CT AFL-CIO says Stand Up, Fight Back

The labor movement in Connecticut left fired up from the 16th Biennial Connecticut AFL-CIO convention, ready to “Stand Up, Fight Back” against the assault on unions and toward the common goal of a better life for all workers and communities.

“The message was clear,” said one AFSCME member, “We're up for the fight we're in right now and we're up for the fight to come because when workers fight, we win “

The convention included open discussions, workshops, prominent guest speakers, election of leadership, and strategizing for the hard work ahead of all organized labor.

Keynote speaker Attorney General William Tong opened the convention itemizing ten lawsuits his office brought against the Trump administration, winning reinstatement of funding and infrastructure jobs withdrawn when Connecticut upheld it's immigration protections.

“We are not powerless.” said Tong. “We WILL win this battle… we will NOT be bullied and we will NOT be intimidated!”

Tong praised the role of the labor movement in preserving democracy saying “What gives me hope for the future of the country is you here now.”

A plenary panel “Blame the Boss not the Immigrants: Immigrants as Workers” included presentations by two immigration lawyers, Connecticut Students For a Dream, Make the Road and SEIU 32 BJ deputy political director Jose Miranda.

Miranda emphasized language won in union contracts to protect immigrant members including maintaining seniority during a status case and know your rights trainings for both employers and workers.

“If immigrants are unprotected and powerless only the employers win,” said moderator Eric Cruz Lopez. “This fight is all our fight.”

In their reports president Ed Hawthorne and secretary-treasurer Shellye Davis congratulated the unions who have won strikes this year including the Machinists at Pratt and Whitney winning job security in a historic three week work stoppage,

Jescraft in Oxford on strike for six-and-a-half weeks to win their union, Unite Here 217 at the Hyatt, the Omni and Sodexo, CWA 1298 at Frontier, AFT nurses at Backus Hospital, UAW at Electric Boat and members of SEIU 1199.

“Every one of these strikes or near-strikes demonstrates that the power of solidarity is absolute. We must lean on each other when times are tough,” said Hawthorne.

“But our solidarity cannot stop at the picket line. We must stand with workers everywhere—documented and undocumented—because the struggle for workers' rights is inseparable from the fight for human rights.”

Hawthorne announced that, “Through the Yale Law School Worker & Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic, we are planning to file a Freedom of Information request to uncover every workplace in the nation that has been raided by ICE. And we are prepared to take this administration to Federal Court if they fail to comply. “

In her remarks Davis said, “Bosses think we are weak. We are willing to fight for each and every worker being exploited by billionaires. We have no choice but to win. We are committed to elevate economic, racial and social justice for all working people.”

Celebrating the wave of organizing underway in the state, the convention presented awards to 16 unions that brought in new locals this year.

Hawthorne and Davis were unanimously re-elected, along with returning and new members to executive board positions. Appreciation was expressed for the pair's role championing dignity, fairness, and power and building solidarity for a stronger Connecticut for all workers.

Delegates adopted a wide range of resolutions including establishing a veterans council, organizing for affordable longterm care, banning private equity ownership of health care facilities.

The final two resolutions which concluded the convention inspired delegates for the struggles ahead.

Many delegates spoke in favor of a resolution against school vouchers emphasizing that public education is essential for democracy and calling for public funding of public schools that are universally accessible and where all are welcome.

The final resolution calling for a Union Day of Solidarity was inspired by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and presented by the Racial Justice Committee of the CT AFL CIO among others.

“This is what we're all about, standing together and rallying together,” said Carl Chisholm. Win Heimer recalled the seven million in the streets for No Kings Day II and emphasized that an initiative led by labor with allies is needed to stop the attacks on the working class and build for the future”

The convention hosted a fund raiser for the Connecticut for All coalition of 60 labor, community and faith organizations committed to winning tax policies that end the huge economic and racial disparities in the state.

Norma Martinez-Hosang, executive director, told the delegates, “I believe in the power of community and labor, overcoming the divide between workers in the public sector and public awareness,” inviting each union to join in the fight for equity and justice.