May Day is Mother Jones birthday. “The most dangerous woman in America”. She was the original “Union Maid”, organizing min
ers and their families, standing up for safety, elimination of child labor, living wages and fair treatment of workers. This tiny Irish immigrant lady changed the face of labor in America. Things got better, people decided that labor laws were sufficient if enforced, and union membership declined. Given a foot in the door, corporations are back to treating workers as if their lives don’t matter. Industry is still poisoning the environment and the courts are still siding with them. States have repealed labor and safety regulations, leaving the working person unprotected. It’s time for us all to take up Mother Jones’ mantle and become dangerous women. Agitate. Resist. Persist. March. Vote. Repeat.
