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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate the Chicago Federation of 
4Labor (CFL) on the occasion of its 125th anniversary; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor was issued its 
6charter by American Federation of Labor President Samuel 
7Gompers on November 9, 1896; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Chicago is the hometown of the American Labor 
9Movement and is the site of the Haymarket Affair, the Pullman 
10Strike, the Republic Steel Strike, and more Local 1 unions 
11than anywhere else; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor has fought for 
13economic, racial, and social justice for workers in Chicago, 
14Cook County, and beyond for 125 years; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor organized workers 
16across industries in the 19th and 20th centuries regardless of 
17race, ethnicity, or nationality; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, One of the first presidents of the Chicago 
19Federation of Labor was John Fitzpatrick, an innovator whose 
20dedication to justice and passion for organizing sustained the 
 
 
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1CFL for 40 years; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor was guided by 
3President William A. Lee for nearly four decades after the 
4passing of President Fitzpatrick, navigating a changing world 
5during the civil rights movement and beyond; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor merged with the 
7Cook County Industrial Union Council and other local labor 
8councils in 1962; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor created and 
10managed radio station WCFL, the "Voice of Labor", from 1926 to 
111978, bringing the latest news, information, and entertainment 
12to working people in Chicagoland and beyond; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor has published the 
14Federation News for more than 100 years, first as a newspaper 
15and now as a quarterly magazine, bringing labor news to local 
16workers; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor has brought 
18freedom fighters and labor leaders from around the world to 
19Chicago, including Cesar Chavez, Lech Walesa, and Nelson 
20Mandela; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, In recent years, the Chicago Federation of Labor 
2has worked to pass increases to the minimum wage,  fair 
3workweek, and paid sick leave laws, in addition to protections 
4to retirement security and a host of other policies to protect 
5workers; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor supports its 
7approximately 300 affiliates and 500,000 union members in 
8Chicago and Cook County; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, The Chicago Federation of Labor maintains the 
10spirit of solidarity that has guided the organization for 125 
11years, continuing the fight for justice for all workers; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
14HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
15we recognize the Chicago Federation of Labor on the 125th 
16anniversary of its founding, and we further recognize the CFL 
17for its legacy of activism and solidarity with the working 
18people of Chicago and Illinois; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the Chicago Federation of Labor as an expression 
21of our esteem and respect.