Terrell Williams of Townsend is a union member and an attorney.
Could you recently smell the stench of trash in the air flowing southeasterly from Philadelphia? That pungent smell was the scent of the city’s elected leaders underpaying blue-collar workers and undermining their abilities for a livable wage. However, the bittersweet tinge tickling our nostril hairs was also the scent of union labor flexing its proverbial muscles. In Philadelphia, and throughout the country, livable wages are under attack. The safeguards that once ensured a rich and robust economy are fading away, and the working and middle classes are suffocating. Whether private- or public-sector employment, the opportunities to earn livable wages are diminishing. Union labor is under attack.
Ironically, almost 60 years ago, one of America’s greatest civil rights icons, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., led the charge for Black sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. Moreover, what many Americans may not know is that Dr. King was transitioning his mission from the Civil Rights Movement to the Poor People’s Campaign, which emphasized solidarity between the various races by focusing on wages and job opportunities. This controversial position may have been too radical for the 1960s, but in today’s climate, Dr. King’s vision is our north star. The working and middle classes’ characteristics are defined by their diversity and inclusion; we should not be fragmented by insignificant variables.
The American economy is at its healthiest when union labor is at its strongest. Despite having the highest approval rating for labor unions since the 1960s, low membership rates have plagued union initiatives. Your participation in union organizations, no matter the industry, directly impacts the growth and sustainability of America’s working and middle classes. Unregulated labor leads capitalism astray, which widens the gap between the rich and poor. Simply put, your membership in a union organization will increase your overall income. Too many of our moral values are in conflict with our economic realities, and our finances are suffering. The naivete of Reaganomics has created a power imbalance that has only rewarded the wealthy. The pilfering of livable wages and quality benefits have left the American workforce barren, while bottlenecking any reliable avenues to the working and middle classes.
Delaware state employees cannot live off 2% increases, while inflation is at an all-time high. Federal-sector employees should not live in fear, wondering if their collective bargaining agreements will be terminated by an administration misleading the public on the importance of their work and responsibilities. The judiciary should be a source of neutral interpretation of our laws and should have applicable rational thought in deciding cases, not an extension of political echo chambers. Your participation in labor unions is the current that propels the American economy forward. Without your involvement and support for the various labor initiatives constantly being fought, then our trash piles up, and pathways for the working and middle classes disappear. The American economy is fueled by union dollars. Labor organizations are the fastest and most reliable courses for the working and middle classes.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
