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Workers' Forum Draws Dems
At an Aug. 5 forum focused on working family issues, the nine declared Democratic presidential candidates answered taped questions from workers and described their plans to restore jobs, improve and expand health care and turn around the sinking economy.
The forum, held at Chicago's Navy Pier, was sponsored by the AFL-CIO as part of the federation's summer executive council meeting. President Bush was invited but did not attend.
Attending were former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, former Gov. Howard Dean (Vt.), Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), Rep. Richard Gephardt, (Mo.), Sen. Robert Graham (Fla.), Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and the Rev. Al Sharpton.
All nine candidates pledged to defend the rights of workers to organize unions and called for reform of federal labor laws. They offered different approaches to resolving the national problem in health care, from a federal catastrophic insurance program to an employment-based plan that would provide coverage for all workers. They addressed Social Security privatization, pension reform and the budget crisis that is devastating state and local governments, hurting schools and services vital to working families, seniors and people in need.
In other actions at the summer meeting, the executive council designated Dec. 10 as a day of nationwide mobilization to restore workers' freedom to form unions and to bargain collectively. Union locals in many cities already are planning rallies, town hall hearings and other actions.
The council also outlined its support for the 78,000 CWA and IBEW members at Verizon, noting that AFL-CIO members and affiliates will be an active part of the fight for a fair contract.
The forum, held at Chicago's Navy Pier, was sponsored by the AFL-CIO as part of the federation's summer executive council meeting. President Bush was invited but did not attend.
Attending were former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, former Gov. Howard Dean (Vt.), Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), Rep. Richard Gephardt, (Mo.), Sen. Robert Graham (Fla.), Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and the Rev. Al Sharpton.
All nine candidates pledged to defend the rights of workers to organize unions and called for reform of federal labor laws. They offered different approaches to resolving the national problem in health care, from a federal catastrophic insurance program to an employment-based plan that would provide coverage for all workers. They addressed Social Security privatization, pension reform and the budget crisis that is devastating state and local governments, hurting schools and services vital to working families, seniors and people in need.
In other actions at the summer meeting, the executive council designated Dec. 10 as a day of nationwide mobilization to restore workers' freedom to form unions and to bargain collectively. Union locals in many cities already are planning rallies, town hall hearings and other actions.
The council also outlined its support for the 78,000 CWA and IBEW members at Verizon, noting that AFL-CIO members and affiliates will be an active part of the fight for a fair contract.