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Workers Independent News headed to Pittsburgh last week for the annual AFL-CIO Convention. This year’s convention was especially historic as it saw the first major change in Federation leadership in more than a decade. John Sweeney passed the Presidential torch to former Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka. In his acceptance speech he said labor under his leadership will fight for a public option in health care:

[Trumka]:

As was to be expected the primary focus of the convention was on the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. Labor leaders representing all sectors of employment made a call to arms for the legislation. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said workers should have the choice and not the employer:

[Weingarten]: “…where workers, not corporations, can make a real choice, a free choice, about whether they want union representation, whether they, THEY want collective bargaining and whether they want a road to dignity, respect and the American Dream!"

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees President Gerald McEntee pledged an additional $500,000 from his organization to the fight for Employee Free Choice and he was quickly trumped by Steelworkers President Leo Gerrard who pledged $510,000.

[McEntee]: "It's about giving us the choice we should have had. It's about giving us the choice we once had. And in honor of Senator Ted Kennedy (as he rips the newspaper in half) they can kiss my ass!"

President Barack Obama made his way to the Steel City and addressed the convention. In addition to stumping for a public health care option, Obama reaffirmed his support for Employee Free Choice.

[Obama]: “That’s why I stand behind the Employee Free Choice Act. Because when a majority of workers want a union they should get a union.”

On the last day of the convention and nearly five years after leaving the AFL-CIO to become founding members of the Change to Win Federation, UNITE-Here asked to be allowed to rejoin the AFL. President John Wilhelm said that with Obama as President for the first time in decades workers have a true politician willing to fight for their rights. He said now is the time for the labor movement to stand united:

[Wilhelm]: “It's something else for someone to occupy the White House who actually believes that the organization of workers into a 21st century labor movement is a necessity to cure what ails our country. That's what this president believes. The last one - which is before my time - was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”

This has been a Workers Independent News special report from the AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.