When we stand together, we win
The AFL-CIO convention was historic beyond the fact that it was the 50th anniversary of the merger of the American Federation of Labor – a more traditional, craft-oriented labor organization – with the Congress of Industrial Organizations, whose members belonged to the growing industrial unions. Unfortunately, with the disaffiliation of several unions, this convention was not a time to celebrate.
Organized labor does have differences of opinion about priorities, politics and policies. But, as several convention speakers noted, what unites us as trade unionists is greater than anything that divides us.
The labor movement has always been part of a larger struggle about what kind of people we are and what kind of America we want. We have stood on the side of fairness and opportunity for all. Unions have fought for an America that cares about the common good when it comes to jobs, health care, housing and education. These are the issues that unite us.
Organized labor does not believe we can achieve our goals by ourselves alone. Through building and strengthening coalitions among unions, as well as with community, religious and political groups, the labor movement has a long record of working cooperatively with others for the greater good of our communities. This is a principle that unites us.
America’s unions do not stand up only for their members. We fight for workers who earn the minimum wage of $5.15 an hour and haven’t had a raise since 1996, and for the 45 million Americans who have no health insurance. We fight against unfair trade agreements that have sent more than 7 million good-paying manufacturing jobs to low-wage countries. And we fight for the right of workers to form a union without threats or firings. These are the struggles that unite us.
Generations before us learned that when we stand together, we win – in the workplace and in our communities. It is a lesson labor should not forget.
Ron Gettelfinger
