Unions key to greater opportunities for workers (check out John Edwards)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.gazette.net/stories/070208/busimlo221805_32372.shtml

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Former senator promotes values of higher education in commencement address at National Labor College
by Amber Parcher | Staff Writer

In a society that values profits over the common man, everyday workers must fight even harder for their rights, former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards told graduates from the National Labor College on Saturday.


Chris Rossi⁄The Gazette
Former presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina smiles as he is fitted with a sash and presented an honorary degree from the National Labor College in the Hillandale neighborhood of Silver Spring during the school’s graduation ceremony.

Edwards, ‘‘the son of a millworker,” as he is fond of mentioning in his speeches, told about 90 graduates of the labor studies college in Hillandale that all Americans deserve the opportunities he had to rise out of a small town, earn a law degree and run for president.

‘‘No one should work full-time in this country and live in poverty,” he said.

And organized labor movements like the unions most NLC students belong to are key in making sure no one has to, Edwards said.

‘‘It’s an example of making higher education available to people who worked hard all their lives,” he said of NLC. ‘‘America is a place that was built by people who work.”

NLC offers bachelor of arts degrees in fields such as labor studies, union leadership and administration and the political economy of labor, as well as master’s degrees through a partnership with American University.

FULL story at link.

[asdjrocky]

1. Wonderful story Steve-

Thanks for bringing it.

[smokey nj]

2. Thanks for this, Steve!