City employees win Social Security coverage in the middle 1950s. But they still pay half the cost of their pensions and health insurance out of pocket. Office workers don’t have Workers’ Compensation. Hospital and blue collar workers can only dream of a 40-hour workweek.

But now, years of pushing City Hall to acknowledge city workers’ rights finally get results. Mayor Robert Wagner recognizes city employees’ right to organize and orders each department to set up a grievance procedure. DC 37mobilizes to make management live up to the Mayor’s word. Thousands of Parks Department employees picket City Hall for months, demanding an eight-hour day. Demonstrating workers flood the area and effectively shut down the Parks Department, sending an unmistakable message to management.

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