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Westmoreland's Labor Tradition

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Westmoreland's Labor Tradition Today, tens of thousands of women and men in Labor’s struggles and accomplishments are many, ◻ Westmoreland County has a diverse economy ◻ In the wake of these early conflicts, labor the greater Westmoreland County area have the though often not so well known. Here are a few now, including manufacturing, commerce, unions steadily gained acceptance. Wages and benefit of a negotiated union contract with their historical facts about the working people of the energy, transportation, health care, public working conditions improved as a result. As employer, with a voice and a vote on improving Westmoreland County area, and the labor unions service and many more modern industries. It the economy changed, unions have adapted, wages, benefits and working conditions. they’ve built and continue to organize today! has also included production of glass, now representing a broad cross-section of the electrical workforce - labor, service and professional. components, ◻ The Congress of Industrial Organization (CIO) aluminum, that helped millions organize during the 1930- rubber, and 50s had its first convention in Pittsburgh in Westmoreland’s Labor Tradition much more. 1938. And Pittsburgh is home base for the But it wasn’t Steelworkers Union (USW) since 1937. long ago that ◻ Workers in the private sector gain the right to the economy organize with the 1935 National Labor Organized workers here are well-known for centered on farming and coal mining. Relations Act. Public, educational and health earning higher wages and better benefits. These ◻ The modern industrial age brought a demand care employees in Pennsylvania only gained union-negotiated improvements provide upward for coal to run steam engines and furnaces. collective bargaining rights through later state pressure for pay for all workers in the area. Westmoreland coal miners faces many and federal legislation. Unions represent ordinary working people, not the hardships: low pay, “script” instead of money ◻ Pro-labor laws for Pennsylvanians are the wealthy “elite.” Labor today is an important force useable only in company stores, sparse result of many decades of coalition-building in Westmoreland County communities. The company housing and dangerous working by workers and their unions. Labor laws in our coalition of labor unions in the area is the Greater conditions. More than 50,000 mining fatalities state are considered among the best in the Westmoreland Central Labor Council AFL-CIO. are reported in Pennsylvania since the 1870s. country due to the continual efforts of unions. ◻ The United Mine Workers of America was Labor council members provide mutual support to formed in 1890 to support all coal workers. In union members during disputes, and are involved with many community activities, events and 1891, 10,000 coke workers in this region causes. The council encourages non-union workers walked out to protest low pay and poor to become union members. The council monitors conditions at Henry Frick’s properties. (Coke is the actions of political representatives and elected a coal by-product needed to make steel, once leaders locally, as do the state and national AFL- ◻ Labor councils were established in many produced in “beehive ovens” still visible on Western Pennsylvania communities as far CIO in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. area hillsides.) In this strike, 7 union miners back as the 1820-30s. were killed at the Morewood Massacre. Frick Progress for the average worker did not come ◻ The founding convention of what became the went on to manage Andrew Carnegie’s nearby easily. Before unions became strong, workdays American Federation of Labor (AFL) was held steel mill at the 1892 Battle of Homestead. were long and pay was often very low. Early in downtown Pittsburgh in 1881, building the ◻ The 1910-11 Westmoreland Coal Strike, saw efforts by workers for self-improvement were power of unions like the building and 15,000 UMW members at 65 area mines sometimes branded as “conspiracies” against the construction trades that to this day help joining together to improve wages and power of corporations and the wealthy. Tent City for evicted miners and families, millions of families maintain a living wage. working conditions, with more casualties. Westmoreland Strike, 1910-11. The Greater Westmoreland County Labor Greater Westmoreland Council is a local branch of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Central Labor Council AFL-CIO Greater Organizations (AFL-CIO). OFFICERS The Labor Council represents the collective Westmoreland County interest of its affiliated unions and of the President Walter Geiger working people of Westmoreland County. It Vice President Phil Horrell Labor Council consists of affiliated unions that designate Secretary Harriet Ellenberger delegates who elect an executive board and Treasurer Rosemary Trump conduct Labor Council business at monthly Financial Sec. Donna Semega meetings. Trustees: Linda Butler Let Political Leaders Know The Labor Council helps local unions within its Mary Caldwell, Mike Andrejco jurisdiction with various organizing campaigns, Executive Board Members: Where You Stand - community services, civil rights issues, and Helen Noel, Dan Kremer works with charitable organizations. The Rachel Shaw Labor Council also lobbies with local politicians Sergeant-at-Arms Bob Thomas Full Collective Bargaining Rights on issues of concern to workers. for Public & Education Employees The GWCLC believes that it is essential for all Protect American Industrial Jobs voters to have the necessary information for making educated political choices. The Council Demand Union Construction plays an invaluable role in the struggle of the MONTHLY MEETINGS Greater Westmoreland County Stop Contracting Out Our Jobs AFL-CIO to improve the standard of living for working people. All union members are invited Labor Council AFL-CIO Fair Compensation for 3rd Monday of each month, One Northgate Square Injured & Unemployed Workers The GWCLC is one of nearly 500 state and local labor councils of the AFL-CIO ad are the heart General Meeting at 7:00 PM, Affordable Family Health of the Labor Movement. Greensburg, PA 15601 Hempfield Fire House #2, Insurance Labor Councils are democratically elected 421 Thornton Road bodies dedicated to represent the interests of Strengthen Social Security Greensburg, PA 15601. A Healthful Environment working people at the state and local level. Phone – 724-600-6266 We mobilize our members and community More Job Opportunities partners to advocate for social and economic (January & February - 4th Monday) Website – http://pa.aflcio.org/gwclc Demand the Right to Organize justice and we strive daily to vanquish oppression and make our communities better Facebook Greater Westmoreland If you are interested in getting active and & other workers’ issues! for all people -- regardless of race, color, County Labor Council gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or helping the labor movement grow, please ethnic or national origin. email: [email protected]. .
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