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2005
AFL-CIO CONVENTION
● 08-26-2005 I had the
privilege and honor to be a delegate July 24 through 28,
2005 to the 25th Constitutional Convention of the
AFL-CIO in Chicago marking the 50th Anniversary of the
merger of the AFL and CIO. It was something to see that
many people in one huge auditorium drawn to the cause to
bring justice, dignity, with the dedication to improving
the lives of all working families.
It was great to hear and see the many well known
speakers who support organized labor, Sen. Ted Kennedy,
Sen. Barack Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid,
John Edwards, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Republican Sen. Arlene
Sprecter from Pennsylvania and others from the U.S. who
spoke about the rights for the working person to from
unions and have a voice on the job free from
intimidation and harassment. The many speakers from
other walks of life who spoke about oppression in their
homeland when they attempted to form unions in their
homeland. The Mexican, Chinese, and yes, an Iraqi
delegation attempting to form unions in war torn Iraq.
There were many resolutions passed and some
amendments to the AFL-CIO Constitution were voted upon
and
passed that seeks a change for the future of the labor
movement by the AFL-CIO.
The convention focused on the need to change the
political and future labor movement as we see it today.
With an emphasis on organizing new workers into the
labor movement in every walk of life. This is a critical
time for all of working people and our unions. Workers
across the nation are facing the biggest assault on our
jobs, wages, retirement security and health care in 80
years. Corporate greed has shown that CEO pay and
bonuses are soaring to all time highs while at the same
time the working people's standard of living continues
to erode.
America's workers need a strong, unified union
labor movement more than ever. We need for every member
of a union to encourage those who they associate with
who are not in a union to from unions. The labor
movement also needs for every politician to step up to
the plate and show respect and voice support for the
American worker. These issues are vital in order for the
labor movement to survive into the 21st century.
I’m sure you have heard that some of the union’s
have left the AFL-CIO in opposition to the current
AFL-CIO leadership policies. The “House of Labor” has
been through this before. Did you know the Machinists
Union along with the Teamsters, United Mine Workers, and
the UAW many years ago left the AFL-CIO, but they all
came back. Some in the labor movement haven’t learned
from our mistakes says IAMAW President Thomas
Buffenbarger!
The issues of what has taken place with those
Internationals who have split from the AFL-CIO should
not be a dividing force amongst us.
Those same members were considered brothers and
sisters before, standing shoulder to shoulder striving
for the same causes we strive for today. Nothing is
going to change that. We all need to be considered
brothers and sisters in any Labor Movement that surfaces
because we all are dependent upon each other. The need
to pull together is vital even more than ever before in
order to survive into the 21st Century from the attacks
of corporate greed.
I believe that the Labor Movement will bounce back
by becoming even stronger if we all set our sights on
improving and building our unions. Doing our part to do
all we can to help organize the unorganized and oppose
any attempts by corporate America to weaken us.
This also means that we should demand from any
politician who seeks our vote that they will stand up
for the working class in America. That they will
actively voice their support for the American worker by
working to develop good paying jobs for the American
worker and protect the jobs we already have.
Fraternally yours,
Lewis Neuman Jr., DBR
IAMAW, District Lodge 165
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