Union Power - Soul Power
1932: Pharmacists organize a union, guided by racial equality, peace, and justice. Solidarity is far reaching—supporting the Spanish struggle against fascists—and close to home, as Jewish and Black workers break the color line in Harlem, together.
1955: They collect money to support Montgomery bus boycotters,
1959: and organize with Black and Puerto Rican hospital workers who strike and win their union.
1960s: They inspire workers from the Bronx to Charleston, SC and across the US. 1199 is one of the first US unions to organize against the war in Vietnam, apartheid in South Africa, and US empire in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and beyond. Panthers, Young Lords, Reds build a union for all healthcare workers. Together they win wages and dignity, childcare, education, bread and roses.
1986/2025: 1199ers organize for democracy and to save our union, win new leadership in 1986 and 2025. Let's learn from history: build unity and solidarity, strong social movements, and civil rights unions, organize boldly, fight to win.
2025: 1199ers march in pride: joy, resistance, snapping fans. From Stonewall to the union hall to every workplace, our liberation is connected. What futures will we create together? Solidarity!
This CPH poster printed at the worker-owned and union-run Community Printers, Santa Cruz, CA.
This is #205 in the Celebrate People’s History Poster Series.
