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Obama to Address AFL-CIO Convention |
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President Barack Obama will address our AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh on Sept. 15, marking a major shift in the relationship between the union movement and the White House. For the past eight years, the Bush administration waged war on America’s workers, and union members took a big step toward taking back America by playing a major role in electing Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress.
Obama will address a convention that will make history by electing a new leadership team. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney is retiring after 14 years at the helm.
Along with Obama, the Sept. 13-17 convention will hear from many prominent political and union leaders, including Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Caroline Kennedy and NAACP President Benjamin Jealous.
Pelosi and Reid will speak via satellite on the first day of the gathering. Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris, who joined with the United Steelworkers (USW) during the 2008 election to get out the vote, will address the gathering on Sept. 13. Sweeney also will deliver his last keynote address that day.
Solis will address the convention on Sept. 14, the first labor secretary to speak at the gathering in more than eight years. In what should be an emotional moment, the delegates will hear from Caroline Kennedy, the niece of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy on Sept. 14. Caroline Kennedy will be the featured speaker on a day that the convention focuses on organizing and building political strength. Her uncle introduced the Employee Free Choice Act in the Senate and was a lifelong champion of working people. Sen. Robert Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) also will address delegates that day.
The ability of the union movement to reach out to all generations will be highlighted Sept. 14 as Barbara Easterling, president of the Alliance for Retired Americans, speaks to the convention along with Luke Ravenstahl, the 29-year-old mayor of Pittsburgh. Other speakers that day include Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), the newest member of Congress, Jim Wasser of the Unions Veteran Council and Pablo Alvarado of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and National Education Association (NEA) President Dennis Van Roekel will kick off the day, Sept. 15, as the delegates discuss the changes working families want to see in the economy, health care, retirement security and immigration, before taking a break to hear from Obama.
On Sept. 16, the convention will turn to develop strategies to expand its reach to grassroots workers, including women and people of color. Jealous and Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights will speak that day, symbolizing the long, strong ties between the civil rights and union movements.
Global solidarity in a global economy will take center stage Sept. 17 as delegates hear from two key international allies, Guy Ryder of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Ken Georgetti of the Canadian Labour Congress. A special moment will come when Yessica Hoyas is presented with the George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award for her courageous stand against oppression and violence in Colombia, the most dangerous country in the world for union members.
4 Comments
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Wow. I’m all for hearing democrats, but can you go any further to the left than this lineup?
Well yes you could, if you wanted to hear some real truth. You could have Ralph Nader, Michael Moore, Thom Hartmann or Robert Reich.
The closest that “impeachment is off the table” Nancy or “we’ve got a big majority so let’s let the Republicans have equal power on the health care committee” Harry come to the left is about the center before the Reagan era and the decline of the working class. It is only right wing nuts and blue dog Democrats that make them appear left now.
And, Arlen Specter as a leftist? C’mon, whatcha been smokin dude?
CUlater
Dave
Some real friends of labor here,want to know what’s wrong with the Democrats take a good hard look at this bunch of fools.
I sure hope the AFL isn’t planning on endorsing Republicrat Arlen Spectre! He’s no friend of labor and the AFL should disinvite him unless he offers a bill to repeal Taft-Hartley, enact Single Payer health care, and bring all US troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan - that would be a good start to redeem himself. Please endorse Joe Sestak over the phony Sepectre.