Labor Day always makes me stand taller because of the pride I feel in being the son of Leo P Carlin. Back in 1929, at the age of 21, he founded a labor union of Teamsters that became the largest union in New Jersey, with the understanding that the union would not be unless all were welcome. So Blacks, Italians and Jews became members.
I was not told this until the '70s. Walking south on 2nd Avenue with him, the subject came up because we looked to the west at 34th Street and was told then that he drove the trucks that delivered the steel beams used to construct the Empire State Building.
Earlier on that walk we went by the UN, and he spoke of being invited there, in the '60s, to speak on the importance of a human being's worth ... and their rights.
Leo Carlin submitted this comment:
ReplyDeleteLabor Day always makes me stand taller because of the pride I feel in being the son of Leo P Carlin. Back in 1929, at the age of 21, he founded a labor union of Teamsters that became the largest union in New Jersey, with the understanding that the union would not be unless all were welcome. So Blacks, Italians and Jews became members.
I was not told this until the '70s. Walking south on 2nd Avenue with him, the subject came up because we looked to the west at 34th Street and was told then that he drove the trucks that delivered the steel beams used to construct the Empire State Building.
Earlier on that walk we went by the UN, and he spoke of being invited there, in the '60s, to speak on the importance of a human being's worth ... and their rights.
Leo P Carlin Jr
Leo, you can indeed be proud. What a story! Now there's an enterprising young man ...
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