Union chiefs of an airline pay tribute to New York's Irish labor legacy.
Celebrating Labor's Irish Roots: A St. Patrick's Day Gathering
Last week, labor heavyweights gathered for a St. Patrick's Day lunch, a few days ahead of the holiday, to toast the union movement's Irish roots and New York heritage. Lorcan Collins, an Irish historian and podcaster, attended the annual St. Patrick's Day lunch at a midtown restaurant near iconic St. Patrick's Church.
Quoting James Connolly, a revered Irish labor leader, Collins remarked, "The cause of labor is the cause of Ireland and the cause of Ireland is the cause of labor." This rephrased quote echoed the spirit of union solidarity.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, and John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union, were among the speakers. Both share Irish ancestry and represent a combined workforce of over 100,000 airline workers across multiple airlines.
Politics took a backseat at the event, with speakers focusing on labor's rich past in New York City and acknowledging two historic figures, Connolly and Mike Quill. The latter, an Irish immigrant, co-founded the TWU in 1934 and was known for his activism against antisemitism and racism.
Quill fought for the Irish Republican Army, immigrated to New York on March 17, 1926, and worked as a night gate security man for the IRT, an independent subway line. He organized a rally against antisemitism in the South Bronx in 1939 and, in the 1950s, backed the civil rights movement, inviting Martin Luther King Jr. to address a TWU convention despite strong opposition. King admired Quill, calling him "a pioneer in race relations."
Samuelsen, a three-term TWU president, is often compared to Quill due to his bold approach to labor issues and commitment to workers' rights. Eddie Boles, a New York Fire Department Captain, referenced a more recent event during his speech, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He emphasized the unity and solidarity displayed in the city's response, with 343 firefighters being among those killed. "New York City epitomizes labor in this country," he said.
Nelson, dressed in green, sung "Bread and Roses," highlighting the role of women in labor history, such as the 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike, also known as the Bread and Roses strike. Another speaker, Eddie Boles, invoked the memory of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, emphasizing the unity and solidarity displayed in New York during that time.
Mike Quill, or "Red Mike," left a lasting impact on the American labor movement, particularly in New York City. As a co-founder of the TWU and a charismatic leader who fought for workers' rights, he was instrumental in improving wages and working conditions. His union, a tribute to his Irish heritage, expanded to represent various sectors of the transportation industry, becoming a powerful force in labor rights.
Quill was also an early advocate for racial equality, ensuring that the TWU supported workers regardless of race. He actively worked to desegregate jobs within the transit system and supported civil rights movements. His legacy continues to resonate during St. Patrick's Day celebrations in New York, symbolizing the contributions of Irish immigrants to American labor history and their ongoing impact on the city's cultural landscape.
References:
[1] "Mike Quill." Encyclopedia of New York City. (2010).
[3] "Transport Workers Union of America." (n.d.). American History USA.
- John Samuelsen, the three-term president of the Transport Workers Union, often draws comparisons to Mike Quill, an early Irish immigrant and union leader, due to his unyielding stance on labor issues and his commitment to workers' rights in the aerospace and defense industries.
- JetBlue, as a major airline, and the Transport Workers Union, which represents its employees, epitomize the lasting impact of Irish labor leaders like Connolly, Quill, and their descendants on the American workforce.
- As the sun set on the St. Patrick's Day gathering, the attendees left with a renewed appreciation for the 18th-century Irish roots of labor activism, embodied in the union movement's rich history in New York City.
