Labor Unions Join Forces at State Capitol
California's labor community came together in Sacramento this week.
Their mission: fight to protect middle-class families devastated by the Great Recession.
As part of its 2010 Legislative Conference, the California Labor Federation brought lawmakers face-to-face with union workers from 19 regional Central Labor Councils, bringing the fight for jobs to the State Capitol.
"We've got firefighters here ...we've got health care workers ... we've got construction workers ... we've got retail clerks, store workers here ... there's really a strength to having all these folks come together," said Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the California Labor Federation.
As California struggles to emerge from the recession, it's especially important that labor stands united in the fight for jobs and prosperity.
"Those that have everything, that is money, power and influence, have convinced those that have nothing that those with a little bit are the cause of all their problems and woes," said Jon Riley, a retired firefighter and chair of the Napa/Solano Central Labor Council. "Until we're at the same table, talking together, that will continue, and we need to fight that fight."
In addition to promoting key pro-labor legislation, unions also pressed lawmakers to go on the record in support of a Middle Class Bill of Rights.
"I think that it's not enough for legislators to say 'I am a friend of of labor. It's not what I say ... it's what I do. And that's how people should judge all of us," Assemblyman Sandre Swanson said.
As part of the Labor Federation's Executive Board, California Professional Firefighters has worked to keep first responder and retirement security issues on the front burner.
You can follow the fight to protect firefighters and all working families at www.cpf.org and www.calaborfed.org.