100th Anniversary of Bread and Roses Strike— Was It the First Occupy?
 |
Today in Lawrence, Mass., union members and their allies will gather at a historic mill building for a re-enactment of the historic Bread and Roses strike that moved the conscience of the nation, bringing national attention to the plight of the families, including young children, who toiled in the dirty and dangerous factories of Lawrence and throughout the country.
The re-enactment kicks off a yearlong celebration of the Bread and Roses centennial, which will commemorate change-making events in Lawrence that gave rise to the U.S. labor movement.
On Jan. 12, 1912, some 25,000 workers at the mills of the American Woolen Company in Lawrence walked off the job when the company cut their pay—already a mere $8 a week for the men, and less for the women and children—after the state legislature passed a law shortening the length of their workweek from 56 hours to 54 hours. Workers stayed off the job for months, enduring beatings from police and the Massachusetts militia, who spared not even women and children.
Some see in the conditions that led to the Bread and Roses strike parallels to today’s growing income disparity between the wealthy and the rest of us, as well as the exploitation of America’s workers by financial interests. Robert Forrant, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts, calls it “the first Occupy movement.” Says Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steven Tolman:
Massachusetts Workers Mobilize as Deficit Deadline Looms
AFL-CIO communications staffer Nora Frederickson sends us this report.
As the congressional Super Committee’s deadline for a federal deficit reduction plan nears, more than 2,600 teachers, ironworkers, construction workers, nurses and others took to the streets in Massachusetts in recent days with a single message: no cuts.
Labor leaders and workers across the state have petitioned Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to pledge to protect America’s workers from devastating cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and have been making their voices heard—through postcards, forums with their members of Congress, resolutions and even an electronic billboard or two.
“We’re here to say no cuts to Social Security, no cuts to Medicare, no cuts to Medicaid, no cuts to the Postal Service,” Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steven Tolman told thousands of workers and seniors from across New England at the Wang Theater in Boston,
and we want it for you, we want it for us and we want it for our children and grandchildren.
Workers Urge Sen. Kerry to Strengthen Social Security, Not Cut It
AFL-CIO communications staffer Nora Frederickson sends us this report.
With the deadline looming for members of a congressional “supercommittee” to decide how to cut the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion, local labor, religious and progressive activists took to the soapbox this week to petition Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the only member of the supercommittee from New England, to oppose any cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Labor leaders in Worchester joined the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and Rep. Jim McGovern for a forum this week that outlined the serious toll that proposed changes to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would take on ordinary Americans. McGovern emphasized that the programs are essentially solvent, and that Social Security would pay out 100 percent of its obligations through 2036.
Paul Soucy, a representative from the United Steelworkers (USW), explained that raising the eligibility age for Social Security would endanger the lives of workers in hazardous occupations.
Mass. House Votes to End Workers’ Health Care Bargaining Rights
The battle against public service workers such as teachers, firefighters, police officers and others has erupted on an unexpected front—in Massachusetts, a state known for decades for its progressive labor laws.
Last night, the Massachusetts state House voted to eliminate the right of public employees in cities and towns to bargain over health care. The attack was part of a budget bill pushed through by House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D), who used his muscle to persuade the heavily Democratic chamber to pass (111-42) the legislation.
In a statement, Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Robert J. Haynes said:
It is inconceivable to me that the power of the Massachusetts Speaker is such that duly elected State Representatives would choose to take away peoples’ rights instead of stand up to one person’s will. Here in the cradle of liberty, the first state with child labor laws, and such a rich tradition of supporting working families, 111 representatives voted to take away collective bargaining rights because the Speaker of the House made them.
Greater Boston Says: ‘We Are One’
 |
|
Rosa Blumenfeld, organizer at the Greater Boston Labor Council, sent this report on April 4 actions there.
More than 500 union leaders, activists and community allies joined together outside the Massachusetts Republican Party headquarters in downtown Boston, in a driving rainstorm, today to speak out against the attacks on collective bargaining taking place in statehouses across America. We spotlighted efforts to repeal collective bargaining rights in the neighboring states of New Hampshire and Maine.
Rich Rogers, executive secretary-treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council who opened the event noted:
We are here today with one voice to defend worker’s rights and collective bargaining as fundamental human rights.
A series of rank and file union members from a broad economic spectrum including teachers, library workers, firefighters, transit workers, construction workers, hotel workers, and others spoke at the event pledging their unions support to their union brothers and sisters under siege across America. Union members read the speech of Dr. Martin Luther King to striking Memphis sanitation workers that he deliverd the day before he was assassinated to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of his death. Read the rest of this entry »
Study: Union Construction Jobs Help Economy
 |
|
A new study shows union construction jobs not only provide workers with a good middle-class income, but the benefits extend to the communities and states where they live.
The report, “The Socio-Economic Impacts of Construction Unionization in Massachusetts,” by Maria Figueroa and Jeff Grabelsky of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, found the earnings of union construction workers in Massachusetts added $4.6 billion overall to the Bay State economy in 2007.
Says Mary Vogel, executive director of The Construction Institute, which released the study:
This study confirms what we already knew to be true-unionization in the construction industry not only creates middle class career opportunities in the building trades for Massachusetts residents, but results in significant economic benefits for the Commonwealth and the local communities in which our members live and work.
17,000 San Francisco Workers Reach Tentative Pact, and More Bargaining News
17,000 San Francisco city employees reach tentative contract, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,200 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
NEGOTIATIONS
Multiple, City of San Francisco: Unions representing San Francisco city workers have reached a tentative agreement with Mayor Gavin Newsom to save the city $200 million and avoid shortening the workweek for 17,000 workers. If union members approve the pact, city workers will take 12 unpaid furlough days over the next two years.
3,000 Steelworkers at Vale Inco Vote to Stay on Strike—and More Bargaining News
Some 3,000 United Steelworkers members at Vale Inco vote to stay on the picket line after eight months on strike, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,200 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
WORK STOPPAGES & LEGAL ACTION
USW, Vale Inco: Striking United Steelworkers (USW) in Canada overwhelmingly rejected an offer from Brazilian mining company Vale Inco on Friday. The 3,000 members of USW Local 6500 have now been on strike eight months and say the contract offer was “insulting.”
30,000 CWA Members Ratify Contract with AT&T—and More Bargaining News
Some 30,000 Communications Workers of America members ratify a contract with AT&T, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,200 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
SETTLEMENTS
CWA, AT&T: Members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 3 last week ratified a three-year contract with AT&T. The contract covers 30,000 workers in the Southeast. CWA District 1 in Connecticut is now the only region still in negotiations with AT&T.
Calling on All Working Americans to Stand Up and Fight
The news is out: The Wall Street bankers we bailed out are giving themselves 2009 cash bonuses of a half million dollars on average—not including stocks. Compare that with the $32,390 annual median wage for regular workers, and you find a formula for outrage.
The people who tanked our economy, took $700 billion in taxpayer money and refused to make job-creating loans are getting rewards that range into the millions.
Not bad for a year in which Main Street lost 4 million jobs.
No wonder people are mad.
When Wall Street needs help, elected leaders respond with bold and swift action. When Main Street cries for help, we get gridlock. No health care reform, no financial reform, no labor law reform, and a slow, timid effort on job creation.
