Community celebrated Big Annie Clemenc’s legacy with a dedication ceremony, parade, and live music honoring the lasting impacts of the 1913 strike on the labor movement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 25, 2026
Contact: Chad Cyrowski, CCyrowski@miaflcio.org, 248.867.9508
CALUMET, MI — On August 22nd, the Upper Peninsula gathered to celebrate a landmark achievement in local history: the official unveiling of the Big Annie Statue. Located at Calumet’s Greenspace Park, the bronze monument honors Anna “Big Annie” Clemenc, a legendary leader of the 1913 Copper Strike, and serves as a permanent tribute to the workers who built the Copper Country.
“We are incredibly grateful to all of the donors whose generosity made this statue project possible and will help preserve Big Annie’s legacy for generations to come,” said Anita Campbell, Ceremony and Unveiling Team Big Annie lead. “We are especially grateful to the State of Michigan for seeing the value of Annie’s story to our nation and awarding us a $50,000 America 250 grant in support of this important project.”
“‘Big Annie’ Clemenc galvanized women, wives, mothers, sons and daughters to come together and fight for their families at a time when women had no vote and no voice. She helped organize and inspire miners in Copper Country to fight for better wages and working conditions,” said Vada Riederich, Donor and Volunteer Team Big Annie lead. “One hundred and thirteen years later, we carry her voice now and into the future. Calumet and beyond can be proud that the American flag is still picked up and carried forward.”
During the 1913 Copper Country strikes, many of the mines started introducing 8-hour workdays. Since then, labor has won forty-hour work weeks, weekends, better pay and benefits — but the work is never done. Today, people are still struggling to pay their bills, while groceries and gas keep getting more expensive.
“This statue is a testament to the resilience and the rights won by generations of workers in the Upper Peninsula,” said Adam SAARI, President of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2. “Today, we championed the strength of the people who fought for more safety, dignity, and fairer wages — but the job isn’t done. If you’re looking for better pay and benefits, reach out to a local union near you and start your apprenticeship. If you’re a business looking for workers, hire union: we do it right the first time, costing less in the long run.”
Union workers earn 18% more on average than their non-union counterparts. In areas with higher union density, the average wage of all workers increases, reducing inequality.
“In honoring Big Annie, we recognize that the fight for workers’ rights is an essential part of our history and will continue to shape our future,” said Ron BIEBER, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “Her grit, courage, and determination are an inspiration as we continue to fight for a more just and fair future for all working people.”
Click here for video of the ceremony and unveiling.
The Big Annie Statue project, which reached its $150,000 fundraising goal after nearly four years of effort, is a collaborative achievement between the project committee and the Keweenaw Community Foundation.
For more information about the project, please visit this link: https://www.biganniestatue.com/
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