Trumka gives rousing speech

AFL-CIO PRESIDENT Richard Trumka inspired delegates with a rousing speech about the challenges faced by organized labor — focusing sharply on the political climate and the need to place union resources where they will do the most good.

He thanked delegates for their efforts in backing the Employee Free Choice Act. He noted that “while the act did not become law, the fight helped bring us a National Labor Relations Board that is actually doing its job protecting workers and has energized the entire labor movement.

“And while you were mobilizing, getting those signatures of support for workers’ rights,” he said, “who knew that we would also get the international attention on collective bargaining that we’ve wanted for years; thanks to an outrageous, overreaching governor in Wisconsin, we were able to have that debate. I guarantee you he wasn’t counting on the reaction he got. By a 2-1 margin, the American public believes that every worker . . . ought to have the right to have a collective bargaining agreement.”

Trumka addressed other issues being pushed by anti-union forces, such as voter ID legislation that would make it difficult for many sections of the population to participate in elections.

He added that the Boilermakers and all of organized labor must “walk through the fire together” to rebuild worker rights and the middle class. He brought delegates to their feet in applause, saying: “This is our time. This is our moment. This is the time for the working class to stand up and demand dignity and a fair share of what we produce.”