--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finally, it was about how people treat…" description: "\"Finally, it was about how people treat one another. It was about human dignity. We forced the employers to treat us as equals, to sit down and talk to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/harry-bridges-38311_believe_finally-it-was-about-how-people-treat-on_1882455.jpg" --- # Finally, it was about how people treat one another. It was… ![“Finally, it was about how people treat one another. It was about human dignity. We forced the employers to treat us as equals, to sit down and talk to us about the work we do, how we do it, and what we get paid for it. And I believe that the principles for which we fought in 1934 are still true…” quote by Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/harry-bridges-38311_believe_finally-it-was-about-how-people-treat-on_1882455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/harry-bridges-38311_believe_finally-it-was-about-how-people-treat-on_1882455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/harry-bridges-38311_believe_finally-it-was-about-how-people-treat-on_1882455.jpg) > “Finally, it was about how people treat one another. It was about human dignity. We forced the employers to treat us as equals, to sit down and talk to us about the work we do, how we do it, and what we get paid for it. And I believe that the principles for which we fought in 1934 are still true and still useful. Whether your job is pushing a four-wheeler, or programming a computer, I don't know of any way for working people to win basic economic justice and dignity except by being organized into a solid, democratic union.” [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human dignity and equal treatment require organized, democratic unions across all jobs. **In simple terms:** Unions give workers dignity and fair wages. Key Takeaway Support collective bargaining for all workers. Themes labor rights human dignity unionism equality solidarity Mood inspirational determined Type labor social justice When to use this quote - factory workers - software developers - service employees - policy makers Key Concepts collective bargaining democratic organization worker empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can unions stay democratic and inclusive? - What modern tactics protect workers’ rights? A Different Perspective Union power can be challenged by anti‑union legislation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Economic justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-justice/) [Employers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employers/) [Human dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-dignity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Treatment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treatment/) [Union solidarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/union-solidarity/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Wages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wages/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) [Working people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-people/) ## Related quotes > [Our love for the Founders leads us to abandon, and even to betray, the very principles they fought for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/our-love-for-the-founders-leads-us-to-abandon-and-even-to-betray-the/) [H. 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America is a living testimonial to what free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-history-of-the-labor-movement-needs-to-be-taught-in-every-school/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The American Labor Movement has consistently demonstrated its devotion to the public interest. It is, and has been, good for all America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-american-labor-movement-has-consistently-demonstrated-its/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Every piece of progressive social legislation passed by Congress in the 20th century bears a union label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meany/every-piece-of-progressive-social-legislation-passed-by-congress-in/) [George Meany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meany/) > [One cannot have a trade union or a democratic election without freedom of speech, freedom of association and assembly. Without a democratic election, whereby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meany/one-cannot-have-a-trade-union-or-a-democratic-election-without/) [George Meany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meany/) > [Labor # Unions are the leading force for # democratization and # progress .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/labor-unions-are-the-leading-force-for-democratization-and-progress/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-reuther/there-s-a-direct-relationship-between-the-ballot-box-and-the-bread/) [Walter Reuther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-reuther/) > [As it has over the decades, the union movement stands for the fundamental moral values that make America strong: quality education for our children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/as-it-has-over-the-decades-the-union-movement-stands-for-the/) [John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/) > [If capitalism is fair then unionism must be. If men and women have a right to capitalize their ideas and the resources of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/if-capitalism-is-fair-then-unionism-must-be-if-men-and-women-have-a/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Every advance in this half-century-Social Security, civil rights, Medicare, aid to education, one after another-came with the support and leadership of American Labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/every-advance-in-this-half-century-social-security-civil-rights/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Hoffa and Brennan formed a trucking company called Test Fleet. The “brains” and his partner put that company in their wives’ maiden names. Test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/hoffa-and-brennan-formed-a-trucking-company-called-test-fleet-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) ## More by Harry Bridges > [I'm a working stiff. I just happened to be around at the right time, and nobody else wanted the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/i-m-a-working-stiff-i-just-happened-to-be-around-at-the-right-time/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) > [I would have worked with the devil himself if he'd been for the six hour day and worker control of the hiring hall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/i-would-have-worked-with-the-devil-himself-if-he-d-been-for-the-six/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) > [There is a weapon we can fight with. 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It must not retreat. It must go on, or go under.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/labor-cannot-stand-still-it-must-not-retreat-it-must-go-on-or-go-under/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) > [No man has ever been born a Negro hater, a Jew hater, or any other kind of hater. Nature refuses to be involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/no-man-has-ever-been-born-a-negro-hater-a-jew-hater-or-any-other-kind/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) > [I'm a machine man, and I head a machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/i-m-a-machine-man-and-i-head-a-machine/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) > [Neither, I must say with all due respect, is it the power of teachers and students. Basically the true and real power is with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/neither-i-must-say-with-all-due-respect-is-it-the-power-of-teachers/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) > [The most important word in the language of the working class is "solidarity."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bridges/the-most-important-word-in-the-language-of-the-working-class-is/) [Harry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) [Explore all 12 Harry Bridges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bridges/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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