1199SEIU welcomed a crowd of activists, journalists and the general public to the January 9 opening reception for its new multimedia exhibit "Union Power Print Power: A Retrospective of 1199SEIU's Publication." Over light refreshments, guests previewed short films, award-winning photos, graphics, stories and letters published in 1199's current publication Our Life and Times, and its predecessor publications spanning from 1929 to present.

The exhibition will be on display at 1199's Bread & Roses Gallery at 310 W. 43rd St. through February 19th, and is free and open to the public. It is a poignant look at how historical events were recorded in the magazine, showing that the union has always been deeply committed to social justice. The scope of coverage displayed in the exhibit includes WWII, the civil rights movement, the end of apartheid, and the everyday struggles of working people. A highlight is an installation focused on the union's dedication to promoting discussion and debate by presenting dissenting viewpoints, particularly in its Letters column. One letter on display demands that the union support opening a second front in WWII; another is a response to a controversial speech by civil rights pioneer Bayard Rustin.

Over the years, Our Life and Times and 1199SEIU's previous publications have been consistently recognized as among the nation's top labor journals, receiving hundreds of awards from The NY Metro Labor Communications Council and the International Labor Communications Association.

When the exhibit closes at the end of January, it will hopefully travel to other regions of the union and among the larger 1199SEIU institutions that played a prominent role in the history of the union and its publications.