The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
On Saturday, June 4, 2011, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis inducted 1,300 participants from the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike into the Labor Hall of Fame.
More than 700 civil rights leaders, union and civic leaders, family members and guests gathered at the University of Memphis last Saturday to attend the historic induction of the 1,300 workers who participated in the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike into the Labor Hall of Fame.
This event culminated the induction process honoring the workers who inspired the labor movement and civil rights movement. A Part I induction ceremony took place at the U.S. Department of Labor’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. in April, which included a meeting at the White House with President Obama. Standing in the city where these heroic men stood over 40 years prior, Secretary Hilda Solis enthusiastically told the audience “today, we honor our history and re-commit ourselves to stand with workers in our time.” These brave men join heroes like Cesar Chavez, Frances Perkins, Mother Jones, Samuel Gompers, and A. Philip Randolph in the Labor Hall of Fame.
Visit the Department of Labor's website to read Secretary Solis' remarks and see photos and video of this historic event.
