Our Perspective
Headline
We Mourn Richard
Trumka, and Will
Fight in his Memory
By Stuart Appelbaum, President
Retail, Wholesale and Department
Store Union, UFCW
Twitter: @sappelbaum
The world lost a tireless fighter for working
people on August 5, when AFL-CIO President
Richard Trumka passed away. At the RWDSU,
we often saw first-hand the dedication of a man who
was willing to go toe to toe with anybody if it meant defending the rights of
working people and creating a fairer and more equitable society where all of
us have our voices heard, not just the wealthiest and most powerful.
After being elected President of the AFL-CIO in 2011, Rich’s first trip
to New York was to stand with RWDSU members at the Kingsbridge
Armory in the Bronx to demand living wages, especially at projects
funded with taxpayer money. In Williamson, New York, he was there on
the front lines to stand side-by-side with hundreds of striking RWDSU
members at the Mott’s applesauce plant. Richard Trumka’s vocal support
helped the workers win their strike against a corporate employer that was
trying to slash wages and benefits despite enjoying record profits.
Richard Trumka
joined the RWDSU in
taking on Amazon in
Bessemer, Alabama,
standing with the
courageous workers
there who are trying to
organize a union in the
face of Amazon’s
unlimited resources and
willingness to break
labor law to destroy
Trumka stood with working people at
their campaign. He was
Kingsbridge Armory in 2011.
always there to answer
the bell, no matter how big or small the fight when it came to workers’
rights. He was a visionary and an inspirational leader.
Richard was born into a mining family in Pennsylvania, and as a
miner himself, he knew early on the importance of union activism and
giving a voice to working people. Mining can be deadly work, and those
prying coal from the depths of the earth know there is always a chance
they might not make it home. These workers back each other up and
watch out for each other and protect each other.
The values he learned in the mines and in the mining labor movement
shaped his entire life’s work. As President of the AFL-CIO, he gave a voice
every day to millions of union members and all working people in this
country, and he brought to the labor movement an incredible energy,
spirit and passion that showed during his entire career.
We will miss Richard Trumka, but we will never forget
him. We will continue to fight for the values he held
dear, and we will continue to bring a voice to all
working people in his memory. There can be no
greater tribute to his legacy than continuing to
fight for better lives for all working people and
their families.
www.rwdsu.org
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Schneps Media August 12, 2021 9
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