Barbara Castle Quotes

And the success of the union movement, historically, has always been to benefit all working men and women - not just people who belong to the union.

Trade unionism is not a discovery or a formula. It grew and evolved slowly out of the needs of human experience.

All the time our union was progressing very nicely. There were lectures to make us understand what trades unionism is and our real position in the labor movement.

The Church fully supports the right of workers to form unions or other associations to secure their rights to fair wages and working conditions.

There are only two ways to bring about protection of the workers, however, legislation and unionization. So far the majority of the people in this country seem to favor unions as a more democratic and elastic method, though certain things must be dealt with by legislation

The trade union movement represents the organized economic power of the workers... It is in reality the most potent and the most direct social insurance the workers can establish.

I am a proud trade unionist.

Well, I'm not trying to get rid of the unions, but I am saying that they appear to be an antiquated concept in today's economy.

Where trade unions are most firmly organized, there are the rights of the people most respected.

If we are going to reverse the race to the bottom, workers must have the right to engage in collective bargaining.

The Labor Department's Hall of Honor recognizes men and women - like Cesar Chavez, Helen Keller and the Workers of the Memphis Sanitation Strike - who have made invaluable contributions to the welfare of American workers.

My problem with unions is they breed mediocrity.

I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.

The trade union, which originated under the European system, destroys liberty.

Unquestionably unions and their leaders are not always wise and fair any more than any other human beings. There are only two ways to bring about protection of the workers, however, legislation and unionization. So far the majority of the people in this country seem to favor unions as a more democratic and elastic method, though certain things must be dealt with by legislation.

Modern trade unions understood that deciphering a balance sheet was more important than decoding Das Kapital.

I look back at history, and some of the worst governments we've ever had, you know one of the first things they ever did? They went after the trade unions.

If I were the president of the United States, I would make unions illegal. They no longer serve a functional purpose in democracy, in my view.

Many people have mixed views about unions, but unions used to give people some measure of control at work. They gave them a social life and political representation in Washington, which doesn't really exist anymore.

We don't have unions in South Carolina because we don't need unions in South Carolina.

My parents were both union members, and I grew up hearing how important it was to empower workers and have fair labor practices.

I was an organizer in the Food, Agricultural and Tobacco Workers Union down in North Carolina.

The dissolution of the trade unions was in the air then.

I think organized labor is a necessary part of democracy. Organized labor is the only way to have fair distribution of wealth.

While the men of the steel industry were going through blood and gas in defense of their rights and their homes and their families, elsewhere on the far-flung C.I.O. front the hosts of labor were advancing and intelligent and permanent progress was being made.