by 
Hayden Union Hall. John Hernandez | Copper Area
Copper Area News
On this coming Labor Day, remember those union activists, members, and their families that suffered, fought and died for a better way of life for the working man and woman. Some of the benefits that were won by the union struggle include: the eight-hour day, paid vacations, weekends, paid sick leave, higher wages, pensions, health insurance, safer working conditions and the middle class.
Samuel Gompers was a union activist and leader in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was the founder of the American Federation of Labor and its first President. When asked what does labor want, he responded in a way that still speaks to the issues in our country today:
“We want more schoolhouses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures.”
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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