By Michael Messina
We feel the need to reiterate this sentiment as often as possible around the holidays: Don’t shop at Wal-Mart.
The thought process behind the boycott effort is a fairly simple one. In a modern, first-world country that prides itself on its ability to give a hard working man or woman the chance to live a life of decency and good health, it is an employer’s obligation to provide the means.
Wal-Mart does not.
By Sahid Fawaz
1. Thanksgiving is a day for family. For a worker there is nothing family about spending Thanksgiving stocking shelves so that corporate fat cats can get even fatter.
2. Stop making the super rich even richer. Speaking of fat cats, don’t the Waltons, who are worth over 100 billion dollars, have enough money already? Aren’t they rich enough to give their workers a day off? So, yeah, our second reason is to stop making the super rich even richer.
Art has always inspired and evoked emotion through the ages. It is no different when recounting the history of labor. Here are five images that tell tales and teach lessons that we believe are everlasting reminders of an often beautiful movement.
1932. “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” Attributed to Charles Ebbits.
While the shot itself was actually a publicity stunt, the casual attitude of the workers at such a height is at the same time both witty and terrifying, and a reminder of the daily dangers these men faced as laborers.
We love union songs so much that we have compiled a second list of awesome ones for you below! And don’t forget to check out another five great ones here too!
“Which Side Are You On,” Dropkick Murphys
By Guest Blogger Ashley Beard-Fosnow
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the season utterly devoted to expressing gratitude.
The kids and I made a Thanksgiving Tree by jamming a stick into one of the potted plants I managed to kill this year. We cut out paper leaves and each day we write something we are thankful for on a leaf. I made my leaves in advance to express many of the ways I’m grateful for my husband’s Union and the contributions of the Labor Movement to society. I know, you might think I’m just cheering on the home team, but truly, we enjoy an amazing quality of life because we are a Union family. Furthermore, throughout history the Labor Movement has created opportunities and protection for all Americans.
My Thanksgiving leaves include blessings such as:
– Weekends to Spend Time Together as a Family
– 8 Hour Work Days or Overtime
– Clint’s Breaks at Work
Buying Union and Other Ways to Take a Stand During the Holidays
By Michael Messina
It’s all very overwhelming. We are entering the time of year, the holiday season, when staying true to the pro-union, conscious-consumer mentality can play second (or even third) fiddle to the exhausting hustle and bustle we all launch into right about now. It’s easy to slip.
This is a call to stand firm. This is the most important time to renew and reinforce your efforts!
By Sahid Fawaz
The next time you hear someone claim that unions are no longer needed, share with them these six facts and graphs. As these numbers reveal, there is a strong correlation between unions and worker prosperity. The saying, “as unions go, so does the middle class,” is more accurate than ever. That is why it is imperative that we all strive to grow the labor movement and fight for greater economic equality for all members of the working class.
1. The growth of middle class disposable income is declining.
By Guest Blogger Ashley Beard-Fosnow
Fall is finally here and I am ready to reintroduce soup into our dinner menus! Here are three soups we eat often. These soups are cheap, easy, and include as many Union Made ingredients as possible.
Chicken Noodle Soup:
Boil w/ 2 Quarts water 4-6 Tyson Chicken Breasts
Add:
2 c. chopped carrots
2 c. chopped celery
2 c. chopped onion
2 chicken bullion cubes
And boil for 10 minutes. Add:
2 cans Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can evaporated milk
4 c. slightly cooked Ronzoni Small Egg Bows
Morton Salt and Durkee Pepper to taste
By Sahid Fawaz
AFL-CIO: www.facebook.com/aflcio
– The AFL-CIO Facebook page is a great way to stay current on the macro labor and political issues of the day. A definite must-follow for anyone who wants to stay in the know on the labor movement’s fight for workers’ rights.
By Michael Messina
Here at Labor 411 we have to be on top of all the current labor news in the country. Admittedly, that news can often be quite dry, so I rounded up a few guys who love to talk labor, economics and the like, and make the topic accessible and often fun. And we just happen to share a similar point of view. Enjoy!
