Labor Day Message: Want Power? Join a Union!
"It's time to organize!"
exclaimed Sal Luciano, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO to
several hundred union members at the sixth annual Labor Day Breakfast
at Operating Engineers Local 478 in Hamden. Noting the 125th
anniversary of Labor Day, Luciano emphasized the signs around the
room, "Want Power? Join a Union." He paid tribute to the
hundreds of thousands of workers who sacrificed and organized for
strong wages, safer working conditions, healthcare and retirement
benefits, won through collective bargaining.
Juan Hernandez, leader of SEIU 32 BJ,
described a rally with highway service plaza workers in Darien the
day before. After an attempt to block the rally was denied by a
Superior Court judge, union supporters demanded union representation
for Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s workers at Connecticut
service plazas so they can get the wages and benefits they are due.
"Alone your employer can and has
treated you as if you’re invisible. That time, sisters and
brothers, is past. Now is the time to be seen, now is the time to be
heard. Now is the time to organize." Luciano. told the fast food
workers.
Sen. Julie Kushner and Rep. Robyn
Porter, co-chairs of the state legislature's Labor Committee, were
recognized for leading the successful fight that won an increase in
the minimum wage to $15 an hour and paid family leave in this
session.
Three union members, running for their
town councils after participating in the Pathways to Power program of
the Connecticut AFL-CIO, told their stories, including Kim Glassman,
director of Foundation for Fair Contracting, of East Haven; Katlyn
Shake a nurse, of Stratford, and Bill Garrity of Plainville,
president of University Health Professionals Local 3837.
"I am honored and humbled to
receive the endorsement of Western CT Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO,"
said Shake. "We are always stronger when we come together and
organize. Unions built the middle class and Stratford is home to
thousands of CT union workers!"
Attorney General William Tong denounced
the anti-worker and anti-immigrant policies of the White House and
vowed to continue resisting with court challenges, along with
Attorneys General of other states.
Information was distributed in support
of the Connecticut Climate Strike on September 20 at noon on the
Capitol steps in Hartford demanding action to address the climate
crisis.
No comments:
Post a Comment