One cannot have a trade union ...

One cannot have a trade union or a democratic election without freedom of speech, freedom of association and assembly. Without a democratic election, whereby people choose and remove their rulers, there is no method of securing human rights against the state. No democracy without human rights, no human rights without democracy, and no trade union rights without either. That is our belief; that is our creed.
 George Meany

Quotes from the same author

Every piece of progressive social legislation passed by Congress in the 20th century bears a union label.
 George Meany