Union Power / Soul Power
In 1969, hundreds of Black healthcare workers walked out on strike for their rights inside and outside of the workplace. The workers' powerful slogan of "Union Power / Soul Power" reflected the merging of the labor movement and the Black freedom struggle into one powerful force fighting for justice and dignity. Facing off against a racist state government, workers defied firebombings, National Guard deployments, and mass arrests. The workers were out on strike for 113 days and with the support of prominent Civil Rights activists like Coretta Scott King, featured here in the shirt, they secured significant victories.
This shirt commemorates the example of class-struggle unionism of Local 1199 and their fight for dignity. All proceeds go towards Southern labor organizing.