A. Phillip Randolph (April 15, 1889-May 16, 1979) was a prominent twentieth-century African-American civil rights leader and the founder of both the March on Washington Movement and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, a landmark for labor and particularly for African-American labor organizing.
I want to thank President Jones, Business Manager Robert Prunn, the Executive Board and my union brothers and sisters for making this trip possible. The conference was time well spent and a real eye opener for me.
The conference was fast paced and full of useful information. I also learned and opened my mind to things I had not thought about before.
The three main things the conference focused on where, Green Jobs, Free Choice Act and the Health Care Reform. Health care reform being at the top of that list as being most important. It is important for everyone to understand if Health Care Reform fails to pass, the Free Choice Act will also fail. We, the union, have to be involved and push for Health Care Reform. Maybe because we are already covered we forget how urgent the need is for those millions of families that are not covered.
Please pick up the flyers we are getting done, pass them out at work and in your unit meetings. Call, write, and e-mail your senators and congressmen. Try to attend some local town hall meetings. We don’t want to be taxed for the health care we now have.
The Institute is deeply rooted in the labor movement and the needs of unions. They want to " Organize, Mobilize and Educate", which what we as a union need to do, we need to get all the new hires from the last couple years involved and to understand what the union means and how important they are to the future of the union.
Again, I was honored to represent the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, this local 824 and members at this very important conference. I encourage everyone to ask questions, come to the meetings and join the caucus.
In Solidarity,
Dawn Livingston
