International Ladies Garment Workers Union 50th Anniversary

New York Mayor Robert F. Wagner at the dedication of the new home of the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 4, 1959.

David Dubinsky, president of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), gives the keynote address. Subjects include shorter work hours, better wages, sanitary conditions, and health care. Some people wouldn't give up to make working conditions better for people. As much as people fought, he never dreamed that Medicare and Social Security would be possible. Dubinsky mentions, Max Meyer, Lillian Wald, and Jacob Schiff. He talks about the union health center, and the doctor who helped found it.

Robert Wagner talks about the 'white plague' - tuberculosis - and the establishment of the ILG health center 50 years ago. Wagner launches into a speech about poverty. We should treat poverty as a disease.

There's a kind of strange song sung by a, I think about Lyndon Johnson. "A man who rose in Texas is a man for you and me."

President Lyndon B. Johnson speaks. He talks about how America is the best. That our country is compassionate, and working men and women get a good deal in modern America. We reduced retirement age and increased social security benefits. Increase in minimum wage and worker's compensation. He talks about equal opportunity. We will pass the strongest civil rights bill in American history.

Paula Newman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Ms. Francis Perkins, Rose Schneiderman, the Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Muñoz Marín, Hubert Humphrey are all present.

The tape ends with Dubinsky praising Johnson, Johnson being presented with a gift, and then Johnson ending with some kind words about Dubinsky.

[poor quality audio. starting at wound minute 11 there is some static]


Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection


WNYC archives id: 150620
Municipal archives id: T410