The Dallas AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast was one of the largest ever
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Labor Day, 2007, gave further evidence of a new militancy among working people. The Dallas Labor Day Breakfast was the largest ever in an off-election year, according to Dallas AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Jim McCasland. There were approximately 300 union members, including retirees. There were at least 20 elected representatives and another twenty activists from churches and civil rights organizations. Virtually everybody in the crowd volunteered to wear a sticker that said, "Health Care for All!"
This year, on Labor Day weekend, the federal government rejected an appeal
from the Teamsters Union and others to stop the heavy traffic from Mexican trucks
on U.S. highways. The government continues to assist corporations with their
plans to destroy pensions and health benefits for retirees.New information came
to light showing that even more Americans have no health care. It's becoming
more and more clear what the problems are, and the solution is ever more apparent
-- we have to organize both in the shops and in the political arena!
The National AFL-CIO announced that their number one domestic priority in the 2008 elections will be health care. "Health care is the top domestic issue for our members and for all Americans, and the AFL-CIO is making the 2008 elections a mandate on fixing our broken system," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said.
Walk-ins will be welcome at the Alliance's September 4-7, 2007 National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. The actual conference program begins on the 4th at 1:30 p.m., with a theme this year of "Building for America's Future." Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), candidates for the Democratic nomination for U.S. President in 2008, will speak. Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), is also confirmed, and we are working with other presidential candidates on their availability. The President's Award will be presented to Elmer Blankenship, President of the Indiana Alliance, for his lifetime of public service on behalf of older Americans. The Leadership Award will be presented to Sen. Debbie A. Stabenow (D-MI) in recognition of her years of outstanding leadership in the U.S. Congress on behalf of older Americans. To obtain copies of the official registration form, either call 1-888-373-6497, email Joni Jones at jones@retiredamericans.org or visit our website at www.retiredamericans.org. The conference will be held at the Hilton Washington and Towers. Hotel reservations must be made by calling the Hilton and Towers directly at 1-888-324-4586. Be sure to ask for the Alliance for Retired Americans National Legislative Conference attendee rate.
Texas Alliance for Retired Americans activists will be among the national group in Washington. Watch this page for developments.
Lewis Johnson (left) is on the Texas Alliance for Retired
Americans Executive Board
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