Connecticut Unions Pledge Solidarity and Voter Turnout

“Connecticut is on the move!” exclaimed Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO to applause as she greeted union members at the Connecticut AFL-CIO Biennial Political Convention in New Haven. “I wanted to come to say thank you.”

The convention, themed “Strong Unions, Stronger Democracy,” was held at the Omni Hotel where Unite Here Local 217 workers successfully went on strike last year demanding respect, wage increases and job security.

“We need solidarity now more than ever,” Shuler emphasized. “The Omni makes billions while the workers can't afford rent.”

Other struggles in Connecticut last year that Shuler highlighted as “paving the way” for the country, included the strike by Machinists at Pratt and Whitney and new union organizing for workers in higher education, food service, healthcare, hospitality and more. As well, legislative victories for immigrant rights and workers rights were recognized in the context of standing up to the attacks by the Trump administration.

Focusing on the biggest contract fight now underway by Unite Here Locals 34 and 35 at Yale University, Shuler electrified the delegates when she said to applause, “I want you to know that all 15 million union members of the AFL CIO across the country have your backs.”

“Yale's $44 billion endowment is bigger than countries, while workers can't afford the cost of living,” she said.

More details came to the convention floor later that day when Lisa Stevens, president of Unite Here Local 34 clerical and technical workers, addressed the delegates.

Introduced by Jess Corbett, president of the Western Area Labor Federation, as his first co-worker when he got a job at Yale, Stevens said her union has been in contract negotiations with Yale University for ten months for fair wages, job security and the ability to retire in dignity.

However, she said, the union's proposals have been “shot down.” Instead, the administration has put takeaways on the table. “We are fighting for what we deserve. They don't care that people are hurting. Shame on Yale,” she declared as the delegates picked up the chant.

“Without our work the University would not be what it is today,” said Stevens. “It's a hard fight, but when we fight we win.”

Also keynoting the convention was Brian Bryant, international president of the Machinists Union. He thanked the delegates for their solidarity during the successful month long strike at Pratt and Whitney last year.

“We're not going to allow corporate greed to determine the future of workers,” he said to applause. “We won for every working family in the state of Connecticut and the country,” he added. “When workers strike and win everybody benefits.”

Both Bryant and Shuler, along with CT AFL CIO president Ed Hawthorne, issued resounding calls for every member to be engaged in the upcoming elections.

Warning against attempts to divide workers against each other by race, nationality or other means, Bryant declared that “when we stand together it changes everything.”

Emphasizing the significance of workers standing up for workers under attack, he said,

“We all have immigrant members in our union, and are disgusted how they are being treated.” As he acknowledged the strong union commitment of many undocumented members, Bryant received a standing ovation.

“There is no fight that we cannot win when we fight together,” he concluded.

The AFL CIO has set high goals nationally to organize two million unorganized workers, engage 15 million members in the midterm elections to change control of the US House and Senate, and 50,000 members trained as election protectors against threats to illegally interfere in the election.

The convention centered around endorsements of pro-worker candidates for federal and state office. Candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller and Attorney General addressed the convention followed by brief question and answer sessions. Candidates for State Senate and State House were interviewed in advance of the convention. Endorsement recommendations were brought to the floor with the goal of increasing the number of worker friendly members of the General Assembly.

Leading up to the August 11 primary, and continuing to the November 3 general election, the Labor 2026 program will include knocking on the doors of fellow union members and their families to discuss the issues and how the candidates compare. Phone calls and worksite leaflets will also be done.

A special recognition was given to State Senator Martin Looney upon his retirement. Fifteen unions presented him with honorary memberships for his lifelong leadership on issues concerning working people and union rights.

The convention included resolutions, panels, workshops and reports around the convention theme of increasing worker power to secure and expand democracy.

Many speakers addressed the demand that workers must be at the table when decisions about the new AI economy are made in order to protect jobs and workers' rights.