When UE sold the historic District 11 hall in Chicago in early 2024, the union worked with the Chicago Public Art Group (CPAG) to raise funds to preserve the “Solidarity” mural on the interior walls. Enough money was raised to remove and preserve the most important parts of the mural, which were successfully removed from the hall. They are now almost ready to travel to their new homes in the Chicago Teachers Union building in Chicago and the UE Hall in Erie, PA.
This spring, the union launched another fundraising campaign to support one of the original artists to recreate those portions of the original mural that could not be preserved or restored.
The mural was painted on the interior walls by John Pitman Weber and Jose Guerrero in 1974. They donated their labor, asking only that the union buy the paint. Pitman Weber, who is now in his 80s, has agreed to recreate those portions of his and Guerrero’s original mural that cannot be restored. (Guerrero passed away in 2015.)
The fundraising campaign to pay for this recreation has already raised over $11,000 — more than two-thirds of the way towards the campaign’s goal of $15,000.
During the campaign, UE asked donors to share some of the reasons why they gave. Laura Crossett of Iowa City, IA, a former member of Local 896-COGS, wrote, “The mural is part of our history and our solidarity with working people everywhere. I was lucky enough to travel to Mexico as part of a UE-FAT labor exchange. I’ve never forgotten that trip or what my time in UE taught me.” Emilie Lozier of Chicago wrote “As a former UE worker (Local 1122) it means a lot to get to chip in some resources to preserve a part of my national union's history!” And Frank Higbie of Los Angeles wrote, “Saving the mural means future unionists will have a direct link to the struggles of previous generations. So many union fights are lost to memory because we don't have the resources and will to preserve them. The labor movement needs to do more to preserve and communicate its history.”
Donations to support the restoration of the mural can be made by clicking here.
At the end of last year, the Uri-Eichen gallery in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood hosted two events that celebrated the “Solidarity” mural’s importance to the working class and the broader Chicago community. Amidst a dynamic photo exhibit, John Pitman Weber, Stephanie Strickland from the Chicago Public Art Group, and retired UE General President Carl Rosen told the story of the mural’s creation and the efforts to rescue it.