Union strong: Union leaders are here to stay

On Saturday November 12, 2016, 130 union leaders and supporters took the steamer Virginia V from Seattle to Everett to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Everett Massacre. On November 5, 1916, 250 men went from Seattle to Everett on the steamer Verona to support striking shingle weavers. This resulted in the deaths of 5 Wobblies and countless others who drowned. For more information, Google “Everett Massacre.”

President-elect Donald Trump appears to have little regard for workers or the unions that represent them. Like the workers on the Verona 100 years ago, union leaders and their supporters must tell Trump and his surrogates that the union community is not going away without a fight.

It isn’t enough to write letters to the editor to assign blame for actions of the past. It is essential to establish a rallying cry and appropriate action: “Solidarity forever, for the Union makes us strong!”

This story was originally published November 30, 2016 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Union strong: Union leaders are here to stay."