The Irish Echo Online: A salute to labor
September 22nd, 2011

The Irish Echo this week pays tribute to the U.S. labor movement, its past, present and future, and in particular honors 50 Irish Americans who make up our inaugural Irish Labor 50.

Throughout the history of this country, Irish Americans, those born in Ireland and in the U.S., have been constantly in the front lines of labor’s cause and this is no less the case today with many of the labor movement’s most prominent leaders drawing inspiration from their Irish heritage.

The long line of Irish labor rights pioneers includes Mother Jones, Mike Quill, and Teddy Gleason and, in recent years, leaders such as John Sweeney and Terry O’Sullivan, international president of LIUNA, the laborers’ union.

O’Sullivan is a guest speaker from among the 50 honorees at a celebration being held tonight at Harbour Lights in Manhattan’s South Street Seaport.

The main guest speaker at the event will be Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams who will deliver an address to the sold out gathering on the historical bonds and common causes shared by the labor movements in Ireland and the United States.