Whereas, in 1968, 1,300 African-American sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, fought for collective bargaining rights and equality in the workplace; Whereas, in the struggle for rights of workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (referred to in this preamble as AFSCME ) integrated the labor movement and the civil rights movement in a demand for basic human rights and respect for all men and women; Whereas Black employees doing most of the low-wage work in Memphis had almost no health care, pensions, or vacation, worked in deplorable conditions, and were shown disrespect by White supervisors; Whereas 40 percent of the workers qualified for welfare in order to supplement their low salaries and were denied the opportunity to improve their working conditions by Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb and the City Council; Whereas, on January 31, 1968, 22 Black sewer workers who reported for work were sent home when it began raining, losing pay for that day, while White workers were not sent home and received full pay for that day; Whereas, the following day, February 1, 1968, sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker sought refuge from a downpour in the hamper of a garbage truck amid putrefying garbage and were crushed to death when the compactor malfunctioned; Whereas, on February 12, 1968, Memphis sanitation and public employees went on strike after attempting last-minute negotiations with Mayor Loeb and the city on the terms of their employment, demanding that the city recognize the union and provide a pay increase to $2.35 an hour from an average of $1.70, as well as overtime pay, and promotions based on merit irrespective of race; Whereas, in response to the demands of the workers, Mayor Loeb, on February 13, 1968, threatened to hire replacements unless workers returned to work