In these turbulent times, as our fundamental freedoms and rights are under constant attack, there are many lessons we can learn from the preachings and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King understood that the struggle for civil rights and the struggle for workers’ rights are not separate fights – they are one fight. And he recognized the power that each and every one of us has to make a profound difference when we unite around a common goal.
AFGE members know firsthand the benefits of collective action. Time and time again, when your jobs and workplace rights have been threatened, you have shown up and shown out to fight for what’s right.
Thanks in large part to those efforts, the AFL-CIO recognized AFGE as this year’s recipient of its Justice, Peace and Freedom Award, which acknowledges organizations that have shown a commitment and dedication to protecting and advancing civil, human, and workers’ rights.
Accepting the honor during the AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference in Baltimore on Jan. 19, AFGE National President Everett Kelley said this award is a charge for workers to not give up hope and to keep fighting – echoing Dr. King’s observation that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
“But I want to be clear tonight: that arc does not bend on its own. It bends because ordinary people put their hands on it—together—and pull. That’s what unions do,” Kelley said.
“So tonight, we accept this award not as a recognition, but as a charge. Because the truth is: working people are facing a renewed assault on the very rights Dr. King fought for. Across this country we see efforts to weaken voting rights, to silence working people, to divide us by race and region, to turn neighbor against neighbor, and to roll back the right to organize. And we see something else too: we see the attempt to make public service smaller, weaker, and more beholden to private interests instead of the public good, so that the services working families rely on become profit centers for corporations.
“AFGE will not accept that future. If there is one thing Dr. King taught us, it is that change is not made by waiting for permission. It is made by building power, together.”
Speaking at the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 16, President Kelley highlighted the disproportionate impact of President Trump’s anti-labor policies on Black workers, who comprise more than 18% of the federal workforce.
“For generations, public service has been a place where a Black worker could earn stability: a steady paycheck, a retirement, benefits, dignity. But in the past year, Elon Musk was allowed to slash 300,000 jobs in the federal sector – cutting off aid to some of the poorest people in the world, devastating workers lives, and crippling important federal programs. And when federal jobs are attacked, it hurts our communities worse, because we are disproportionately represented in this workforce,” Kelley said.
Despite the current environment, Kelley said there is reason for optimism – highlighting the resistance efforts of rank-and-file workers that are starting to pay off.
“AFGE members have been in the fight, day after day, standing up in workplaces, at bargaining tables, in Congress, and in courtrooms. And I want to testify for a moment: we have seen wins. We have seen workers protected when they were targeted. We have seen unlawful actions challenged and blocked. We have seen pay victories that mean real money in real pockets for real families. We have seen bipartisan movement in a fiercely divided Congress to defend the right of workers to join a union,” Kelley said.
“Because the right to join a union is not a Democratic right or a Republican right. It is a human right. It’s a right guaranteed by our Constitution. And when I see that kind of progress, however dim, I have to remember Galatians 6:9: ‘And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.’”
Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy
AFGE B.L.A.C.K. will host a virtual panel discussion honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. under the theme “Dream, Lead, Serve: Advancing Dr. King’s Mission in a New Era.” This discussion will center on leadership, equity, and public service within the labor movement and the federal workforce.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 21
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern
How to Join: Click here to register in advance.
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