National AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond recently penned a Labor Perspective that appeared in BlackPressUSA and reads, in part:

In our workplaces, in our communities and in our Government, the right to vote is how Working People make our voices heard.

The late Representative John Lewis (Georgia) proclaimed: “Your vote is precious, almost sacred.”

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing Texas to use a racially discriminatory Congressional map threatens that precious right once again - and with it, the foundation of Worker Power itself.

A challenge out of Louisiana may soon make matters worse, threatening to further limit the strength of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 - the Nation’s most powerful tool for correcting historical racial discrimination in voting, including the violence and suppression once used to keep Black voters from the polls.

The VRA was brought to life by courageous Civil Rights and Labor Leaders who risked everything to end racial discrimination at the ballot box.

The law transformed American Democracy by dramatically increasing Black political participation, expanding representation at every level of Government and giving Working People a real chance to shape the decisions that affect their lives.

This fight is part of the Labor Movement’s history too.

In 1963, Labor Leaders were key architects of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and Labor Unions mobilized 40,000 Union Members and provided resources.

We offered critical lobbying support and testimony in support of the Civil Rights Act and the VRA - the passage of which in 1965 led to the filing of thousands of successful cases against workplace discrimination and eliminated many of the racist voting restrictions in the South.

When Black voter turnout surged, so did Worker Power, especially in the South, where the VRA helped create a diverse coalition of Working Class voters. 

According to research from the University of California San Diego, the VRA narrowed the wage gap between Black and White Workers by 5.5% between 1950 and 1980.

Another study found that high-turnout communities saw more paved roads and streetlights, better access to City and County resources and easier entry into Public Sector jobs such as Police, Firefighters and Teachers.

The lesson is clear: A strong Democracy gives Working People space to thrive.

When Democracy is weakened, Workers pay the price.

To Continue Reading This Labor Perspective, Go To: The Voting Rights Act Is Under Threat. So Are Workers’ Rights. – BlackPressUSA