Labor leaders, working people gather for Summit on Worker Voice
(Washington, DC, October 6, 2015) – Tomorrow, the broad efforts of working people across the country will coalesce in Washington, DC as the White House convenes its Summit on Worker Voice. The executive officers of the AFL-CIO will all be in attendance along with a broad coalition of labor unions, worker organizations and all those driving action in the workplace.
“This important gathering will shine a light on the often arduous path working people face when they exercise their voice at work and the incredible progress being made despite these challenges,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Together, we have achieved yet another important benchmark in the new and powerful momentum working people are building.”
Working people from both private and public sectors, will be key contributors to the summit. Over the last week, the AFL-CIO has highlighted stories of working people who demonstrate the struggles faced while trying to form a union and the values of having a voice on the job. In all, seven union members will be featured on summit panels to discuss the importance of expanding protections for everyone on the job from millennials to working people of color.
“Young people are looking for solutions to an economy that is not working for them,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler. “New forms of organizing and collective action allow young working people to speak up together to work for a better life."
AFL-CIO State Federations and Central Labor Councils across the country will host watch parties for local union members and their communities. Many of those watching will be from the immigrant community and southern states – key areas of worker momentum being highlighted by the summit.
“Having a strong voice at work is a critical means towards economic security, particularly for immigrants and working people in the south,” said AFL-CIO Executive Vice-President Tefere Gebre. “This summit provides an enormous opportunity to highlight the need that working people have for our government to strengthen and enforce labor laws that can effectively protect their right to organize and bargain collectively.”
The AFL-CIO has also released seven guiding principles aimed at protecting and strengthening the rights of working people to take collective action. These principles embody what the labor movement intends to affirm during tomorrow’s conversations at the White House and what all leaders should look to in their efforts to support working people.
Contact: Charity Jackson (202) 637-5018