On Monday, the USA celebrates Labor Day. However, there is another labor day, borne of labor’s struggles for wages that reflect their value, a safe working environment, and benefits. These struggles erupted into violence in Haymarket Square in 1886 and led to the declaration of May 1 as international workers day, a day to march, rally, resist and strike if needed, not a day to picnic.
Joining hosts Opollo, Jesse and Barbara, was Jamie Muhammad, VP of ILA 1414 in Savannah, to talk about these labor struggles and the what the ILA, in Savannah since 1936, provides for its members. Labor solidarity beginning in the 1800s and strengthened during the New Deal, resulted in gains for labor–the 8 hour day, safe working conditions, and benefits, but these rights have been eroded since passage of the Taft Hartley Act of 1947. Taft Hartley gives employers the right to interfere and deny hard-fought labor rights, surviving 13 presidential administrations, including 6 of Democrats, without challenge. When air traffic controllers struck in 1981 over unsafe working conditions, they were fired and privatized by President Reagan. When the railroad workers threatened to strike for better working conditions, including more staff on the multi-mile long trains travelling through our city and county, in 2024, President Biden threatened to fire striking workers.
Jamie explained that the ILA, in Savannah since 1936, protects its workforce, whose members often work in dangerous conditions, loading container ships and taking them safely out of port. They deserve the rights of just compensation, safe working conditions and benefits. As do all workers. Isn’t it time to leave the picnic table and join the picket line?
It is time to join and support the Southern Workers Assembly, dedicated to organizing, uniting and transforming labor power throughout the South. Join at https://southernworker.org/Sav.
Next week, Kate Gallop from Tharros Place joins us to discuss human trafficking, a significant issue in a port city, in advance of the 9/19 Walk to Combat Human Trafficking at Tybee.
Migrant Equity Southeast will hold an event on 9/5 at Fontaines to support their valuable work to assist individuals and families broken apart by detention and deportation.
- 12:00pm Pawlicki-FInding Happiness Episode 68 LET LOVE IN by Robert Pawlicki on Finding Happiness
