(Dick Meister has covered labor and political issues in California for a half-century as a reporter, editor, author and commentator.)
Click here to read a recent Meister post, Jack Henning’s lifelong crusade
Jack Henning was a notably outspoken and forceful leader, as this sampling from his writings and speeches should make clear:
On the Role of Labor
Although labor is no longer acknowledged as the principal agent of social change in American society, it is the one progressive force with the capacity to build a new and nobler nation. Labor teachings must be honored if the nation is to enjoy liberal priorities, if the nation is to know full employment, racial amity, academic freedom, adequate housing, decent health and the social services of a contemporary state….
The labor movement must remain liberal if it is to survive. We can argue about the definition of liberalism, but we know it as a commitment to wages and hours and conditions of work that are worthy of the human person and as a commitment to the service of all humanity….