AQ McElrath: You can do it…will you?
May 28th, 2009 by Capsun
Note: This is part of my (supposedly) Weekly AQ Wisdom special series. To see other posts in the series, click on the Best Bets tab at the top of any page here and scroll down to the “AQ McElrath” section. Material for this post was take nfrom information available at her Celebration of Life in February.
“You are the union. All you need do to carry on that noble tradition of your ancestors to become good union members – attend all your meetings; ask questions when you are unsure; make suggestions when you think things are going wrong; challenge elected officials who don’t represent you and the rank and file; for a worker who is not getting the attention when a grievance is filed, know your contract well so you can represent the worker on the job and when there is trouble.
“Belly aching is not enough.
“There’s a lot you can do; in concert with other working people, with all the mothers and fathers and children of this world. In international solidarity, we can live in peace, with enough food to eat, enough water to drink, health care when needed, education for children.
“Will you do your part with other workers and families in Hawaii, in the United States, in the rest of the world? Are you willing to become a leader? Are you willing to carry the torch your ancestors lit for unions, still the only social organization in whose hands workers can manage to control the conditions of work which defines you and all other workers who produce the goods and services, the art and music, the literature and dance which nourish the human spirit and mind in freedon and love and with equality and justice? Will you do it?”
-Ah Quon McElrath addressing the 23rd Convention of ILWU Local 142, Honolulu, Hawaii, September 15-19-2003
Exercise your rights, or lose them.
Use it or lose it I say. Pretty powerful if you ask me. Thanks for sharing