On this day in Labor History the year was 1989.
That was the day that Gerry Horgan was killed while walking the picket line.
Gerry was a chief steward for the Communication Workers of America Local 1103.
The Communication Workers were on strike against the telecommunications giant NYNEX company, which became part of the present day Verizon company.
At issue was management’s proposal to shift a greater share of the health care costs to the workers.
The strike wore on for a total of seventeen weeks.
In total, nearly 60,000 telephone workers in the Northeast participated in the walk out.
These included both CWA members as well as workers who were members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Gerry Horgan was part of the strike in the town of Valhalla,New York, about twenty-five miles north of New York City.
Gerry was struck by a vehicle driven by a strikebreaker while walking the picket line.
The driver was the daughter of one of the company managers.
She was never charged for hitting Gerry, although some at the scene claimed she accelerated after hitting him with her car.
One witness, Charles Pearce, recalled that “Gerry was rundown like a dog.”
The CWA honors Gerry’s memory by wearing red t-shirts.
In 2010, a CWA article titled “Why We Wear Red,” explained,“The idea started small, we asked our Members to wear red on Thursday to remind the company of the blood they had spilled and to show support for our fallen Brother. But it quickly spread nationwide as a sign of solidarity every Thursday at CWA locations.”
Gerry Horgan was killed standing up for the rights of workers and fighting for a better tomorrow for all workers.
April 9 - Lee Surrenders to Grant
April 8 - John L. Lewis Takes on Henry Ford
April 7 - Flora Tristan is Born
April 6 - Rose Schneiderman is Born
April 5 - Massey Mine Explodes, pt. 2
April 4 - Massey Mine Explodes, pt. 1
April 3 - Lincoln Freed the Slaves, Ford Brought Them Back
April 2 - Trouble in the Sweetest Place on Earth
April 1 - The Promise of 1946
March 31 - Hospital Workers Stand United
March 30 - 15th Amendment Adopted
March 29 - West Coast Hotel v Parrish Decided
March 28 - Partial Meltdown at Three Mile Island
March 27 - FE Strikers Battle Police at Harvester
March 26 - Police Attack UE Amid ‘46 Strike Wave
March 25 - Centralia Coal Mine #5 Explodes
March 24 - Exxon Valdez Runs Aground
March 23 - Texas City Refinery Explosion Kills 15
March 22 - ERA Passes the Senate
March 21 - Truman Signs Loyalty Order
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