Results tagged “labor” from EdLabor Journal

(This is blog post is by Rep. George Miller, CA-07, Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee)

My Labor Hero is recently departed Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Throughout his career, he fought for the most basic of American values – the protection the most vulnerable in our society and a fair deal for all our working men and women.  With Senator Kennedy’s death, we have a moment to reflect on these values and why he felt strongly about ensuring that every American worker is treated with dignity and respect.

Over the past 35 years, I have had the opportunity to work with him; to have him as a mentor and count him as friend. Our work together has been immensely valuable to me. I cannot express how important Senator Kennedy’s commitment, his courage, and leadership was in fighting for the most important causes of our time.

In the Senate, he led the fight to raise the minimum wage, extend unemployment insurance, protect workers’ pensions, pass the Family Medical Leave Act, improve workers safety, ensure equal pay for equal work, and making access to affordable health care a basic right for all Americans.

The fight is not yet complete on some of these priorities. But, Senator Kennedy will continue to be an inspiration for all of us who must now pick up his cause and continue to endeavor to improve the lives of all working Americans.

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Rush Holt, NJ - 12th)

On Labor Day, we pay tribute to the men and women who have formed the backbone of our nation’s economy. We honor those who have fought to strengthen and expand the rights of all employees to ensure they receive fair compensation and are assured of strong workplace safety laws.  They are as recognizable as Samuel Gompers, the first and longest-serving president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and as anonymous as the millions who every day go to work to provide for their families and contribute to our nation’s prosperity.

On this Labor Day, my Labor Hero is Mary Norton, who represented Central New Jersey in Congress from 1925 to 1950 and served as Chair of the House Committee on Labor from 1937 to 1946. As the first woman to represent an eastern state in the House of Representatives, Ms. Norton helped enact the groundbreaking Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 – which established the 40-hour work week, outlawed child labor, and established the first federal minimum wage – and fought for equal pay for women.  Last year I had the honor of joining Chairman Miller and others in unveiling the portrait of Ms. Norton in Committee. Her tireless advocacy serves as inspiration for me as we continue the struggle for fair wages and equal pay for equal work.

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Raul Grijalva, AZ - 7th)

When I think of my heroes who have fought for labor rights, there is no question: Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez are a source of personal inspiration for me and organizing power for the movement to this very day.

Dolores and Cesar inspired me to get involved in organizing at the community level. They showed that with solidarity, organization, and vision, even the most oppressed and marginalized sectors of society can change their circumstances for the better. They did this with a philosophy of non-violence, of commitment to struggle, of truly Christian concern for others.

Dolores, in particular, stayed engaged, and is engaged to this day, while having raised twelve children, and pursues a schedule that even they would find exhausting. And yet she only seems to get stronger as the years go by.

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Mazie Hirono, HI - 2nd)

Patsy Takemoto Mink is not just my Labor Hero; she is a personal hero of mine. Patsy was an inspiration to me as she was to many working people throughout the country. She came by her commitment to labor honestly. Patsy’s four grandparents emigrated from Japan in the late 1800’s to work as contract laborers in Maui’s sugar plantations. Patsy saw firsthand why workers need protection, and why they need to band together to get it.

It was that firsthand knowledge that made Patsy work so hard—tirelessly and from the heart—to make sure that those who work hard for a day’s pay are treated fairly. She wouldn’t sit still and watch people be mistreated. Congressman George Miller, the Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, put it best when he said of Patsy, “whether on the environment, or education or labor issues, Patsy was a moral filter for the Congress.”

Another reason Patsy inspires me so greatly is because she wasn’t just passionate (although she certainly was), but she was really smart. She put all of the pieces together to make sure that workers were protected. She fought against hiring and pay discrimination, and she also worked to make sure that when people were out of work they were still protected. She fought for a welfare system that truly helped people receive the training and child care services they need to move back into the workplace.

Patsy was the whole package, and it is my honor to represent the district she used to serve in Congress.

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Phil Hare, IL - 17th)

In his 1977 farewell speech to the Minnesota AFL-CIO, just months before his passing, Hubert Humphrey reflected on the optimism and determination required to achieve social change: “Too many people in politics today are afraid…Well, I knew they wouldn’t go for civil rights in 1948, I knew they wouldn’t go for Medicare in 1949, I knew they wouldn’t go for the Peace Corps in 1958…but ultimately, they did. If you are going to be in politics, you have to be a soldier in the battlefield.”

Humphrey’s commitment to public service, civil rights, and the American labor movement inspired Congressman Phil Hare to join the fight for better pay, benefits, and conditions for America’s workers.

Congressman Hare’s appreciation and admiration of Hubert Humphrey stem from his lifetime of achievements that have benefited ordinary Americans.  From his early days as mayor of Minneapolis to his service as U.S. Senator and Vice President, Humphrey fought to end racism, which became the cornerstone of his legacy. His impassioned speech at the 1948 Democratic Convention made his convictions about racial equality in America known, and brought the issue to the forefront of the Presidential election despite criticism from Southern Democrats who were displeased with his Civil Rights platform.

Humphrey’s instrumental work on the Humphrey-Hawkins Act helped to better define America’s economic goals and stressed the importance of full employment, citing the value of a hard day’s work to society and the economy. Included in the Humphrey-Hawkins Act was a provision prohibiting discrimination against workers based on gender, race, religion, age, or national origin. Hare is now fighting to extend the same protections to those discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation

Congressman Hare’s own roots as a factory worker for 13 years in Illinois give him a special appreciation for the efforts Humphrey made on behalf of the American worker.  Humphrey’s integrity, passion and conviction to protect the rights of all Americans have made a lasting impression on Congressman Phil Hare who wishes to recognize Hubert Humphrey as his Labor Hero on this Labor Day. 

Rather than highlight a story in the media, today the Committee would like to acknowledge individuals who best exemplify the qualities celebrated on Labor Day. All throughout the day, Members of the Committee will be posting stories about their Labor Heroes. These Labor Heroes come from all walks of life and have positively impacted their families, neighbors, and friends.

We encourage you to share your Labor Hero in the comments here or on Twitter with the hashtag #LaborHero.

Who is your Labor Hero and why?