Gerber & Holder Law Scholarship Winner: History of Civil Rights and the Labor Movement

The civil rights movement and the fight to help injured workers have always been intertwined. What are some examples and why do you believe this to be the case?

The civil rights movement was the tussle to have social justice and in the American context, it was basically to have equal rights and status for the BJack Americans. The aspect of the civil rights movement could be aligned with the labor movement in the country affecting the African American population there. In this context, the instance of two Memphis based sanitization workers could be cited who lost their lives while on duty.

Robert Walker and Echol Cole were employed with the Department of Sanitation. On February 1, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, these 2 men were crushed in a Large garbage compactor when attempting to simply take shelter due to the violent rainstorm. Unfortunately, the storm triggered the catastrophe and both the workers succumbed to their death under the compression of garbage. The death of the sanitation workers pointed out the poor working and inhumane conditions that the laborers are forced to work as most of them belong to the Black community. It shook the entire country and fed a widespread protest to uphold the health and safety of the laborers operating in hazardous conditions.

Labor unions in line with the civil rights forms association to uphold the rights and interest of the workforce. The union leaders, like the civil rights leaders, negotiate with the authorities for fair wages, equal job benefits, with suitable health and working hours. Accordingly, labor unions have been influential in American life in bringing a positive change in the lives of fellow workers most of whom belonging to the marginalized community. In the post-World War II scenario, the rise of the industry was rampant and there was huge demand for both skilled and unskilled laborers. The White constitute the well-paid skilled workforce while the Blacks were part of the poorly paid and unhealthy working conditions for the unskilled labor sections.

It depicts that despite the end of slavery, the mainstream American population was reluctant to recognize the labor of the marginalized community like African-American, Irish and Italian immigrants. So in line with their civil rights counterpart, the laborers in the organized sector led to strikes and sorts of protest. In 1835, the Black caulkers led one of the first known strikes iq American history at Washington Navy Yard. Black women realized the necessity to organize themselves to receive better pay and working conditions by forming unions in tailoring, mills, laundry, shoe binding, telecom, and cigar industry among others.

The poor working conditions were susceptible to fatal accidents and labor injuries, so the laborers decided to voice their demand to the competent authorities by forming unions. Therefore, labor unions are a sort of civil rights movement to voice the demand of the targeted segment. Civil rights workers follow strikingly similar paths of labor union workers to obtain overall better working conditions and equal rights. In both cases, the ultimate aim was to have favorable conditions to live and work wherein the people could maintain their dignity protecting themselves from hazardous situations. Civil rights owing to its success in the social sphere have influenced the labor movement across the country ensuring favorable working conditions of the laborers to date.