Union membership has declined over the years among mainstream workers. However, Black workers are joining unions more and more. But let’s be clear: this is nothing new.
The Black Sleeping Car Porters Union made history as the first Black labor union. Established in 1925, it consisted of Black employees of the Pullman Company, which manufactured railroad cars. This union was so influential that they even helped organize the famous March on Washington with MLK.
The Colored National Labor Union was established in 1896. It organized Black labor on the national level. This union was important to many at the time, because so many of our people were excluded from the benefits of existing unions.
The National Domestic Worker’s Union was established in 1968 by Dorothy Lee Bolden. A civil rights organizer and women’s rights advocate, her day job as a domestic worker inspired her to take action. She used her expertise to help others fight for better pay and working conditions.
Today, higher pay, breaks, and fair scheduling are still issues for workers, and Black workers are taking the mantle from these historic organizations to fight for their labor rights.