasm for this project, it can be followed up with a series of diaries on the issues facing workers around the world.
As a starting point, I would encourage anyone interested in participating to visit this site for an overview of labor history and a slew of references.
Here are the specific diaries I propose for this project:
The Haymarket Tragedy and the Eight Hour Day
Lucy Parsons and the Contributions of African Americans to the Labor Movement.
The The Triangle Fire and the Bread and Roses Strike and Sweatshop Workers.
The Pinkerton Agency and Union Busting Tactics
Mary Harris (Mother) Jones and Child Labor.
John L. Lewis and the United Mine Workers and CIO
Taft Hartley, Wagner Act, Right to Work – the evolution of labor law.
I hope you find a diary topic that interests you and that you will help expand the knowledge base of this community about workers’ issues and workers’ rights.
Sign up for the topic of your choice in the comments section below.
