AFGE Council 1 Demands Restoration of DOL Labor Hall of Fame

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)AFGE Council 1 is demanding that the United States Department of Labor “restore the Labor Hall of Fame.” Council 1 on May 23 passed a resolution noting that “In February of this year Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis dismantled the Labor Hall of Fame at the United States Department of Labor without even consulting with the AFL-CIO, State Federations of Labor or even AFGE Locals of the United States Department of Labor.” The Labor Hall of Fame has been re-named the Hall of Honor, a simple listing of names in the DOL lobby and online in place of the previous exhibit which included historical artifacts like UFW founder Cesar Chavez’ famous checked shirt, Knights of Labor founder Terrence Powderly’s gavel, Mother Jones’ purse and AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland’s harmonica. Noting that 2012 marks the centennial of the Department of Labor’s founding in the wake of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire tragedy, the Council 1 resolution calls on the DOL to “restore the Labor Hall of Fame to its status before the artifacts of the displays are disposed of by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.” Said AFGE member Edward Stern “The personal items of great American labor leaders…connect us to important American history.  A hat, a pipe, a walking stick, or other personal mementos connect us to the heroes of American labor.” Council 1 is circulating the resolution  to other AFGE locals, AFL-CIO state federations and labor councils urging them to add their support as well as circulate to local members of Congress, and will present it for approval at the AFGE National Convention in August. - photos of Labor Hall of Fame's Cesar Chavez (above) and Mother Jones' purse (at left) by Chris Garlock