The @afscme.bsky.social blimp took to the skies during Solidarity Day, 1981, in Washington, DC. #LaborHistory #Solidarity #blimp #protest

The @afscme.bsky.social blimp took to the skies during Solidarity Day, 1981, in Washington, DC. #LaborHistory #Solidarity #blimp #protest

Excited to see references to Puerto Rico's labor history in last night's #BadBunny #SuperBowl halftime show. Here are some members of Servidores Públicos Unidos at @afscme.bsky.social's 2002 convention in Vegas #LaborHistory

Black History Month reminds us that one voice can lead to a chorus of collective action that refuses to be silenced. Read President Lee Saunders' op-ed on how Black history teaches us about today’s fight for working people: www.afscme.org/blog/what-a-...

Politicians Beware: Your Political Health is at Stake. Photo from "Emergency Drive for Health Care" protests, which took place across the US in 1991. @afscme.bsky.social participated along with @jwj.org Citizen Action, and Families, U.S.A.

Black history is American history is AFSCME history! One way you can celebrate Black History Month is by learning about the important folks who contributed to that history. I’ll share some stories to get you started. @afscme.bsky.social #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistory #labor #LaborHistory #history

Some further reading on this subject for folks who'd like to learn more about general strikes as a tactic (and about the one that's already being planned for 2028): www.teenvogue.com/story/uaw-ge...

I see some @afscme.bsky.social buttons 👀👀

Similarly in 1970, @afscme.bsky.social president Jerry Wurf wrote to Rep John McCormack to support the holiday to "honor Dr. King's unswerving devotion to the proposition that all Americans of every race, color and background can live and work together in dignity and peace." #MLKDay #LaborHistory

Did you know it took 15+ years for #MartinLutherKing Day to become official? In this letter, @afscme.bsky.social secretary-treasurer and #CBTU president Bill Lucy wrote to Rep Katie Hall to urge hearings for HR 800. It became law later that year and the 1st #MLKDay observed in 1986. #LaborHistory

Did you know it took 15+ years for #MartinLutherKing Day to become official? In this letter, @afscme.bsky.social secretary-treasurer and #CBTU president Bill Lucy wrote to Rep Katie Hall to urge hearings for HR 800. It became law later that year and the 1st #MLKDay observed in 1986. #LaborHistory

March for the ERA flyer, January 13, 1980 #ERA #EqualRightsAmendment #LaborHistory #LaborUnions

Last year I wrote an article called "Fifty Years of Labor History Preservation and Progress: The Evolution of the Walter P. Reuther Library" and then I did this interview. Thanks to @portaljournal.bsky.social! #LaborHistory #Archives @reutherlibrary.bsky.social youtu.be/RUI9Dfh9RRo?...

“No freedom, no football.” In the 1970s, professional football players went on strike for free agency. @afscme.bsky.social members in Colorado joined Broncos players on the picket line. #NFL #NFLPA #Broncos #Denver #football #LaborHistory #Solidarity

No one has a cooler cubicle than me! #DollyParton #ImaginationLibrary #AFSCME #Archives

Thanks to Stefanie A. Caloia for speaking about her article, "Fifty Years of Labor History Preservation and Progress: The Evolution of the Walter P. Reuther Library." Read the full article on portal’s preprint site. @afscme-archivist.bsky.social @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

Treat yourself to #union representation this holiday season! Flyers, circa 1970s. @afscme.bsky.social @aft.org @aftarchivist.bsky.social @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

Random find today at the Reuther Library. @reutherlibrary.bsky.social #LaborHistory #LaborUnions #archives

There ARE solutions to the affordability crisis, especially when it comes to childcare costs. States & localities are developing policies that work for working families while providing living wages & benefits for providers. My new blog post digs into the challenges & the possible paths forward.

Wondering how to relate labor contracts to the hockey fan demographic? 🤔 How about a "City of Yzerman Bargaining Scenario"? @afscme.bsky.social @detroitredwings.bsky.social @detroitredwingsnhl.bsky.social @notdetroitredwings.bsky.social #Hockey #DetroitRedWings #LGRW #LaborUnions #LaborHistory

It is indeed the key takeaway from my book!

Sharp Nurses are set to begin a 3-day strike. They formed in the mid-1990a and in 1998 achieved their first contract. Here they are during that first contract fight: #Nurses #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #SanDiego @afscme.bsky.social

The latest episode of Tales from the Reuther Library features @afacwa.org president @flyingwithsara.bsky.social! Check it out on your favorite podcast app. @reutherlibrary.bsky.social #LaborHistory #podcasts

Is that Ron Burgundy in the archives?? 👀 Nope, it's Russ Murray, Executive Director of @ocsea11.bsky.social, in 1985. OCSEA affiliated with AFSCME in 1983, the same year Ohio public employees got the right to collectively bargain. #LaborHistory #Anchorman #CollectiveBargaining #PublicEmployees

Gloria McCabe, @afscme.bsky.social Council 97 member, had an unusual commute to work w/ the AZ Department of Economic Security. 4X a year, she and colleagues traveled all day by horse into the #GrandCanyon to the most remote Native American reservation in the US. #NativeAmericanHeritage #Arizona

As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history. Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX

It's #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth and here's a local story from 1981 of @afscme.bsky.social member Joan Sobbe, a bus driver for Huron Valley Schools in MI. Sobbe, of Ottawa heritage, volunteered with and served as chair for the Indian Education Program beginning in 1974. #LaborHistory #HuronValley

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the #EdmundFitzgerald on #LakeSuperior. This documentary from @clickondetroit.com uses the WDIV archives at @reutherlibrary.bsky.social and features our AV department's #Steenbeck (film viewing machine): www.clickondetroit.com/features/202...

*waves from across Woodward* www.artnews.com/art-news/new... #LaborUnions #art #ArtMuseums #CulturalWorkers @cwuafscme.bsky.social

Tom Warzel of AFSCME CSEA Local 1000, appeared on The Late Show in 1997. Letterman gave the "man on the street" 5 seconds to exercise his constitutional right to free speech on air. Warzel said: “Everyone should belong to a union.” @afscme.bsky.social #CSEA #Letterman #LateShow #Unions #LaborHistory

Always ask your local archivist!

Ready for trick-or-treaters tomorrow? Make sure to buy union-made candy when you’re doing your shopping! And check out the full list at aflcio.org/halloween.

Jeepers! Some spooky scary Hallowe'en costumes from 1940 👻🎃👹 @afscme.bsky.social Milwaukee County Local 58 members pose at a "Hallowe'en hard time party." #Halloween #costumes #LaborHistory

If you ever wanted a deep-dive into the history of the Reuther Library, I've got you! Read "Fifty Years of Labor History Preservation and Progress: The Evolution of the Walter P. Reuther Library": muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl... @reutherlibrary.bsky.social #WayneState #LaborHistory

👀 👀 When you're looking for something unrelated and stumble into slides from the 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial march in Memphis, during the @afscme.bsky.social Local 1733 sanitation workers strike. #NationalGuard #Memphis #LaborHistory #MLK #LaborUnions

Not what I was expecting.... #archives @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

Your political action spinach contains vitamins A,F,S,C,M,&E, adding power to your punch! The Public Sector from #CSEA Local 1000 @afscme.bsky.social @reutherlibrary.bsky.social #PopeyeTheSailorMan #vote Did you know Popeye is in the public domain as of this year? #copyright #PublicDomain #cartoons

AFSCME is 89 years young this month! In October 1936 @afscme.bsky.social received its charter from the @aflcio.org. Founding president Arnold Zander's datebooks for October 6-17 show he visited the AFL-CIO in Washington, DC and attended meetings about the charter. #LaborHistory #HappyBirthday

Tom Warzel of AFSCME CSEA Local 1000, appeared on The Late Show in 1997. Letterman gave the "man on the street" 5 seconds to exercise his constitutional right to free speech on air. Warzel said: “Everyone should belong to a union.” @afscme.bsky.social #CSEA #Letterman #LateShow #Unions #LaborHistory

In case you missed it!

VIVA LA AFSCME! Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from the Archives! New Mexico highway workers vote 2-1 for AFSCME in 1972. Pictured are @afscme.bsky.social Local 2238 president George Gallegos, vice president John McDevitt, and secretary Zeke Mares. #HispanicHeritageMonth #LaborHistory #LaborUnions

Good morning! Please enjoy this special episode of the Tales from the Reuther podcast featuring AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride. @afscme.bsky.social @afscmeelissa.bsky.social @reutherlibrary.bsky.social #archives #libraries #LaborHistory blubrry.com/reutherlib/1...

In his letter to Zander, Book-Cadillac sales director recommends the Norwood Hotel for some attendees, “...which we understand is the best colored hotel in Detroit.” #LaborHistory #Detroit #BookCadillac

AFSCME’s first official convention took place at Detroit’s Book-Cadillac Hotel, which opened in 1924 as the world’s tallest. For AFSCME’s convention, room rates were $3 for a single and $5 for a double. @afscme.bsky.social #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #Detroit #BookCadillac

Be careful of false promises....Organizing flyer for @afscme.bsky.social Local 2771, Brownsville, Texas, 1978. From the AFSCME Organizing and Field Services Department records at the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social. #trabajadores #trabajadoras #LaborUnions #LaborHistory

Hard to believe 24 years have passed since the US was forever changed. More that 600 union members were among the victims of the September 11 attacks. Union members were also vital to recovery efforts. @afscme.bsky.social #LaborHistory #RestInPower More here: reuther.wayne.edu/node/13592

In 1997, @afscme.bsky.social Local 420 protested the selection of anti-union McDonald's as the food service provider in public New York hospitals. Pictured is Local 420 President James Butler with two members dressed as hamburger and fries. @dc37nyc.bsky.social #LaborHistory #LaborUnions #McDonalds

Link up for Strength, @afscme.bsky.social Iowa election flyer, circa 1977. #LaborUnions #LaborHistory

I made this scavenger hunt for the kiddos (and young at heart) for the parade. Feel free to share!

Detroit's Labor Day parade is on Monday! See you there 💪 #Detroit #LaborDay #LaborDay2025 #LaborUnions