In earlier years, workers who tried to form unions were beaten by company thugs or shot at by government troops. It is because of the sacrifices of these heroic men and women that American workers enjoy the standard of living we have today. As we near the end of the century, organizing continues to be the labor movement's vital mission. The anti-union attacks take different forms, but they are just as intense and brutal as in the early days of the labor movement. Despite the setbacks, trade unionists today are no more willing to give up the struggle than were our predecessors.
Workers know that hazards on the job maim and destroy thousands every year.
Workers know that discrimination and favoritism rob people of opportunities for advancement. Workers know about inadequate health benefits that threaten the well-being of their families. Workers know about the lack of dignity that exists when people are denied a voice in their working lives. And trade unionists understand that everything we have achieved can be taken away if we don't continue to organize. To be strong, we must be united.