AFL-CIO convention passes progressive resolutions

When the AFL-CIO convention met in Pittsburgh Sept. 13-17, a sign of fundamental change in organized labor was that 43 percent of the 1,000 delegates were women and people of color. On the agenda were a series of progressive resolutions that ranged from promoting diversity, empowering young workers and supporting single-payer health care, to ending attacks on immigrants.

The diversity resolution, which began with the words the U.S. “union movement must stand as a model of inclusion,” was instituted in recognition of the fact that in 2005 more than 40 percent of union members were women and nearly 33 percent were people of color.

The resolution also noted that diversity must be reflected “in our hiring, organizing, representation, outreach and leadership.” The workshop devoted to diversity was standing-room-only with more than 400 people whose composition reflected the resolution.

Because workers under 34 years of age now account for 25 percent of union membership, a resolution was passed to promote recruitment, training and leadership opportunities for young workers. The election of 39-year-old Liz Shuler, as both the first woman and youngest-ever secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, was cited as proof that this was a top priority.

A resolution offered by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the California Nurses Association, the Alameda County (Calif.) Labor Council and the National Nurses Organizing Committee called for passage of the health care for all, single-payer HR 676 bill currently in the House of Representatives, rather than any watered-down bill under discussion in the Senate.

All told, 67 central labor councils, seven state federations and five international unions independently submitted single-payer resolutions. This is the most on one issue in the history of the AFL-CIO. No wonder the final single-payer resolution was passed unanimously.

This issue got a real boost when Michael Moore, the creator of “Capitalism: A Love Story,” decided to hold the U.S. premiere of the film during the convention. Delegates marched from the convention site to the theater chanting, “Health care is a right!” and “Single-payer now!”

Another resolution called for an end to targeting immigrants and proposed an alternative, humane immigration policy that provides a path to citizenship for undocumented workers. Farm Labor Organizing Committee president, Baldemar Velásquez, received sustained applause when he proposed that the labor movement offer solidarity to immigrant labor as an alternative to widespread racist demonization.

In addition to an anti-war resolution condemning the U.S. military occupation of Iraq, the convention passed a resolution in solidarity with Iraqi unions, union leaders and activists and called for an end to the repression against them.

The convention elected a new slate of executive officers—Richard Trumka and Arlen Holt Baker as president and executive vice president, respectively, along with Shuler. But a real highpoint came on the last day when President John Wilhelm of UNITE HERE announced that the 265,000-member union was rejoining the AFL-CIO.

To put those resolutions into action—in deeds instead of just words—the AFL-CIO needs to activate its members. Calling for job marches on the same day in cities all over the country would be a great beginning.