Delegates to the Minnesota State Building & Construction Trades Council convention heard from national union leaders and from a potential candidate for Minnesota governor in 2010 (see related story). They also endorsed DFLer Al Franken for the U.S. Senate. (see related story).
Unions at the convention ranged from carpenters and electricians to iron workers, laborers, operating engineers, pipe trades, Teamsters and more. The convention, which began Wednesday, continues through Friday.
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| Building Trades members stood and cheered after endorsing Al Franken for the U.S. Senate. |
Much of the focus was on the presidential race, with speakers emphasizing the devastation caused during eight years of the Bush administration and the need to unite around Obama.
"Our members are hurting," said James Williams, president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. "If we don\'t do something and change the direction of this country, we have a serious, serious problem.
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James Williams |
Williams said working families have been hit hard by the economic recession, the Iraq War and the loss of good-paying jobs. Sean McGarvey, secretary-treasurer of the national Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, cited the Bush administration\'s failure to enforce numerous workplace laws, including safety standards, and its abuse of visas to allow corporations to bring in workers in areas such as welding, even when workers are already available in the United States to take those jobs.
Both men said the actions of the Bush administration are destroying the middle class – and Republican John McCain would bring more of the same if elected.
"The very first endorsement McCain got was from the ABC (anti-union contractors association)," Williams said. "What else would you have to tell a member?"
Still, "do not underestimate how difficult it will be to elect Barack Obama," McGarvey cautioned. He and Williams said it\'s clear that racism could lead some union members to oppose Obama.
"We need to get past our own ignorance," McGarvey said. To do so, the Building Trades are launching a multi-stage campaign to inform members about McCain and Obama and what\'s at stake in the election.
The effort will start with a DVD about McCain\'s record on workers\' issues "in his own words," McGarvey said, followed by a similar DVD about Obama. In addition, the Building Trades will distribute handbills, bumper stickers and hardhat stickers, along with other information on the candidates.
"We\'re not telling our members who to vote for," McGarvey explained. "We\'re just giving them the information and they make up their own mind.
"I\'m confident that if we\'re able to reach our members, we\'ll top 70 percent for Barack Obama in the voting booth in November."
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Delegates to the Minnesota State Building & Construction Trades Council convention heard from national union leaders and from a potential candidate for Minnesota governor in 2010 (see related story). They also endorsed DFLer Al Franken for the U.S. Senate. (see related story).
Unions at the convention ranged from carpenters and electricians to iron workers, laborers, operating engineers, pipe trades, Teamsters and more. The convention, which began Wednesday, continues through Friday.
|
| Building Trades members stood and cheered after endorsing Al Franken for the U.S. Senate. |
Much of the focus was on the presidential race, with speakers emphasizing the devastation caused during eight years of the Bush administration and the need to unite around Obama.
"Our members are hurting," said James Williams, president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. "If we don\’t do something and change the direction of this country, we have a serious, serious problem.
|
|
James Williams |
"In the last eight years, they (the Bush administration) have taken a balanced budget and turned it into the highest deficit in the world . . . When they decide to have wars, our kids are going to fight those wars . . . We\’ve got to wake up our membership."
Williams said working families have been hit hard by the economic recession, the Iraq War and the loss of good-paying jobs. Sean McGarvey, secretary-treasurer of the national Building & Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, cited the Bush administration\’s failure to enforce numerous workplace laws, including safety standards, and its abuse of visas to allow corporations to bring in workers in areas such as welding, even when workers are already available in the United States to take those jobs.
Both men said the actions of the Bush administration are destroying the middle class – and Republican John McCain would bring more of the same if elected.
"The very first endorsement McCain got was from the ABC (anti-union contractors association)," Williams said. "What else would you have to tell a member?"
Still, "do not underestimate how difficult it will be to elect Barack Obama," McGarvey cautioned. He and Williams said it\’s clear that racism could lead some union members to oppose Obama.
"We need to get past our own ignorance," McGarvey said. To do so, the Building Trades are launching a multi-stage campaign to inform members about McCain and Obama and what\’s at stake in the election.
The effort will start with a DVD about McCain\’s record on workers\’ issues "in his own words," McGarvey said, followed by a similar DVD about Obama. In addition, the Building Trades will distribute handbills, bumper stickers and hardhat stickers, along with other information on the candidates.
"We\’re not telling our members who to vote for," McGarvey explained. "We\’re just giving them the information and they make up their own mind.
"I\’m confident that if we\’re able to reach our members, we\’ll top 70 percent for Barack Obama in the voting booth in November."