Amicus: A Law Review

The genesis, development, and establishment of a Labor Day observance in American in the late 19th Century tells us a lot about the important, historic role of the labor movement, its leadership, and, most important, the workers who animated it. Two recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court involving the dues-based, representative power of labor unions and the rights of employees to be free from discrimination similarly reflect who we are as a nation—as do the accounts of a former local Waukesha alderman in his personal history and public service. [The host of WAUK’s “This Week in Waukesha” joins the conversation as a special on-air guest.] What is important to value and appreciate about the ways in which the so-called “working class” in our nation has been responsible for defining our rights and prerogatives in employment, even amidst past and continuing challenges?