How can we get more young members involved in the union?
I could have retired a lot sooner than I did if I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that lament from a graying labor leader in my neck of the western Kentucky woods.
Alison Lundergan Grimes started her stump speech to union members, local Democratic Party officials and others in Paducah, Ky., with a quote from Sen. Mitch McConnell: “Public sector unions are a 50-year mistake. Unions are to blame for distrust of our government. Unions are power hungry and no longer serve the public interest.”
Then the 34-year-old Democrat who wants McConnell’s job lowered the boom:
He didn’t realize what he was describing was how Kentuckians feel about his service in Washington.
When Chris Ormes, president of United Steelworkers ( USW ) Local 1241 in Bardstown, Ky., heard a " right to work" for less speaker was heading his way, he opted for his own “rapid response.” Says Ormes:
The local Republican Women's Club invited Alan Blincoe of Kentucky Citizens for Right to Work to one of their meetings. I called Leo Downs and Wanda Riney from our local. All three of us went.
This old reporter remembers when “social media” meant a bunch of newshounds bending elbows in a bar after work.
Bo Johnson defines it differently. Social media, specifically text messaging, "is the single best way for us to get the word out to our members," says the vice president of the Paducah-based Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council .
James and Trina Vetato knew about the freedom riders from history books.
This week, the Paducah, Ky., couple expects to join a civil rights movement-style protest against the world's largest retailer. The Vetatos are activists in the employees’ group Organization United for Respect at Walmart, or OUR Walmart for short. Trina currently works at a Walmart store and James is a former Walmart employee.
Jim “Runt” Gregory served as financial secretary of United Steelworkers ( USW ) Local 727 in Calvert City, Ky., during the tenure of eight presidents.
“Presidents of the United States,” he said with a grin.
Jim “Runt” Gregory served as the financial secretary of United Steelworkers ( USW ) Local 727 in Calvert City, Ky., during the tenure of eight presidents.
“Presidents of the United States,” he said with a grin.
A century ago on Workers Memorial Day , millions of men, women and children worked long hours at low pay in jobs that threatened their lives and limbs. Many of them were immigrants.
“They don't suffer,” George F. Baer said of coal miners who had come to America from eastern Europe. “Why, hell, half of them don't even speak English."
The son of a United Steelworkers ( USW ) member is leading a Murray (Ky.) State University student protest against their school's choice of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell as this year's graduation speaker May 11. The lad is Devin Griggs, who won the outstanding labor youth award from the Kentucky State AFL-CIO at the state convention in 2011.
Berry Craig, recording secretary for the Paducah-based Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council and a professor of history at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, is a former daily newspaper and Associated Press columnist and currently a member of AFT Local 1360. Craig sends us this.
Retired Kentucky United Steelworkers ( USW ) member Jim Pence is doing his bit to help retire Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “Social media is the way to go,” said Pence, who lives in Glendale, Ky., and belonged to USW Local 423 in Louisville. Pence has opened a pair of Facebook pages: Ditch Mitch and 1,000,000 Strong Against Senator Mitch McConnell in 2014 .
It’s been four years since low-wage workers got a raise. Sign the petition to tell Congress it’s time to raise the minimum wage.
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