PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINER RICHARD L. TRUMKA WINS LOCAL LABOR ENDORSEMENT FOR NATION’S TOP LABOR JOB

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.midatlanticlabor.com/appiesnet/wordpress/?p=978

Allegheny County Labor Council

Media Release

June 9, 2009

For Immediate Release

For more info contact: Marty Marks 412.853.5010

PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINER RICHARD L. TRUMKA WINS LOCAL LABOR ENDORSEMENT FOR NATION’S TOP LABOR JOB

Allegheny County Labor Council Gives Overwhelming

Nod to Trumka for AFL-CIO President

Pittsburgh - Richard L. Trumka, a third generation coal miner from southwestern Pennsylvania who ascended to Presidency of the United Mine Works of America and then went on to become Secretary-Treasurer of the national AFL-CIO, has won the endorsement of the Allegheny County Central Labor Council to become the nation’s top labor leader.

“This is a no-brainer for us” said Jack Shea, President of the Allegheny County Labor Council. “Richard Trumka is a hometown favorite son of the labor movement. He is steeped in the southwestern Pennsylvania labor traditions that gave birth to the labor movement in America,” according to Shea.

Trumka, the current Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, the largest labor organization in the United States, announced his candidacy for President of the national labor federation at a press conference in Washington, DC earlier today. The election to replace retiring president John J. Sweeny, will take place at the organization’s national convention coming to Pittsburgh in September one week before the scheduled G-20 Summit meeting.

“Richard Trumka has always been a behind-the-scenes workhorse for organized labor,” Shea said. “For example, Richard Trumka’s recent leadership in the stalled negotiations between the Port Authority and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 prevented a strike in Pittsburgh, ensured fair treatment of Port Authority employees and kept the busses rolling for thousands of workers in Allegheny County who depend on public transit to get to their jobs,” according to Shea.

Sylvia C. Wilson, Treasurer of the Allegheny County Labor Council and President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute cites Trumka’s leadership on the race issue in 2008 as pivotal in delivering a landslide of working Americans’ votes to Barak Obama. “Richard Trumka confronted the self-defeating effects of racism more boldly than any other leader in the labor movement, inspiring countless workers and leaders with his words and actions,” Wilson said.

Richard Trumka is endorsed by retiring President John J. Sweeny and, to date is the only announced candidate for President of the 11 million-member AFL-CIO.

[walkaway]

1. That's great!

Congratulations Mr. Trumka.