What Does Labor Want?

Brothers and Sisters,

On September 16, the AFL-CIO elected a new President at our National Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. Richard Trumpka, the son and grandson of coal miners, has promised a renewed labor movement with a focus on aggressive organizing of a young and diverse workforce.

I wanted to share with you a brief portion of President Trumka’s acceptance speech, that I thought every union member in our region could relate to:

What does labor want?

We want a nation where it doesn’t matter what your is the color of your skin or what sex or religion you are or whether you’re gay or straight or what country your family’s from because here, in America, we believe everyone ought to have their chance to step into the winner’s circle.

What does labor want? We want an America.

Where every man, woman and child who needs a doctor can see one!
Where every worker looking for a good job can find one!
Where every American who wants to have a union can join one!

What does labor want?

We want an America whose future will always, always be better than its past – where every voice is heard – and where every life matters!

Pilots and pipefitters…
Machinists and musicians…
Longshore workers and letter carriers…
The women and men who work in the hotel you’re staying!

All of us standing, together!
All of us fighting, together!
All of us winning, together!
All of us, taking our country back together!

Sisters and brothers, this is labor’s moment! This is our time!

And we will not be denied!

The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council congratulates President Trumka and his leadership team, and looks forward to bringing to San Diego, what labor wants.

In Solidarity,

Video of President Trumka's Speech