Home > USA: LABOR DAY IN THE SHADOW OF KATRINA
Un/Employment Trade unions Catastrophes USA
Trade unionists in the United States are this
weekend celebrating Labor Day in the wake of the
greatest natural disaster ever to befall the
country. According to reports in the mass media,
thousands of lives have been lost in New Orleans and other areas.
Unions have already begun to do their bit — see
for example this page on the website of the
AFL-CIO, advising trade union members on how to help:
http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/ns08312005.cfm
As the people of the areas affected by Hurricane
Katrina begin the long, slow task of rebuilding
their homes and their lives, so the labor
movement in the US needs to rebuild itself after
years of declining membership. The work goes on
— this week, for example is "Union Label Week,"
a time when people are encouraged more than ever
to buy products produced by their fellow union
members. Details of the campaign are here:
If you want to do your bit to promote trade
unions and unionized companies, no matter where
you live in the world, check out the brand-new
list of the five best-selling books on Labour’s
Online Bookstore. These books are the ones that
you have picked over the last few months as the
ones that are of the most practical value to you
as trade unionists. They include books on union
meetings, organizing, a complete guide for union
members and the ever-popular "Troublemakers
Handbook". This Labor Day, make sure to visit
Labour’s Online Bookstore and do your bit to
promote union-made products and services: