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

On the anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, America’s unions are committed to continuing Dr. King’s mission—fight for fair wages, equal rights and dignity. Civil and labor rights are inseparable, and we’ll keep fighting to ensure workers’ rights are secure.

Millie Jeffrey, activist and WSU governor, wrote @afscme.bsky.social president Jerry Wurf after he visited MI, 1981: "Your spirit and guts inspire and you make one feel that, as you say. if we will fall in together we can turn this country around. Even if it takes awhile." #WayneState #LaborHistory

Read how AFSCME’s half-century-old archives tell the story of our union on the @afscme.bsky.social blog! #LaborHistory #LaborUnions #Archives #WayneState @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

Read how AFSCME’s half-century-old archives tell the story of our union on the @afscme.bsky.social blog! #LaborHistory #LaborUnions #Archives #WayneState @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

In 1973, the Nixon administration's "Enemies List" was revealed to include @afscme.bsky.social president Jerry Wurf. He told the @washingtonpost.com he was pleased the White House "had taken note of our efforts." This visor has Wurf's name stamped on the band. #LaborHistory #LaborUnions

I learnt a lot about the relationships between labor movements, its organizers, the labor press, media & labor journalists. Thank you Labor@Wayne for putting these fabulous panels together in the @reutherlibrary.bsky.social! @uawarchivist.bsky.social @lawcha.bsky.social @waynestateclas.bsky.social

Sad to hear about the passing of CSEA's Danny Donohue. I met him once and he was very kind and gracious. @afscme.bsky.social

Might be time to bring back the America Can Do Better bus.... Circa 2004, Ohio Retirees Chapter 1184 from the AFSCME Retirees Department records at Reuther Library.

You should do it! @afscme.bsky.social organizing flyer, 1977. #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #Birds #Bees

I had a lot of great stuff on that other platform that I will gradually move over here. Sorry not sorry if you've already seen them! Starting with one of my faves, an organizing flier for Dallas city workers, circa 1983. @afscme.bsky.social #LaborUnions #LaborHistory

“One of the real criteria by which you judge the freedom of a society is by the strength or weakness of its labor movement…" @afscme.bsky.social president Jerry Wurf, appearing on Firing Line in 1974 (begins at the 22 minute mark). #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #FiringLine 1/5

Congress just sold out working families to hand another tax break to billionaires who don't need them. We will hold every elected official accountable who voted to betray our communities and hurt working people. Read Pres. Saunders' full statement: www.afscme.org/press/releas...

Love seeing references to @afscme.bsky.social in the wild! Reading @susanorlean.bsky.social’s The Library Book and loving it 🔥

The relevance of @afscme.bsky.social Secretary-Treasurer Billy Lucy’s July 1980 column hits hard these days: "Political Action: The Best Answer to Divide-and-Conquer Tactics." #LaborUnions #LaborHistory

Regina Shavers spoke on behalf of the labor movement at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation in 1993. Shavers was a member of @dc37nyc.bsky.social and LAGIC, the Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee within the council. #Pride #LaborHistory @afscme.bsky.social

In 1993, @afscme.bsky.social participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, Washington, DC, April 25. #Pride #LaborHistory Photo by Paul I. Tanedo.

Happy #Pride Month! Some AFSCME history: In the late 70s, @afscme31.bsky.social Local 2081 members Barry Friedman and Tom Stabnicki were out and secure in their jobs, but knew others who were afraid to come out. They decided to take on leadership role for gay rights within @afscme.bsky.social.

Mount St. Helens erupted 45 years ago May 8, taking 57 human lives, countless animals, hundreds of square miles of vegetation and development; melted glaciers causing mudslides that traveled 50 miles; and dropped ash on 11 US states and several Canadian provinces. #MountStHelens #MSH45

The Reuther Library is turning 50 this year! Join us and Preservation Detroit for this special program on May 22:

AFSCME Local 2235 sponsored member Milton Lopez and his car in the Jaycees Demolition Derby in Havre, MT. Lopez, a favorite with the capacity crowd, finished third in his heat and fourth in the "hard luck" heat. @afscme.bsky.social #LaborUnions #DemolitionDerby #Cars #MontanaStateUniversity

In 1992, hundreds of union delegates, including many from @afscme.bsky.social formed the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). Among APALA’s goals: organizing and fighting for the rights of Asian Pacific Americans and other people of color. #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #AAPIHeritageMonth

Have you ever wanted to know how many members a particular local had, or to track how rapidly membership grew in a certain state? You're in luck because we recently opened the @afscme.bsky.social membership records collection! archives.wayne.edu/repositories... #LaborHistory #LaborUnions

Labor leaders march in Mexico City on #MayDay, 1955. In case you missed them, Mexican president Adolfo Ruiz Cortines is under the left arrow, and @afscme.bsky.social president Arnold Zander is under the right arrow. #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #Mexico wayne.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...

It takes a lot of hard working people to keep America's states, towns, and communities running. @afscme.bsky.social tv spot, 1979. #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #PublicEmployees #TVCommercials #VintageAds #TheUnionThatWorksForYou youtu.be/kiB6ajdanSY?...

Today is Worker's Memorial Day, when we remember and mourn for the dead, and fight like hell for the living.... Buttons from the Susan Holleran collection at @reutherlibrary.bsky.social @afscme.bsky.social #WorkersMemorialDay #LaborUnions #LaborHistory

Wondering which future researcher is going to want pictures of the buffet line, because we have them from every convention 🤔 #archives #processing #photographs #convention #buffet

It's Wayne State Giving Day & @reutherlibrary.bsky.social is raising $ to digitize WSU yearbooks, dating 1900-2005! Donations aid our mission to preserve and provide access to historical resources for all. Thank you for your support! #GivingDay #Detroit #Archives #WSU give.wayne.edu/schools/Wayn...

Let them eat cake! @afscme.bsky.social tv commercial, 1981. ($15,000 in 1981 = $54,856 today) #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #ContactYourCongressperson #TVCommercial #VintageTV youtu.be/e8ZtgByp87I?...

The 1968 struggle for civil rights in Memphis has lessons for us as we fight for worker protections today. www.afscme.org/blog/the-les...

During the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike fifty-seven years ago #OTD, Martin Luther King, Jr. lost his life in the fight for life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for all Americans. Poster from 1987 memorial march, @afscme.bsky.social archives, @reutherlibrary.bsky.social. #MartinLutherKingJr

Don't take public employees for granted. youtu.be/HiZDlFoucoQ?... @afscme.bsky.social tv spot, 1980 #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #TVCommercials #VintageTV

"Experienced people are disappearing from public service and that's bad news. When the quality of service goes down, your community goes down with it." @afscme.bsky.social tv ad, 1982. #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #TVCommercials #PublicService #PublicEmployees youtu.be/cJiqPjXwxuk?...

"Experienced people are disappearing from public service and that's bad news. When the quality of service goes down, your community goes down with it." @afscme.bsky.social tv ad, 1982. #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #TVCommercials #PublicService #PublicEmployees youtu.be/cJiqPjXwxuk?...

Buttons from the Susan Holleran Papers. Holleran was a journalist for @afscme.bsky.social Public Affairs dept., founding member of CLUW and on its National Exec. Board, coordinated the first national conference on pay equity, and wrote a play about Karen Silkwood. #WomensHistoryMonth #LaborHistory

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This month, I’m revisiting Labor’s Last Angry Man, a biography of AFSCME President Jerry Wurf (1919-1981). He’s a fascinating figure who had tremendous influence on working people and the labor movement. #MarchIsReadingMonth #Read #Books #LaborHistory #LaborUnions

SEX: it's no reason to discriminate. @afscme.bsky.social flyer for the Equal Rights Amendment, circa 1975, from the AFSCME collections at @reutherlibrary.bsky.social. #WomensHistoryMonth #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #EqualRightsAmendment #ERA #EqualRights

Here's a delightful 1978 earworm to start your Monday: youtu.be/buTHJPl9Y-A?... #AFSCME #LaborUnions #LaborHistory @afscme.bsky.social @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

By popular demand, the ORIGINAL commercial on which the "AFSCME Parody" was based: youtu.be/9hCs-fVyUEU?... #AFSCMEParody #LaborUnions #LaborHistory #TVCommercials @reutherlibrary.bsky.social @afscme.bsky.social

AFSCME Retirees: carrying the torch for social security. Photo by Mikkel Aaland, 1995. @afscme.bsky.social @reutherlibrary.bsky.social #SocialSecurity #Retirees