E-Board Member
Working Grievances – 4 Paid
No sleeping at Work
Sleeping at work can get you walked out, it happened this week. There is no coming back from this. Please get your rest at home, not at work. Some of you reading this will wonder, ‘Why are they talking about this again’? It keeps happening, and some are choosing to lose a great career.
Did you know:
As we all know, workers and our backgrounds come in all ‘shapes and sizes’. Our walk of labor life-the different issues, but the same basic need for safety and respect at work. Oklahoma has a rich history of unions, and not just from one of the best, as is our TWU.
The Great Depression hit Oklahoma’s workers hard. By 1934, more than 300,000 Oklahomans were unemployed, which was 42 percent of the total workforce. In 1936, a new force appeared on the Oklahoma labor scene – the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO). In Oklahoma, the principal CIO unions included the miners, the oil workers, the smelter workers, the glass workers, the Transport Workers Union as well as tenant farmers and farm workers. As a result of the aggressive organizing drives by these and other unions, thousands of Oklahoma workers joined unions for the first time. But the CIO’s tactic of organizing all the workers in an industry regardless of craft eventually led its members to leave the American Federation of Labor and form their own labor confederation.
Early miners’ unions in Oklahoma played a crucial role in advocating for workers’ rights and improving their conditions. Notable among these were the United Mine Workers of America, which gained significant recognition in the early 1900s, and the Industrial Workers of the World, which emerged during the state’s early period of labor organization. One of the largest old unions in Oklahoma was the miners’ unions – 136 years old and still going!
Fun Facts: Early Miners’ Unions in Oklahoma
These unions were pivotal in improving miners’ working conditions.
- United Mine Workers of America — This union became a major force in Oklahoma after gaining recognition from mine owners in 1903.
- Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) — Active during the early statehood period, the IWW organized workers across various industries, including mining.
- Oklahoma Renters’ Union — Formed to address the needs of workers and their families, advocating for better living conditions.
- Local Miners’ Unions — Various local unions emerged in the 1880s, focusing on better pay and working hours for miners.
Challenges of Non-Union Work in Oklahoma
The absence of union representation can create significant difficulties for workers.
- Job Insecurity
- Lower Wages
- Limited Benefits
- Employer Intimidation
- Lack of Bargaining Power
Remember, it’s always a good day to work in a union. Keep our work in-house, providing strong union labor, it’s our Future! Stay in touch with your TWU at www.twu514.org – 80 YEARS of power in Tulsa!
Linda
(918) 954-4709
LDill@twumail.org