Cincinnati – At a gathering of more than 700 healthcare and social service workers on April 4 and 5 in Covington, Kentucky, SEIU District 1199 paused to remember the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  The Union also recognized the work of the Rev. Fred Lee Shuttlesworth.

“Of all his remarkable contributions, Dr. King’s commitment to workers is most inspiring. On the heels of his demise, Dr. King was in Memphis preparing to lead striking sanitation workers in a rally,” said Dave Regan, President, SEIU District 1199. 

“Having labored in the trenches with low-wage workers, Dr. King was firmly committed to justice and equality for all.”

In addition to honoring Dr. King, SEIU District 1199 also recognized the work of the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.  In addition to creating, and helping to create, the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, the Southern Christian Leadership Council, and the Congress on Racial Equality, Rev. Shuttlesworth also led the mass demonstrations against segregation in Birmingham in the 1960s. The civil rights leader never grew weary of advocating for social justice issues. He played a pivotal role in a 1992 organizing effort involving SEIU District 1199 members and the Orthodox Jewish Home in Cincinnati. As a result of his leadership, the Union was able to reach an unlikely agreement with the employer in what had previously been a bitterly contested labor dispute. The agreement improved the quality of life and working conditions for nursing home workers.

Rev. Shuttlesworth, who is recovering from a stroke at the Lakeshore Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, was unable to attend the event. His wife Mrs. Sephira Shuttlesworth attended the event on his behalf. SEIU presented the family with roses and a donation.