"What does Labor want?"

A century ago, early American Federation of Labor President Samuel Gompers addressed that question in Chicago.

Gompers replied: "We want more school houses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more constant work and less crime; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures."

That 1893 statement is as good a general summary of the labor movement’s goals as anything that one could articulate today.

The union movement has been a Democratic Party stalwart since the grand coalition of Franklin D. Roosevelt coalesced in the 1930s Depression to offer Americans a solution to economic turmoil.

Although often associated with the Democratic Party, Gompers made another famous statement that also epitomized labor’s political philosophy: "Reward your friends and punish your enemies." Thus labor is tied not to a political party, but rather supports candidates who support labor’s agenda.

A few key points can quickly summarize labor’s concerns:

Decent Pay: "A fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay" is another classic Gompers’ quote. The labor movement supports a minimum wage based on an adequate standard of living, overtime pay and prevailing wages for construction work.

Safety: Thousands of American die yearly on the job, and tens of thousands are occupationally exposed to hazardous conditions.  A safe working environment, with adequate safeguards, is another labor bedrock.

The Right to Organize: The Bill of Rights guarantees Americans Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly.  When workers assemble to voice their concerns and organize a union, that right deserves protections.  Unfortunately, current law is extremely weak and workers attempting to organize are frequently targeted and not protected.

Equal Justice: The labor movement stands for equal rights for all workers, including men and women, various ethnic and national groups, and for different sexual orientations.  Everyone who comes to work should enjoy equal rights and equal pay within the workplace and within society.

Protection: Safety laws, child labor laws, environmental laws and other such regulations help create a safer community and also curtail exploitation.

Community: Children deserve decent schools, senior deserve medical and other assistance, the unemployed deserve retraining and support during economic downturns.  These are all ingredients in a humane society and are causes that labor will fight for.

American labor is not necessarily a utopian movement, but its initial founding and goals were stirred by a vision of a society where, as Gompers so well put it, there is "less greed" and "more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures..."