On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, AFSCME President Lee Saunders joined America’s Workforce Union Podcast (AWF) to talk about the special role that Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. played in AFSCME’s history, and described how AFSCME will meet the challenges ahead.
Hosted by Ed Ferenc out of Cleveland, Ohio, the show gives a voice to America’s working people through their unions.
Saunders recalled how, in 1968, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., joined the cause of 1,300 Black sanitation workers in Memphis, who said “enough is enough.” They struck for recognition of their union, AFSCME Local 1733, and to speak out against inhumane and unsafe working conditions.
Saunders said that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was determined to lend his support to the strikers’ cause, even though some had advised him not to.
“He was there supporting their right to have collective bargaining. He was there supporting their fight to have a safe workplace and to be paid decent wages,” said Saunders. “And he understood the connection between civil rights and labor rights and economic rights. He was the messenger for us in Memphis, Tennessee, at that time. If it wasn’t for his involvement, I can’t imagine what would have happened, whether we would have been successful or not.”
AFSCME and the labor movement face serious challenges today, as well. Among them, billionaires and their anti-union extremist friends, who wield more power and influence than ever and want to take power away from workers.
And just like AFSCME didn’t back down in 1968, it will meet future challenges head-on. The labor movement, Saunders said, remains energized.
“I believe that workers understand that in order to have a better life, a union is a way to get that better life.”
The fight that Dr. King gave his life for still continues.
“We are being attacked and we’re still pushing for better wages and working conditions and health and safety measures … and things of that nature. Because that’s what we do. We represent workers. We want to see that workers have a fair shake and they’re being treated fairly. And that struggle will never end.”
To hear the full interview with President Saunders on AWF, click here.