Why we wear red on Thursday's
Brothers and Sisters, this is all about SOLIDARITY. In the 1989 strike against
NYNEX, our Union Brother GERRY HORGAN was struck down and killed by a scab who
drove thru one of our picket lines. We have been asked why we wear RED on Thursday’s. First
and foremost it is to honor Gerry’s memory and pay respect to his sacrifice to each one of us that
day. Moreover, it is to show our SOLIDARITY and strength in the face of workplace challenges.
Now picture this…it’s Thursday and you are a manager….You walk into the crew room, the
office, or the shop floor and the first thing you see is RED…a sea of RED…a sea of loyal and
UNITED Union workers, ready to face the challenges of the corporate machine and its
underlying or obvious disrespect of all Union workers. How would you feel if you were this
manager and every face you looked at shared this common goal, this unified bond.
You may think that it isn’t a big deal to wear RED on Thursdays or that it won’t make a
difference; that it is just not that important. Well Brothers and Sisters, we are here today to tell
you that it is a big deal. In fact it is one of the most important collective actions we can engage in
as Union members….SOLIDARITY.
This all started some years ago at a CWA District One Conference in NY City. The Local
Presidents passed a motion to put forth a Resolution at the CWA National Convention that year.
This resolution was first to honor our fallen brother Gerry, and second to show our
SOLIDARITY and strength. It was resolved that every Thursday we would show the Company
that we are a UNITED and strong work force. That we would neither tolerate the injustice of
Gerry’s death nor the disrespect the Company shows us each day…Not just at contract time…Not
just when we are challenged with new or unfair policy…but every single day we come to
work…especially on Thursdays.
So now I ask you again, is it important to wear RED on Thursday’s? Is it worth setting your ego
aside for the honor of joining your fellow brothers and sisters in expressing your SOLIDARITY?
Is it worth expressing your appreciation, your gratitude, for those that have sacrificed their
standard of living, their jobs, or in Gerry’s case the highest price….their lives? … his life.
We know we have strength in numbers. We know that when the chips are down we will be there
for each other as we have in the past…as we will in the future. What better way to defy these
bastards who would try to take away our benefits, our dignity, and our pride, then this one small
gesture. A simple return favor for all that we have received.
So once again brothers and sisters, I’ll ask you: Is it important to wear RED on Thursday’s
For the sake of our SOLIDARITY and our UNION”S continued longevity, it is not only
important, it is vital! We stand together….as one ….UNITED!
