Today in Labor History: May 16
Black labor leader and peace activist A. Philip Randolph dies. He was president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and first black on the AFL-CIO executive board, and a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington – 1979
Also on this date: Minneapolis general strike backs striking Teamsters…U.S. Supreme Court issues Mackay decision, which permits the permanent replacement of striking workers… click here for complete postings.
 [A. Philip Randolph: A Biographical Portrait is a fascinating biography of a great American hero. A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979) was not only the most famous African American labor leader of his time, he was also a key figure in the civil rights movement. In the UCS bookstore now.]

Member Tip: Elect the Boss
Why should you care about your union's involvement in the world of politics?  As is the case with external organizing, what your union does on the political landscape has a very direct impact on your union's effectiveness in your and other workplaces.  Perhaps the most dramatic example of the direct connection between the political arena and the world of collective bargaining is the situation in which public employees find themselves.  It is not an oversimplification to say that public employees get to elect the boss when they get involved in electoral campaigns and in how politicians subsequently carry out their duties.  It would be throwing away a critical source of leverage if a public employee union did not strive to have influence over the elected government officials who directly determine how much money is budgeted for union members' salaries and benefits.
-- Adapted from The Union Members Complete Guide, by Michael Mauer

Labor Song: You and Your Union
As a long time union advocate, Bobby DePace had dreamed of putting together a CD of the experiences that he has shared with union members across our country. His CD, Unionized, is the realization of that dream. Click here to listen to the song.