AFL-CIO holds Labor Day picnic to honor role of organized labor in American history

MANNINGTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — The AFL-CIO held a Labor Day picnic Sunday in Mannington to rally community support around the union and honor the achievements of organized labor in America’s history.

United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts gave a speech chronicling how the fight of unions in the past helped provide laborers with benefits such as healthcare and pensions. Toward the end of his speech, Roberts invoked labor organizer Mother Jones as he spoke of the need for workers to advocate for themselves.

Roberts told 12 News, “People actually died to have this union.”

In his interview Roberts brought up the Ludlow Massacre in which state militia and guards from the Colorado and Iron Company–which was owned by JD Rockefeller at the time–broke up a camp of striking mine workers, killing 25 people including 12 children in the process. Labor activist Mother Jones would go on to lead a campaign to bring attention to this national event.

When asked about the labor movement’s place in American history, Roberts’ response was simple.

“If you’ve got healthcare, the unions gave you that. You’ve got a pension, the unions gave you that,” Roberts said. “The employer came kicking and screaming for every healthy and safety law that’s in the books today.”

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