Recognizing the central role of labor organizing and labor unions in the history of Philadelphia, their ongoing importance to the wellbeing of working-class families, and condemning the Trump Administration's continued pursuit of anti-labor and anti-worker policies.

Recognizing the central role of labor organizing and labor unions in the history of Philadelphia, their ongoing importance to the wellbeing of working-class families, and condemning the Trump Administration’s continued pursuit of anti-labor and anti-worker policies. WHEREAS, The first labor union in the United States of America, the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers, was formed in Philadelphia in 1794 to challenge exploitation and fight for fair wages before being ordered to dissolve by the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, The Industrial Revolution transformed both society and the workplace, creating unprecedented wealth but failing to deliver fair compensation or improve working conditions for the laborers who toiled in hazardous environments, reinforcing the critical need for organized labor to protect the working class; and WHEREAS, In 1835, Philadelphia witnessed the first ever general strike in American history, where 20,000 workers stood united for two weeks, securing the ten-hour workday, lunch breaks, and higher wages, proving the power of collective action; and WHEREAS, Despite continued union efforts across the nation, workers who sought to improve their lives and conditions were subjected to violence, intimidation, and even death, illustrating the high cost of standing up for justice and fairness; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia remained at the forefront of the labor movement in the 19th and 20th centuries, with figures like “Mother” Mary Harris Jones.Mother Jones arri…