[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           UNIONS IN AMERICA

  (Ms. SANCHEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the unions 
of America.
  Unless someone is a member of a union or unless they grew up in a 
union household they may not understand the advantages in the workplace 
that have been made because of unions for the American worker.
  Like many Americans, I know how hard it is to earn a paycheck. I 
worked my way through college as a clerk at a Sav-on Drug store in 
Anaheim, and I was a member of the Retail Clerks Union in Orange 
County.
  If someone is a worker in America and they have a pension, they 
should thank the unions. They understand about dignity and retirement. 
Thank the unions for their efforts to secure the 8-hour workday, the 
40-hour work week, overtime pay and compensatory time off. Unions have 
been instrumental in obtaining health benefits for workers. We all know 
how expensive health care is, and without the unions' efforts think of 
how many workers and families would be without health insurance.
  Quality of life; unions understand this.
  Today I thank the unions for all they have done to make our country 
better.

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