Union Members Are The Unsung Heroes Of Sept. 11

I've spent the last few months in New York City working on an organizing campaign at New York Times Television. I was recently invited to attend a meeting held by the New York City Central Labor Council, at which leading organizers struggled with the fallout of the tragedy of September 11. The debate focused on whether labor would need to change its message in light of the attack. Reasonable and very persuasive arguments were made on both sides.

But all agreed on one thing: our union sisters and brothers were the real heroes in the aftermath of September 11. Union police officers and firefighters paid with their lives for their courage in the face of unthinkable terrorism. Unions sent their skilled members to Ground Zero to help with the rescue effort — hundreds and hundreds of union workers, from electricians and ironworkers to EMTs and nurses, came from across our nation to ensure the safety of rescuers working through the rubble in the attempt to find survivors.

I was reminded of a photo I had seen in the newspaper a few days earlier. Four or five tired and dirty union pipe fitters rode one of New York’s ferries, going home to their families after spending a long night at the World Trade Center site. The pain and exhaustion on their faces told the whole story of the tragedy and the mammoth effort of those working to rescue survivors and rebuild this city.

As I sat with these organizers, I heard the pride in their voices as they spoke about the work their members have done to aid in the effort. I saw the pain they felt for the victims, many of whom had come from their ranks and were known personally by those in the room.

Out of this terrible tragedy comes a compelling story for the American public: organized labor does indeed carry our nation on its back, both literally and figuratively. Our union sisters and brothers acted with courage and compassion and have shown the world what it truly means to be an American.

The great union organizer Mother Jones taught us, “Pray for the dead, and fight like hell for the living.” Let’s honor all of these heroes by telling the country, in terms everyone can understand, that a union job really does mean solidarity, mutual support and security.