Labor rights celebrated on campus
Crystal Perry, a labor and employee relations administrator, tabled the International Workers’ Day event. Photo by Emmett Roman.
By Emmett Roman
Staff Reporter
On May 4, Lansing Community College hosted its International Workers’ Day celebration in the Gannon Highway. Students and staff could find giveaway items along with snacks, while also honoring the accomplishments of the labor movement, which led to the eight-hour work-day and many other benefits.
The labor movement in the United States can be dated back to 1768 in New York City, when journeymen tailors protested a wage reduction.
Following this protest, the labor movement blossomed. According to The History Channel, “From that time on, local craft unions proliferated in the cities, publishing lists of ’prices’ for their work, defending their trades against diluted and cheap labor and, increasingly, demanding a shorter workday in the face of the Industrial Revolution.”
The modern labor movement grew to encompass many more causes. Moving towards the 21st century, the eight-hour work day would be established, creating more opportunity for workers to have more ethical working hours.
The Labor and Employee Relations team at LCC is focused on “maintain[ing] a relationship built on trust, cooperation and shared goals,” according to the website. “The collective engagement of labor-management assures that decisions relating to interpretation and administration of all agreements are fair and appropriately balance the interest of all parties involved.”
Many people who were participants in the event were union representatives and staff in LCC’s Human Resources department. LCC is represented by five different bargaining units. The Michigan Association for Higher Education mainly represents faculty, professional tutors, librarians, advisors and counselors. The American Federation of Teachers mainly represents LCC’s administrative staff. The Association of Support Professionals mainly represents support staff at LCC, including many of the friendly faces that students encounter at front desks across campus. The Facilities Maintenance Association mainly represents the facilities staff, who are responsible for building maintenance. The Police Officers Association of Michigan represents the LCC Police Department staff. More information about the different bargaining units and union relations can be found on LCC’s Labor Relations website.
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