As Ikem points out below, unions have always championed and advocated for the upward mobility of minority populations in America. In the midst of a country-wide health crisis that threatens the jobs and lives of hundreds of thousands of people of color, this advocacy is now more important than ever.
“As we all know, we are still in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, and all of us have been affected in some way, shape, or form. What I would like to bring to your awareness is unions and their importance during this pandemic. A union is like a mediator between the worker and their employer. For example, many people look for city jobs because they have good benefits because they have great unions; ie M.T.A, Sanitation, FDNY etc. During the pandemic, many workers have been laid off or negatively affected, but unions have been fighting to keep workers protected since it all started. As we know when it comes to upward mobility and generational wealth, minorities rank low in these categories because of the way the systems have been designed to keep us down. However, unions can lift us up. Dr. King marched with sanitation workers in Memphis who were on strike for fair wages and equality. I ask you to keep yourself aware of the injustices that are occurring now, especially when it pertains to unions and minorities.”
