If Samuel Gompers were here today and invited to give the commencement address to students at your university or college, his speech would probably include the following statement:
A) "I believe the goals of the union should be those of its leaders rather than those of its members."
B) "The CIO has primarily sought to change the existing business system, just as some of the earlier unions did."
C) "If the union is to survive, capitalism must be overthrown."
D) "Without the ability to strike, union members would have no leverage in making their demands of employers."
E) "The IWW was the model union for the AFL."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Samuel Gompers was a prominent American labor leader and the founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). He strongly believed in the power of strikes as a tool for workers to demand better wages, benefits, and working conditions from their employers. In fact, he famously said, "The man who has never been in a strike is like the man who has never been in battle; he has missed a test of manhood." Therefore, it is likely that Gompers would emphasize the importance of the right to strike in his commencement address to students.

If Samuel Gompers Were Here Today and Invited to Give