Record #: R2021-1147   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 10/25/2021 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 10/25/2021
Title: Congratulations extended to Chicago Federation of Labor on 125th anniversary
Sponsors: Lightfoot, Lori E. , Dowell, Pat, Smith, Michele, Tunney, Thomas, Osterman, Harry, Sposato, Nicholas, Tabares, Silvana, O'Shea, Matthew J., Rodriguez Sanchez, Rossana , Sadlowski Garza, Susan, Quinn, Marty, Scott, Jr. Michael, Sawyer, Roderick T., Villegas, Gilbert, Burke, Edward M., Nugent, Samantha , Silverstein, Debra L., Moore, David H., Rodriguez, Michael D., La Spata, Daniel , Cappleman, James, Waguespack, Scott, Sigcho-Lopez, Byron, Hopkins, Brian , Gardiner, James M. , Reboyras, Ariel, Martin, Matthew J. , Cardona, Jr., Felix , Lopez, Raymond A., Reilly, Brendan, Vasquez, Jr., Andre, King, Sophia D., Harris, Michelle A., Maldonado, Roberto, Hairston, Leslie A., Brookins, Jr., Howard, Thompson, Patrick D., Coleman, Stephanie D. , Ramirez-Rosa, Carlos, Ervin, Jason C.
Attachments: 1. R2021-1147.pdf

Title:

 

 

 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

CITY OF CHICAGO

LORI E. LIGHTFOOT

MAYOR

 

October 25. 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Dowell, Smith, Tunney, Osterman, Sposato, Tabares, O'Shea, Rodriguez Sanchez, Sadlowski Garza, Quinn, Scott, Sawyer, Villegas, Burke, Nugent, Silverstein, Moore, Rodriguez, La Spata, Cappleman, Waguespack, Sigcho-Lopez, Hopkins, Gardiner, Reboyras, Martin, Cardona, Lopez, Reilly, Vasquez, King, Harris, Maldonado, Hairston, Brookins, Thompson, Coleman, Ramirez-Rosa and Ervin, a resolution congratulating the Chicago Federation of Labor on the 125lh anniversary of its founding.

 

Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.

 

 

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor received its charter from the American Federation of Labor on November 9, 1896; and

 

WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has a rich labor history as the site of the 1886 Haymarket Affair, the 1894 Pullman Strike, the 1937 Republic Steel Strike, and more Local 1s than any other city; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor has fought for economic, racial, and social justice for workers in Chicago, Cook County, and beyond for 125 years; and

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor organized workers across industries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries regardless of their race, ethnicity, or nationality; and

 

WHEREAS, John J. Fitzpatrick was elected president of the Chicago Federation of Labor in 1906. President Fitzpatrick's dedication to justice and his passion for organizing sustained the Chicago Federation of Labor for 40 years; and

WHEREAS, following the death of President Fitzpatrick in 1946, William A. Lee led the Chicago Federation of Labor for nearly four decades. President Lee navigated a changing social and political landscape through his skills as an adept negotiator and his close relationship with the City; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor merged with the Cook County Industrial Union Council, the South Chicago Trades and Labor Assembly, and the Calumet Joint Labor Council in 1962; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor has delivered labor-related news to local workers for more than 100 years. Its news publication, the Federation News, continues as a quarterly magazine; and

 

WHEREAS, from 1926 to 1978, the Chicago Federation of Labor managed radio station WCFL, the "Voice of Labor," bringing the latest news, information, and entertainment to working people in Chicagoland and beyond. WCFL aired programming supporting the civil rights movement, urging workers to stand with those fighting for equality; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor has championed the global labor movement bringing freedom fighters and labor leaders, including Cesar Chavez, Lech Walesa, and Nelson Mandela, to the City of Chicago; and

 

WHEREAS, in recent years, the Chicago Federation of Labor has advocated for increases to the minimum wage, fair workweek laws, paid sick leave laws, protections to retirement security, and a host of other legislative and policy initiatives to protect and empower workers; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor supports its approximately 300 affiliated unions and their 500,000 union members in the City of Chicago and Cook County; and

 

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Federation of Labor maintains the spirit of solidarity that has guided the organization for 125 years, continuing the fight for justice for all workers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-fifth day of October, 2021, do hereby congratulate the Chicago Federation of Labor as it celebrates the 125th anniversary of its founding and recognize its legacy of activism and solidarity with the working people of this City and region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Chicago Federation of Labor as a token of our esteem.