An infusion of new blood helps AFL-CIO make history

[Omaha Steve]

http://transitional.pww.org/article/view/17051/

Author: John Wojcik
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 09/21/09 15:48

PITTSBURGH -- The appearance by President Barack Obama at the 26th Convention of the AFL-CIO here last week was history in itself, coming as it did after eight years of an anti-labor administration that kept itself as far away form union gatherings as it possibly could.



Teresa Albano
California delegates gather around Los Angeles labor leader Maria Elena Durazo as she seconds the nomination of Arlene Holt Baker for AFL-CIO executive vice president.


The president’s description of the labor movement as the force that will lead the nation out of its economic crisis was, as expected, well received.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the convention, however, was the excitement and enthusiasm displayed by rank and file delegates who looked a lot different from the people who have attended past labor conventions.

For the first time ever, 43 percent of the official delegates were women or people of color.

This infusion of new blood into the convention was far more than just a show.
It was the direct result of a resolution passed at the 2005 convention, one that set strong goals of equality based on race, gender, age and disability.

Rosalyn Pelles, director of the federation’s Department of Civil, Human and Women’s Rights, told the World in an interview off the convention floor that “the change you see in the faces here is for real. Fifty two percent of the people in the apprenticeship programs run by the Ironworkers are women or people of color. The building trades have really stepped forward and are moving to change the face of the labor movement.”

FULL story at link.

[BlooInBloo]

1. That Trumka guy - WOW!