Samuel Gompers Quotes

I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.

I believe in trade unionism, and I believe in democracy, in democratic trade unionism.

As I, as a worker, came to know them, the aims of German trade unions were political, and there were a number of various trade unions with varied political views.

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

We are the only industrial democracy that does not have one political party that is labor based.

I think we will see a united labor movement again. When workers unite they're stronger. The same goes for unions.

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.

That's what unions do. They can get money, they can get support, they can get manpower.

We are with you in this work. Workingmen must form a party of their own, take charge of the government, dispose gilded fraud, and put honest toil in power.

I'm a big believer in the value of labor unions and with what collective effort gets people.

A divided labor movement hurts the prospects of union members and it makes me very angry.

When the businessmen of the country were demanding the right to organize themselves adequately to promote their legitimate interests; when the farmers were demanding legislation which would give them opportunities and incentives to organize themselves for a common advance, it was natural that the workers should seek and obtain a statutory declaration of their constitutional right to organize themselves for collective bargaining.

The Labor Community is carrying on … a very significant and instructive struggle.

There's a direct relationship between the bread box and the ballot box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls.

It was the spirit of the workers that was dangerous. They are always marching and singing. The tired, gray crowds ebbing and flowing perpetually into the mills had waked and opened their months to sing.

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

Solidarity Forever

There may be here and there a worker who for certain reasons unexplainable to us does not join a union of labor. That is his right. It is his legal right, no matter how morally wrong he may be.

The methods by which a trade union can alone act are necessarily destructive; its organization is necessarily tyrannical.

Heed this cry that comes from the hearts of men. Organize the Unorganized.

The weapon of political action. That is going to be the main fighting weapon of all labor, international as well as national, if we are going to do those things that we are in business to do as a labor union

Power? Nine workers out of ten still unorganized, and union dues going to bribe middle class politicians. You call that power?

That's the Rebel Girl, That's the Rebel Girl. To the working class she's a precious pearl. She brings courage, pride and joy To the fighting Rebel Boy We've had girls before, but we need some more In the Industrial Workers of the World For it's great to fight for freedom With a Rebel Girl

Instead of focusing on attacking unions and the labor movement, we need to find ways to strengthen and empower workers so we can put more money in the pockets of middle class families.

When you have powerful unions, you have a working class that is politicized.