Texans were fortunate on October 24 to have Scotty Marshall make the main presentation. He is Director of the Trade Union Commission of the Communist Party, USA. He especially talked about the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention. Here are some loose notes.
The convention was another big turning point for labor
Labor's new direction continues since mid 1990s when AFL-CIO had big change in leadership. This convention continued that change dramatically.
Context for the change:
1 - Labor work in the 2008 Election and the new Obama Administration
2 - The economic crisis
There is new terrain for labor's struggles. Not everyone is aware of it
Labor is acting more independently in politics. Unions are developing their own electoral apparatus. After the victory in 2008, it is possible to make real gains, not just defend our union members.
Nobody actually believes that prosperity is returning
The 2009 AFL-CIO conference continued the trend toward more diversity in union leadership. It began with a Diversity Conference in which the AFL-CIO tried, with great success, to make its leadership "look like the membership" in terms of minorities, women, and youth.
'There is an especial concentration on youth.
Considerable time was spent on some of the initiatives coming from the Ironworkers' union
The new leadership is especially capable.
Rich Trumpka is new president. very outspoken leader
Liz Schuler is Secretary-Treasurer
Arlene Holt-Baker is Vice President
Both Schuler and Baker come from political action side of their respective unions. Schuler is the youngest top leader in history AFL-CIO. Brings much more focus on youth to the federation. Baker, who used to live in Ft Worth, is the first African American in top leadership.
The leadership shows more affirmative action than ever in history.
Labor's program coming out of the convention was shown by excellent resolutions passed and by the reception given to President Obama
Unionists were urging a "second stimulus package" to focus on jobs.
Class consciousness was evident. They are championing the entire working class, not just their own memberships.
People were eager to get to work on the Employee Free Choice Act, and many wanted to start a big organizing push without waiting for legislation to clear the way.
There was discussion on cutting the working hours to provide help for the unemployment crisis
Two health care reform resolutions were passed. One of them demanded a "robust public option." The other favored a "single payer" solution. People felt that single-payer would be our eventual demand, no matter what is decided in Congress this year.
There were good anti-war resolutions passed as well
The unions who split a few years ago came back together with the AFL-CIO in 2008 to elect Obama. The grounds for the split, if they ever existed, no longer exist
The two federations are holding unity talks,
Trumpka and other speakers more and more are blaming big capitalism for world problems
Capitalists in manufacturing seem to be splitting somewhat from capitalists in finance. Neither are our friends, but we'd
be fools to ignore differences among capitalists. Sharp differences are beginning to emerge, even within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Labor is beginning to be more thoughtful, more sophisticated, less jingoistic
Unlike the 1960s, the labor movement is now focused on a progressive agenda. one thing they want is how to get unemployment councils within the local unions!