Edward Gaskin
Encyclopedia
Edward A. Gaskin was an educator and labor leader. He fought for retirement benefits, against the low wages and the racial discrimination of the black laborers of Panama and the West Indies in the Canal Zone
. Gaskin took his campaign to the President of Panama and successfully lobbied
for highly beneficial clauses (retirement
benefits and equal pay for equal work
) in the Remon-Eisenhower Treaty
of 1955.
Gaskin was also the principal of the La Boca School. In 1946 he founded the Teachers' Union.
In 1985 he received the Silver Panama Canal Honorary Public Service Award from President
Ronald Reagan
, in recognition of his struggle and his service to the Isthmian
Community.
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. Gaskin took his campaign to the President of Panama and successfully lobbied
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
for highly beneficial clauses (retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
benefits and equal pay for equal work
Equal pay for equal work
Equal pay for equal work is the concept that individuals doing the same work should receive the same remuneration. In America, for example, the law states that "employers may not pay unequal wages to men and women who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility,...
) in the Remon-Eisenhower Treaty
Remon-Eisenhower Treaty
The Remon-Eisenhower Treaty, was a 1955 treaty between the United States and Panama that updated and amended the original Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 for the Suez Canal and Panama Canal Zone...
of 1955.
Gaskin was also the principal of the La Boca School. In 1946 he founded the Teachers' Union.
In 1985 he received the Silver Panama Canal Honorary Public Service Award from President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, in recognition of his struggle and his service to the Isthmian
Isthmian
Isthmian is the adjective pertaining to an isthmusIt may also refer to:* Isthmian Games, one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece* Isthmian League, a regional football league covering London and South East England...
Community.