Local 100 Celebrates Annual Quill-Connolly Day

Quill Connolly Day at TWU Local 100 was a resounding success! Photos from the event are now available on our Flickr page for your enjoyment. Through our shared celebration, we strengthened the bonds of community and solidarity that are essential to creating a better and more just world for all workers and their families. Hundreds of members attended the event, which commemorated the reknowned labor leaders, Michael J. Quill and James Connolly. The event was held in honor of St. Patrick's Day and reflected the deep Irish roots of the labor movement. It was a joyous occasion, with traditional Irish folk music played by Mary Courtney, filling the room with its lively and upbeat sounds.
Quill and Connolly were both instrumental in the history of labor unions in New York City and around the world. Quill, a native of Kilgarvan, County Kerry, Ireland, was the founding President of the TWU and was a staunch advocate for the rights of transit workers. Connolly, born in Edinburgh, Scotland but raised in Dublin, was an Irish labor leader and socialist who is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the labor movement in Ireland. The celebration of these two great labor leaders has been an important tradition at TWU Local 100 for many years. It serves as a reminder of the important contributions that Irish-Americans and other immigrants have made to the labor movement and to the success of the United States as a whole.
 
Speakers at the event highlighted a riveting labor history, Irish heritage, and enduring spirit of the labor movement. "If you want to be a union leader, and you want to lead workers, then you've got to get in fights." Said International President John Samuelsen. That evening we were reminded that the fight for workers' rights and social justice is ceaseless, and that we can draw inspiration and strength from the struggles and achievements of those who came before us. "I restructured this union hall in a way that promotes quantifiable change." said TWU Local 100 President Richard Davis, "The best thing any leader in this illustrious organization can do is follow in the footsteps of the Great Michael J. Quill."
 
Attendees also learned that a bill is being introduced to amend the Taylor Law to allow TWU Local 100 members to legally strike. The TWU International and Local 100 Presidents are working in tandem with Bill Sponsor, Senator Jessica Ramos to push for a repeal. The news was met with cheers and applause, as it represents a major milestone in the ongoing fight for worker's rights. While there is still much work to be done to ensure the bill's passage and implementation, supporters remain optimistic that this is a major step forward in achieving fair labor laws for all transit workers. The announcement was a fitting tribute to Quill and Connolly, who both knew firsthand the importance of workers' rights and the struggles that workers have faced throughout history.