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The Labor Movement IRISH

In 1867, her husband and supported the reelection of To pay for his EXAMINER
four children succumbed to President Franklin Roosevelt tuition, Sweeney Labor Day is generally regarded
yellow fever. From that in 1936. worked as a grave |
point onward, she devoted He also led a successful digger. In his early as the unofficial end of summer -
herself to continuing her hus- strike for fair wages of crafts- years, he attended August
band’s work. men working on the public numerous union
Mother Jones took part in works projects of the New meetings with his a day of picnics, barbecues, and 28th,
the 1882 coal strike in Deal. father, which began
Hocking Valley, Ohio, and Meany was elected secre- his life-long commit- perhaps one last trip to the beach. 2019
helped expand the United tary-treasurer of the AFL in ment to the
Mine Workers union. 1939 and was involved in the American labor For school-age children, it usually
Over a 30-year span from War Labor Board, which movement.
1891 until 1921, the self-pro- spurred union growth during Sweeney began his
claimed “hell raiser” led the WWII. labor career working signifies the end of summer recess
miners in strikes in He insisted on the inclu- with the Ladies
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West sion of workers’ rights in the Garment Workers and the commencement of anoth-
Virginia, Colorado, and postwar Marshall Plan and Union.
Kansas. used his considerable clout to He later served as er school year. What is sometime
Her trademark tactic was help elect President Harry president of the
to encourage miners’ wives Truman in 1948. Service Employees lost in the fun is that Labor Day
to step out of their traditional In 1952, Meany became International Union
roles as housewives and per- president of the AFL and then (SEIU) president
suade their husbands, includ- forged the merger with the from 1980-1995. is a celebration of the American
ing scab workers, to join CIO. Under his leader-
unions. His election as the first ship, membership worker. In fact, many of the
Mother Jones was a tireless president of the combined grew from 625,000 to
fighter for workers’ causes, labor union in 1955 was more than one mil- strides made by workers were in
especially the abolition of unanimous. lion - the first AFL-
child labor, until she was Meany made the union a CIO union to reach large part due to the efforts of
nearly 100 years old. powerful political influence, that mark in two
Today her memory is kept particularly during the turbu- decades.
alive by Mother Jones maga- lent 1960s. He helped organ- Irish Americans.
zine, a publication espousing He backed the civil rights ize office, mainte-
“progressive” political values. movement, insisted that the nance, and health care work- ing world,” said attorney It can be easily argued that
historic 1964 Civil Rights Act ers and led mergers with John C. Dearie, who has the labor movement in
George Meany call for an end to workplace other unions, notably the worked with union leader- America would never have
(1894-1980) discrimination, and support- National Association of ship dating back to his 20 been as successful without
Born into an Irish Catholic ed the creation of the Government Employees. years in the New York State the support Irish immigrants
family in New York, George Medicare system in 1965. In his time at the helm of Assembly. and their descendants at
Meany served as president of George Meany viewed the the AFL-CIO, Sweeney “This [was] particularly national and local levels.
the American Federation of AFL-CIO as the only organi- strengthened organizing true with people like John So as you enjoy Labor Day
Labor (AFL) from 1952 to zation that spoke for the efforts and encouraged Sweeney, Denis Hughes, the weekend, take pride that the
1955, and, following its merg- common man. increased political activities. [former] president of the NY contributions of Irish
er with the Congress of During his 25 years at the He spearheaded outreach State AFL-CIO, and [the late] Americans provided an extra
Industrial Organizations union helm, Meany was a to women, people of color, Ed Molloy, [former] presi- summer holiday and better
(CIO), led the combined AFL- strong voice for workers immigrants and students. dent of the Building Trades lives for working people. C
CIO for the next quarter cen- rights and civil rights in His numerous recruitment Council.”
tury. America and around the initiatives included a summer B e c a u s e
Meany’s father, Michael, world. program utilizing college-age they came to
was president of the Bronx He died in 1980, not long activists and the creation of America to
local of the United after stepping down as the “rapid response” teams that e s c a p e
Association of Plumbers and AFL-CIO leader. mobilized when labor dis- adverse con-
Pipe Fitters. His legacy includes the putes arise. ditions and
Young George joined the establishment of the National He also created a seek a better
union as an apprentice at the Labor College in Silver Corporate Affairs life, the Irish
age of 16 and worked as a Springs, Maryland. Department that compiles were natural
plumber. statistics used in collective leaders to
In 1920, he was elected as John Sweeney (1934-) bargaining and also deals fight work-
the youngest member of the The president of the AFL- with labor-management part- place hard-
local union’s executive board. CIO from 1995 until his nerships, pensions, and ships and
He was active in both the retirement from the position investment issues. c o r r u p t
New York City Central Labor in 2009, John Sweeney was Sweeney has co-authored bosses dur-
Council and the New York born in the Bronx in 1934, the two books, including ing the
State Federation of Labor, for son of Irish immigrants. America Needs a Raise: I n d u s t r i a l
which he became president in He attended Cardinal Fighting for Economic Age and
1934. Hayes High School and Iona Security and Social Justice. throughout
Meany built a powerful College, where he graduated “Irish leadership in labor is the 20th cen-
political organization and with a degree in economics. a constant in an ever-chang- tury. Mother Jones was a tireless fighter for workers’ causes