“Mother Jones was an Irish immigrant labor activist who advocated for child laborers and mine and factory workers across America and campaigned for the eight-hour day, safer working conditions, and an end to child labor. She often visited our region to speak and support workers. She is buried in the Union Miners Cemetery, Mt Olive, Illinois, with the Mt. Olive miners who died to preserve the union at the Battle of Virden, 1898. She called those miners her ‘brave boys’.”

Not only is she buried in the only union-owned cemetery in the USA, but she also has the honor of a festival in her name in the country of her birth, Ireland, and at her final resting place. See: https://motherjonescork.com/

The Friends of the Mother Jones Museum, located in the City Hall of Mt. Olive, IL, announced several Labor Day weekend events to honor the Irish firebrand. Events will take place in Mt. Olive, Edwardsville, and St. Louis.

On Labor Day weekend this year, members of the UMWA Local 1613, Friends of the Mother Jones Museum, the Union Miners Cemetery Association, and Mother Jones actor Loretta Williams will celebrate Labor Day in three events.

Saturday, September 5th at 5:00 pm. The Mt. Olive Homecoming Parade in downtown Mt. Olive, with miners, actor Loretta Williams, and friends of Mother Jone

Sunday, September 6th at 1:00 pm. Dedication of a historic plaque at the grave site of Ernest F. ( Fred) Long, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Edwardsville. Fred Long was a nineteen-year coal miner from Edwardsville who lived in Mt. Olive died fighting for the union in the Battle of Virden, 1898. This program is presented by the Woodlawn Cemetery Board, 400 St. Louis St., Edwardsville, 62025.

Monday, September 7th at 5:30 pm. Celebration of Mother Jones and labor’s contributions to America at the Greenfinch Theater and Dive, 2525 S. Jefferson, St. Louis, Mo. The program will include the Bread and Roses Choir, Unseen St. Louis, The May Day Orchestra, labor songs presented by Casting Runes, Mother Jones speeches with Loretta Williams, and a presentation on union banners.

For more information: greenfinchstl.com

All at the Cork Mother Jones Committee send our best wishes for a successful celebration at Mt. Olive on Labor Day weekend 2026.

Joann Condellone is a founding member of the Mother Jones Museum in Mt. Olive and of the Perpetual Care Association of the Union Miners Cemetery, also in Mt. Olive.