Pennsylvania v. Local Union No. 542, International Union of Operating Engineers

OPINION

HIGGINBOTHAM, District Judge.

I

In Philadelphia- 196 years ago, a prophetic national vision was uttered in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal . . . ”. Yet, when proclaimed, the vision was not being implemented for many persons 1 in the new nation, since nearly one-fifth of the population was held in the chains of slavery. 2 Non-property owners seldom had the power to vote, and women were generally excluded from direct participation in the political process. 3 Through the subsequent corridors of history extraordinary…