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Unions Honor King Legacy
Hundreds of union activists celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in January with a five-day whirlwind of actions in Jackson, Miss., to support minority and workers' rights.
CWA members and leaders were actively involved in
the AFL-CIO led event, themed, "We Come to Remember, to Serve and to Act."
"A lot of people really came together and worked hard to make this a tremendously successful, energizing event," said Leslie Jackson, CWA representative for civil rights and fair practices. "The spirit of Dr. King was very much alive."
Among the events were three rallies, including one at the state capitol to protest the fact that Mississippi is the only state without a labor department and that its public workers are woefully underpaid. Another rally supported Head Start workers organized by IUE-CWA who have been fighting for a contract for two years.
Activists also took part in workshops, a community breakfast and a town hall meeting to promote economic, social and political justice. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, actor-activist Mario Van Peebles and Mississippi State Rep. Jim Evans, a member of CWA Local 3570.
"The civil rights movement gave us freedom," Van Peebles told the crowd. "The labor movement gave us money to get on the bus. You're giving us the capital to help us change our rights."
At an awards dinner the following night, the honorees included Brenda Scott, president of CWA Local 3570, the state employees' union. Brooks Sunkett, CWA vice president for Public, Health Care and Education Workers, presented Scott with the Local Labor Award for her fight to raise public workers' pay. Mississippi state employees are paid an average of $24,000 a year, the 44th lowest rate in the nation.
Also in the jam-packed week was the National Coalition of Black Trade Unionists executive council and local presidents' conference. IUE-CWA President Ed Fire, speaking at the meeting and the state workers' rally, called for all union members to carry on King's fight for human rights, through bargaining, organizing and political action. "I will keep fighting until all God's children have equal rights on and off the job," he said.
The observance honoring King is held each year in a city where his life and work had tremendous impact. "The history of the movement is in Mississippi," Evans said, quoted by Associated Press. "Mississippi was important in the past. Mississippi is important for the future."
CWA members and leaders were actively involved in
the AFL-CIO led event, themed, "We Come to Remember, to Serve and to Act."
"A lot of people really came together and worked hard to make this a tremendously successful, energizing event," said Leslie Jackson, CWA representative for civil rights and fair practices. "The spirit of Dr. King was very much alive."
Among the events were three rallies, including one at the state capitol to protest the fact that Mississippi is the only state without a labor department and that its public workers are woefully underpaid. Another rally supported Head Start workers organized by IUE-CWA who have been fighting for a contract for two years.
Activists also took part in workshops, a community breakfast and a town hall meeting to promote economic, social and political justice. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, actor-activist Mario Van Peebles and Mississippi State Rep. Jim Evans, a member of CWA Local 3570.
"The civil rights movement gave us freedom," Van Peebles told the crowd. "The labor movement gave us money to get on the bus. You're giving us the capital to help us change our rights."
At an awards dinner the following night, the honorees included Brenda Scott, president of CWA Local 3570, the state employees' union. Brooks Sunkett, CWA vice president for Public, Health Care and Education Workers, presented Scott with the Local Labor Award for her fight to raise public workers' pay. Mississippi state employees are paid an average of $24,000 a year, the 44th lowest rate in the nation.
Also in the jam-packed week was the National Coalition of Black Trade Unionists executive council and local presidents' conference. IUE-CWA President Ed Fire, speaking at the meeting and the state workers' rally, called for all union members to carry on King's fight for human rights, through bargaining, organizing and political action. "I will keep fighting until all God's children have equal rights on and off the job," he said.
The observance honoring King is held each year in a city where his life and work had tremendous impact. "The history of the movement is in Mississippi," Evans said, quoted by Associated Press. "Mississippi was important in the past. Mississippi is important for the future."