February 7, 2003
Local 881 UFCW Donates Books to Community Libraries
In January, Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) donated 39 copies of the book "Mother Jones and the Union Miners Cemetery" to community libraries throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana. The books were donated to the local library of each Local 881 Union Representative.
The biography chronicles the life of Mary Harris "Mother Jones" who spent more than 50 years of her life helping workers to unite and fight for fair wages and better working conditions. The book also highlights the Union Miners Cemetery at Mt. Olive, Illinois, where Mother Jones is buried. It is the only union-owned cemetery in the nation, and it contains the remains of those who participated in many of the early efforts that lead to unionization of the Illinois coal industry, including miners killed in Virden, IL, in 1897.
"We believe this book serves as an excellent resource for young people who are interested in studying the struggles of workers," noted Ron Powell, Local 881 President and UFCW International Vice President. "In addition to highlighting the life of a prominent and tireless advocate of workers' rights, it also sheds light on what workers and their families endured during unionization efforts throughout the Industrial Revolution and the years preceding the Great Depression."
"Mother Jones and the Union Miners Cemetery," a compilation of articles published about Mother Jones, was edited by Leslie Orear, President of the Illinois Labor History Society (ILHS) and published by the ILHS in collaboration with Charles H. Kerr Publishing Company. The book project was completed in honor of Michael (Mike) Walsh (1942-2000), a long-time staff member of Service Employees International Union Local 73 and officer of the Mother Jones Foundation, who worked to preserve historical memory of the Labor Movement.
For information regarding ordering and pricing for "Mother Jones and the Union Miners Cemetery," contact: The Illinois Labor History Society, 28 E. Jackson, Room 1012, Chicago, IL 60604-2215, 312/663-4107.
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Local 881 UFCW represents over 40,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries. Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Cub, Dominick's Finer Foods, Eagle, Kroger, Schnucks, Treasure Island, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.4 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Local 881 UFCW Donates Books to Community Libraries
In January, Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) donated 39 copies of the book "Mother Jones and the Union Miners Cemetery" to community libraries throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana. The books were donated to the local library of each Local 881 Union Representative.
The biography chronicles the life of Mary Harris "Mother Jones" who spent more than 50 years of her life helping workers to unite and fight for fair wages and better working conditions. The book also highlights the Union Miners Cemetery at Mt. Olive, Illinois, where Mother Jones is buried. It is the only union-owned cemetery in the nation, and it contains the remains of those who participated in many of the early efforts that lead to unionization of the Illinois coal industry, including miners killed in Virden, IL, in 1897.
"We believe this book serves as an excellent resource for young people who are interested in studying the struggles of workers," noted Ron Powell, Local 881 President and UFCW International Vice President. "In addition to highlighting the life of a prominent and tireless advocate of workers' rights, it also sheds light on what workers and their families endured during unionization efforts throughout the Industrial Revolution and the years preceding the Great Depression."
"Mother Jones and the Union Miners Cemetery," a compilation of articles published about Mother Jones, was edited by Leslie Orear, President of the Illinois Labor History Society (ILHS) and published by the ILHS in collaboration with Charles H. Kerr Publishing Company. The book project was completed in honor of Michael (Mike) Walsh (1942-2000), a long-time staff member of Service Employees International Union Local 73 and officer of the Mother Jones Foundation, who worked to preserve historical memory of the Labor Movement.
For information regarding ordering and pricing for "Mother Jones and the Union Miners Cemetery," contact: The Illinois Labor History Society, 28 E. Jackson, Room 1012, Chicago, IL 60604-2215, 312/663-4107.
###
Local 881 UFCW represents over 40,000 members employed in retail food and drug stores throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, as well as a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries. Among the companies under contract with Local 881 are Jewel Food Stores, Osco Drug, Cub, Dominick's Finer Foods, Eagle, Kroger, Schnucks, Treasure Island, and many smaller chains and independent stores, as well as nursing homes and other business establishments. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents 1.4 million members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
List of Public Libraries
Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights, IL
Aurora Public Library-Eola Branch, Aurora, IL
Belleville Public Library, Belleville, IL
Bellwood Public Library, Bellwood, IL
Bradley Public Library, Bradley, IL
Carol Sandburg Middle School, Mundelein, IL
Carol Stream Public Library, Carol Stream, IL
Carterville Public Library, Carterville, IL
Case-Halstead Library, Carlyle, IL
Chatham Public Library, Chatham, IL
Collinsville Memorial Public Library, Collinsville, IL
Crystal Lake Public Library, Crystal Lake, IL
Des Plaines Public Library, Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines Public Library District-Lockport, Lockport, IL
Edwardsville Public Library, Edwardsville, IL
Fox Lake District Library, Fox Lake, IL
Fremont Township Library, Mundelein, IL
Gary Public Library-Tolleston Branch, Gary, IN
Grande Prairie Library, Hazel Crest, IL
Green Hills Public Library, Palos Hills, IL
Greenville Public Library, Greenville, IL
Harold Washington Library, Chicago, IL
Hayner Public Library, Alton, IL
Highland Branch Library, Highland, IN
Homewood Public Library, Home Wood, IL
Lansing Public Library, Lansing, IL
Lincoln Library, Springfield, IL
New Lenox Public Library, New Lenox, IL
Nichols Library, Naperville, IL
Palatine Public Library, Palatine, IL
Sallie Logan Public Library, Murphysboro, IL
Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg, IL
Schaumburg Township District Library - Hoffman Estates Branch, Hoffman Estates, IL
South Chicago Public Library, Chicago, IL
Sparta Public Library, Sparta, IL
Taylorville Public Library, Taylorville, IL
Thomas Ford Memorial Library, Western Springs, IL
Wheaton Public Library, Wheaton, IL
Wood Dale Public Library, Wood Dale, IL
Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights, IL
Aurora Public Library-Eola Branch, Aurora, IL
Belleville Public Library, Belleville, IL
Bellwood Public Library, Bellwood, IL
Bradley Public Library, Bradley, IL
Carol Sandburg Middle School, Mundelein, IL
Carol Stream Public Library, Carol Stream, IL
Carterville Public Library, Carterville, IL
Case-Halstead Library, Carlyle, IL
Chatham Public Library, Chatham, IL
Collinsville Memorial Public Library, Collinsville, IL
Crystal Lake Public Library, Crystal Lake, IL
Des Plaines Public Library, Des Plaines, IL
Des Plaines Public Library District-Lockport, Lockport, IL
Edwardsville Public Library, Edwardsville, IL
Fox Lake District Library, Fox Lake, IL
Fremont Township Library, Mundelein, IL
Gary Public Library-Tolleston Branch, Gary, IN
Grande Prairie Library, Hazel Crest, IL
Green Hills Public Library, Palos Hills, IL
Greenville Public Library, Greenville, IL
Harold Washington Library, Chicago, IL
Hayner Public Library, Alton, IL
Highland Branch Library, Highland, IN
Homewood Public Library, Home Wood, IL
Lansing Public Library, Lansing, IL
Lincoln Library, Springfield, IL
New Lenox Public Library, New Lenox, IL
Nichols Library, Naperville, IL
Palatine Public Library, Palatine, IL
Sallie Logan Public Library, Murphysboro, IL
Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg, IL
Schaumburg Township District Library - Hoffman Estates Branch, Hoffman Estates, IL
South Chicago Public Library, Chicago, IL
Sparta Public Library, Sparta, IL
Taylorville Public Library, Taylorville, IL
Thomas Ford Memorial Library, Western Springs, IL
Wheaton Public Library, Wheaton, IL
Wood Dale Public Library, Wood Dale, IL