I was a NEA member. What Union did you belong to? When we speak of Labor Day, we must remember, the end of child

[debm55]

Last edited Sun Aug 31, 2025, 07:56 AM - Edit history (3)

labor, safety conditions. 40 hr weeks. vacation time. break time.overtime, and sick days, Remember our work conditions did not come from the goodness of the owners. We and others before us , Fought for it.

[lpbk2713]

1. IBEW -- 35 Years

Without the IBEW I'm sure I wouldn't be here today.
It's that simple.

[debm55]

3. Thank you and congratulations Ipbk2713.

[JT45242]

2. NEA as a teacher for twenty years

Helped negotiate contracts...

Lost a friend because he was mad that we froze salaries rather than lay off all the specials teachers (his wife was a music teacher in the district). His kid went to school there.

But he would have rather had a raise for himself and no music, art, or gym for his kids and no job for his wife.

I have zero doubt he became. MAGAt after I left teaching.

[debm55]

4. Thank you and congratulations JT45242 Union Strong.

[Diamond_Dog]

5. I was a member of the IPGCU

International Printing and Graphic Communications Union
Hubby was in the YEA - Youngstown Education Association
Youngest son is in the NEA right now.
My two other adult sons were in grocery unions in college.

[debm55]

9. Congratulations and have a relaxing Labor Day to you and your family , Diamond_Dog.

[Jeebo]

73. I was in the International Typographical Union for 15 years, 1971 to 1986.

Last edited Sun Oct 26, 2025, 05:27 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't think the ITU exists any more, unless it's what your union morphed into some time after 1986. I've tried to Google search the ITU several times over the past 10 or 15 years and could find no hint or vestige of it, except for the union printers' home in Colorado Springs, and there are only a few very old retired printers living there. Nowadays, everything and more that we did in the ITU can be done by a fifth-grader in his own bedroom on a laptop with a few Adobe software programs like InDesign and Photoshop and Illustrator. Technology wiped out my old union.

— Ron

[Diamond_Dog]

74. I hear ya Jeebo.

I was a graphic artist. I did artwork, design, paste-up, comp type, keylines, all done by hand back then. As well as some camera work. As you said, anyone can produce all that now at home with a computer and the right software program. Technology wiped out my job, too.

[catbyte]

6. The MEA: Michigan Education Association

for 34 years.

[debm55]

35. Thank you very much, my fellow teacher, catbyte. Congratulations, And have a relaxing Labor Day.

[catbyte]

45. You too, my friend!

[anciano]

7. OPEIU at an oil refinery

[debm55]

36. Thank you very much, anciano, for the hard work you do/did. You are Union Strong. Have a relaxing Labor Day.

[vishnura]

8. NEA 20 years

[debm55]

37. Thank you very much, vishnura. NEA here too. Have a fantastic Labor Day.

[vishnura]

72. Union membersi

[Borogove]

10. AFT - American Federation of Teachers

[debm55]

38. Thank you my fellow teacher Borogove. Union Strong.

[Wicked Blue]

11. Newspaper Guild of NY-NJ

once upon a time ...

[debm55]

23. Congratulations, Wicked Blue. Have a wonderful Labor Day.

[Wicked Blue]

44. And the same to you, deb!

[CanonRay]

12. AFGE

Before I got into lae enforcement, I was a shop steward.

[debm55]

22. Union Strong. Thank you CanonRay. Have a wonderful Labor Day.

[GPV]

13. NEA, MEA, my local. #RedForEd

[debm55]

21. Wow, thank you GPV. Union Strong. Have a terrific. Labor day. Union Strong.

[JMCKUSICK]

14. LELS back in the 90's

Law Enforcement Labor Services

[debm55]

20. Thank you very much, John. And have a wonderful Labor Day.

[LLC]

15. I'm a retired Postal clerk

APWU—American Postal Workers Union.

😊

[debm55]

19. Thank you very much, LLC, Congratulations on your work as member of the APWU. Have a great Labor Day.

[Kali]

16. I honestly don't remember

it was when I had a waitress job in Anchorage for a few months when I was 16. maybe SEIU
wish I could find that info somehow. mostly grew up in AZ, not many unions here back in the day.

[debm55]

17. Thank you very much, Kali and have a relaxing Labor Day.

[Kali]

18. or maybe it was UFCW

more likely I think

thanks! you have a good weekend too!

[ProfessorGAC]

24. My Dad Was A Teamster

I was in technology or management my whole career, so no union.
But, I support unionization 100%.

[debm55]

39. Thank you very much ProfessorGAC. My father was in management so no union. Thank you for your support and have a

terrific Labor Day.

[KitFox]

25. Oregon Education Association and my district classroom teachers association. Shout out

to all of you for the years of hard work!!! Union Strong!!! I’ll be going to the Labor Over Billionaires Rally at my state capital on Labor Day. An excellent book, “Storming Heaven” by Denise Giardina, is a novel about all the early 1920’s labor turmoil, violence and strife set in the southern West Virginia coalfields. Be well, Deb and all you DU family! 😊🧡

[debm55]

41. Thank you KitFox. Was I going to be any other way living in a Steel Mill town? Heads up that tRump get his Pinkertons

after you folks. Union Strong. Joe Biden, would come to Pittsburgh ever year for the Labor Day for the parade. Have a great and safe Labor Day.

[DBoon]

26. none. I worked in Information Technology

People in IT think unions are for losers, and since IT workers believe they are above average, they are sure they will succeed due to their inherent genius.

Suckers.

[debm55]

43. You got that right DBoon. Have a great Labor Day week end.

[MIButterfly]

27. I have never held a union job, but I am 100% pro-union.

I have been all my life. I've never crossed a picket line. I have boycotted anti-union companies and those whose employees were on strike.

To me, anti-union means anti-worker and I will always be pro-worker. Maybe it's because I understand that when union employees fight, they fight not only for themselves and their livelihoods, they fight for everybody. We all win when unions win.

Many years ago, my mother lived in John Conyers' district in Detroit. We went to some kind of rally in a union hall to hear him speak. On the walls were pictures of striking workers getting abused by police back in the 30s and 40s. It really affected me. We must never forget how hard those who came before us fought for basic human dignity and fairness on the job and we must never allow anyone to ever take it away from us.

[debm55]

30. Thank you my dear MlButterfly. You may not been a member of a union. but you are Union Strong.

Happy Labor Day,

[MIButterfly]

46. Every day and twice on Sunday!

Happy Labor Day to you, as well!

[PittBlue]

28. Proud member of the NEA...

And the PSEA. Without this Union in Pennsylvania, we would have never had salary raises or benefits.

[debm55]

32. Thank you very much, PttBlue and fellow teacher and also from Pittsburgh. Have a great Labor Day. Union Strong.

[tonkatoy8888]

29. UFCW

The union did much good all around the country, elevating wages and providing excellent health care benefits.

My Local, not so much.

We joked that the union should just move their headquarters into the offices of the grocer I worked for since they were nothing but a company union. When the pandemic started the beginning wage where I worked was 5 cents over the state minimum wage $9.45 per hour. Granted, you could make the princely sum of $10.00 per hour after @five years.

Additionally, we eventually wound up with a three-tier wage system. Old timers, even checker, earned $20-$25 per hour, New employees who started during the pandemic started at $14.50 per hour, but those in the middle were in the $9.50 area.

Oh, and the union never insisted that the stores be fully manned. So, you had filthy stores, and not enough employees to deal with customers and keep the stores stocked.

[debm55]

31. Thank you very much tonkatoy8888. That's a shame, that happened at your store. Have a great Labor Day.

[waterwatcher123]

33. Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (30 plus years).

[debm55]

34. Congratulations, waterwatcher123. Union Strong. Have a terrific Labor Day.

[MuseRider]

40. AFM the Musicians Union

[debm55]

52. Thank you very much, MuseRider. Have a terrific Labor Day.

[Americanme]

42. Utility Workers Union of America. 37 years active, retired 2 years ago.

https://i.postimg.cc/RhncZJgT/logo-uwua-color-2.webp

[debm55]

47. Congratulations, you are Union Strong. , Americanme. Have a great Labor Day.

[Aristus]

48. Physician Assistants aren't unionized.

But back when I was a Medical Assistant, I was a member of SEIU Local #1199. They always made sure we got off work in a timely manner, and got our yearly cost-of-living raises.

Unions rock!

[debm55]

50. Thank you very much, Aristus. Union Strong.! Have a relaxing Labor Day.

[Wolf Frankula]

49. I was a Newspaper Guild member

Later I was a Teamster. I was fired from Goodwill for being insufficiently anti-union.

Wolf

[debm55]

51. Thank you very much Wolf Frankula. Have a relaxing Labor Day.

[Tanuki]

53. Thank you for the timely reminder about child labor,

as we are on a slippery slope with loosening of regulations in Arkansas and elsewhere. My paternal grandfather was a child coal mine laborer (tipple boy) at the age of 12 before the UMW and other unions changed America for the better.

[debm55]

57. Thank you very much, Tanuki. Child Labor Laws are very important to me. As my grandparents, did not go to school ,

beyong third grade and worked for US Steel and the Railroad .Enjoy your Labor Day.

[Jilly_in_VA]

54. NNU, National Nurses Union, BUT

most of my life I worked in what my late ex called "right to slave" states. The only place I ever worked where there was a union was as a traveler in Cincinatti, and I could see how beneficial it was for the nurses.

[debm55]

59. It was and it is. Thank you very much, Jilly_in_VA. Enjoy your Labor Day.

[Wiscodoug]

55. IBEW Local 494 Milwaukee

We won our fight to unionize in 2022

[debm55]

60. Great! Thank you very much Wiscodoug. I was fired from a nonunion job for trying to bring the union in. Enjoy your

Labor Day.

[AloeVera]

56. OPSEU and AMAPCEO

Ontario Public Service Employees Union

Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario.

[debm55]

58. Thank you very much, AloeVera. Union Strong, Enjoy your Labor Day.

[Deep State Witch]

61. I Didn't Belong, But my Dad Did

Pennsylvania Teacher's Union. He had to leave the union when he was promoted to Vice Principal, because he was then considered to be management. His brothers and father were all union. And my maternal grandfather helped to start the Baker's and Confectioner's Union in Pittsburgh.

[debm55]

62. Thank you very much, Deep State Witch. You have a strong Union background. I am from south of Pittsburgh.but live in

Allegheny County. Have a wonder Labor Day.

[Deep State Witch]

63. I grew up in the North Hills

Kind of between Perrysville and Wexford. I went to North Allegheny HS and Chatham University.

[Freddie]

64. ESPA - Education Support Professionals Assoc

For non-teaching school employees in Pennsylvania. Then I got promoted into a non-union position (payroll manager) but still 100% support the union.
My cousin is a retired teacher and a Trumper. Her nice retirement is thanks to the PSEA and she supports the party that hates teachers, unions and public schools. I rarely talk to her.

[debm55]

65. Thank you very much, Freddie. I can't understand your cousin either. Have a relaxing Labor Day.

[Upthevibe]

66. debm55.........

Great post!

I was in UTLA in the early 2000's. United Teachers Los Angeles....

[debm55]

67. Thank you very much, Upthevibe. Union Strong. Have a terrific Labor Day.

[Upthevibe]

81. debm55............

Thank you!

I hope you have a great weekend as well....

[FireUpChips10]

68. National Writers Union!

[debm55]

70. Congratulations, FireUpChips, You are Union Strong! Have a refreshing Labor Day.

[Emile]

69. AFL-CIO local 1470

[debm55]

71. Thank you very much, Emile. Union Strong! Have a relaxing Labor Day, my friend.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

75. I never belonged to a Union,

but I did belong to the biggest brotherhood, the United States Marine Corps.
Semper Fi and hope everyone has a good Labor Day.

[debm55]

80. Thank you very much, MarineCombatEngineer. My FIL was a Marine. Semper Fi to you and have a relaxing Labor Day

[Groundhawg]

76. I was in the local 978 carpenter's union. left a bad taste in my mouth.

[debm55]

82. Yes, Groundhawg. It depends on who runs it and how it is run.Thank you and have a relaxing Labor Day.

[turbinetree]

77. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers 25 years job description was more important

than the pilot, while the plane was on ground. for public safety I was in charge for a no go or go for flight..........................and public safety is what it is public safety , I would and did ground a planes that was unsafe.................people got up set but my attitude was I will no let a plane fly knowing to do so could in danger lives and I could and can be charged with murder. I have worked on every plane from the Atlantis Space shuttle, helped build all one hundred B1B bombers.
B737-200/300/400/500 B757100/200, AW320,/321 A350.//600 DC10-20 10c-30.MDII, Emb 220, Folker Wolf 100, B747-200, -300- 400and the Chinook Nighthawks, and V22 Osprey and I was a aircraft Inspector.................without airplane tech we WOULD not have anti-skid brakes' Gps......thy list goes on and on .And finally I saw the crew off on the FLT 93 Tail NO. N591UA heading EWR to SFO on 9/11 .............................it still pisses me off..............brother n law that died from the asbestoses in the steel at ground zero and my wife's nephew friend on the memorial wall.........

Thank you for letting me rant,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.

[debm55]

83. You need the time to rant, my friend. May the memories of those two souls be a blessing to you.

[turbinetree]

87. Thank you...........for letting me rant............

[whathehell]

78. The CWA..Communication Workers of America

Way back in 1970 -71 when I was a telephone operator in San Francisco.

[debm55]

84. Thank you very much, whatthehell. Have a relaxing Labor Day, my friend.

[PJMcK]

79. AF of M, Local 802

NYC’s musicians’ union. The less I say, the better.

[debm55]

85. HAHAHHA. Thank you very much, PJMcK. Enjoy your Labor Day.

[debm55]

86. Have a very relaxing Labor Day everyone. . Love , Deb.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

88. IBOT, UAW

Later, I was salaried, non-union, but I know when I received an improvement in benefits, it was due to agreements between the company and the UAW. Their hard-won benefits "trickled down" to us non-union folks.

[debm55]

89. Thank you very much, JustABozoOnThisBus, I hope you had a great Labor Day.