The Cooper Union’s historic Great Hall has a rich history of hosting labor unions: from the first meeting of the Actors’ Protective League (precursor to SAG-AFTRA) in 1864 to SAG-AFTRA member meetings during the 2023 strike; the impassioned 1909 Garment Workers' Union meeting that resulted in the Uprising of the 20,000, and more. In fact, more than 100 different unions have convened in the Great Hall since its opening in 1858. 

This year, on the eve of May Day, we consider the continued importance of labor unions with a panel of New York City union representatives in the Great Hall space resonant with labor history. Moderated by Claudia Irizarry Aponte, senior reporter covering labor for THE CITY, panelists will explain the work they do and reflect on why they do it. Panelists include Nkosa Barrett, Women's Committee President, Plumbers Local 1; Harry Donas, 1st Vice President, Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 and alumnus of The Cooper Union Albert Nerken School of Engineering; Christopher Erickson, Jr., Business Manager, IBEW Local 3; Thelma-Louise Fernandes, Executive Board Member, Sheetmetal Workers Local 28; and Wing Lam, Executive Director and Founder, Chinese Staff and Workers' Association. Labor historian Joshua B. Freeman, Distinguished Professor of History (Emeritus), Queens College and the Graduate Center, will also offer historical perspective. 

This Cooper Union Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences event is part of The Cooper Union Gardiner Foundation Great Hall Forum series and the Philip F. Brueck Lecture series.

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