Today is May 1st in Japan and I had to work. I am not complaining in fact I was happy to come to work today. Not only do I love my job, but I have a good job, and that’s what’s important. I have health insurance, great work colleagues, and a support group that’s always there for me in case I have any problems coping with the fact that I am in a foreign country. I am very lucky. The reason many of us have great work conditions (aside from our own efforts to get a college education) is because of the hard work of labor leaders and the laborers that came before. They put their jobs and in some cases their lives on the line so to attain safe and just work conditions. Here are a couple of notable labor leaders we need to remember on a day like today.
Cesar Estrada Chavez, March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993
He was a Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist. He led movements against discrimination, unfair wages and unfair work conditions. He founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA). He was a strong advocate for non violent resistance and often used fasting as a form of protest. (VEGAN!)
Philip Vera Cruz, December 25, 1904- June 12, 1994
He was a Filipino labor leader and civil rights activist. He was very active in the Asian Civil Rights Movement. He also co-founded the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, later merging with the NFWA to become the United Farm Workers.
Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, August 1, 1837- November 30, 1930
She helped unionize many workers including textile workers, coal miners and steel workers. She also was concerned about child labor and organized several marches called the “Children’s Crusade”. She was once called “The most dangerous woman in America” because she fought vigorously to unionize workers and demanded that the employers take care of their employees. She stepped on a lot of toes.
Nelson Hale Cruikshank, June 21, 1902- June 19, 1986
He led the efforts in passing Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare.
Esther Eggertsen Peterson, December 9, 1906- December 20, 1997
She led efforts for the equal pay for equal work law and helped create the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. She was also a strong supporter of consumer rights. She helped push food nutrition labels and “sell before” labels.
Francisco Alves Mendes Filho Cena Aka Chico Mendes, December 15, 1944- December 22, 1988
He was a Brazilian rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist. He helped unionize rubber tappers in Brazil. He was assassinated because of his outspokenness against the deforestation of the Amazonian rainforest usually by the hands of cattle ranchers who used the land for cattle grazing.

Learn more about these people. Pay a visit to your local library! LOL