From the Industrial Revolution till today, the fight for working families continues. Working conditions before Labor Unions were cruel and unfair. Employees encountered low wages, long work days, no benefits, and no job security. Employees also faced wage inequality, discrimination, and unsafe working conditions. The Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers (ShoeMakers) in Philadelphia organized the first continuous trade union organization among American workers. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was founded in 1886 as the most well-known labor and trade union and eventually merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to create the AFL-CIO.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. Its roots originated from the continuous push from the Central Labor Union and other organizations to establish a holiday for workers. Due to the relentless demands by Unions and the attempt to settle the heightened tension with American workers, Congress passed the act to make Labor Day a legal holiday. On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed Labor Day as an official federal Holiday in the United States that celebrates American workers’ economic and social achievements.
Unions, which are the basic building blocks of a sturdy working class, help
establish :
• Better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
• Process for workers to manage disputes and complaints.
• Protection against discrimination and other unfair practices.
• Better job safety protections and paid leave options for members.
Today, the struggle continues for workers. The AFL-CIO still remains one of the largest and most influential labor federations in the United States. Unions are recognized as the leaders in rejuvenating economies , being the backbone for the middle class and receive, on average, higher earnings than their non-union counterparts. Thanks to the continuous fight, Union workers are on the rebound again. We give our gratitude to the men and women who dedicated their lives and continue to support “We are stronger together“ Unionization
Written By: Darrell English (C100 Region 2, TSA L777)
In Solidarity,
AFGE Council 100
Hydrick Thomas, President | Mac Johnson, Council Executive Vice President | Johnny Jones, Council Secretary-Treasurer | Thomas Schoregge, Region 1 V.P. | John Hubert, Region 2 V.P. | Janis Casey, Region 3 V.P. | Becky Mancha, Region 4 V.P. | Greg Biel, Region 5 V.P. | Bobby Orozco Jr., Region 6 V.P. | Joe Shuker, Region 7 V.P. | Victor Payes Martinez, Fair Practices Coordinator | Concetta Fialkowski, Women’s Coordinator