[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E189-E190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 10, 1999

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the labor 
movement. As the American trade union movement prepares to move into 
its second century, it is important to applaud the movement's ``century 
of achievement'' that included the historic reuniting of the AFL-CIO in 
1955.
  American labor has played a central role in the raising of the 
American standard of living. American workers have had to struggle to 
achieve the gains they have made during this century. And it has been a 
struggle! Improvements did not come easily. By organizing, winning the 
right to representation, utilizing the collective bargaining process, 
struggling against bias and discrimination, working Americans have 
built a trade union movement of formidable proportions.
  Labor in America has correctly been described as a stabilizing force 
in the national economy and a bulwark of our democratic society. The 
gains that unions have achieved have brought benefits directly and 
indirectly to the American people and have served as a force for our 
nation's progress.
  Labor has reached out to groups in America who strive for their share 
of the American dream and there is a common bond between the labor 
movement and African-Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities. In the 
words of Dr. Martin Luther King: ``Our needs are identical with labor's 
needs--decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age 
security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can 
grow, have education for their children and respect in the community.''
  But today, America's workplace is in transition. The workforce that 
was once predominantly ``blue collar'' has now expanded to include 
``white collar'' employees and the significantly increasing ``gray 
collar'' workers representing the workers in service industries. Mass 
production industries have downsized and many have gone out of 
business. Increasing numbers of the new industries require new skill 
levels from employees and work once

[[Page E190]]

performed in the United States has been moved out of the country.
  However, change has not lessened the absolute need for protection and 
representation for our nation's working men and women. And change has 
not lessened the resolve of the union movement to represent and protect 
America's workers.
  As the labor movement continues to face the looming challenges, it is 
important to note that the union movement is on the right track. In 
1998, the number of union members rose in more than half the states and 
union membership grew by more than 100,000 nationwide. In all, the 
number of union members in the nation rose from 16.1 to 16.2 million. 
As AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has said, ``Our commitment and 
dedication to organizing, at all levels of the labor movement, is 
beginning to bear fruit--but we still have a long way to go. We need to 
stay focused and redouble our efforts.''

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