(The AFL-CIO issued the following news release on July 19.)
WASHINGTON — America’s union members and leaders will come together at Chicago’s Navy Pier July 25-28 for the convention marking the 50th anniversary of the merger of the AFL and the CIO. Over 900 elected delegates from across the country – – made up of rank-and-file union members and leaders representing 13 million working men and women – – will make decisions about how the AFL-CIO can best lead a workers’ movement. The convention will focus on how to build good jobs and a voice for working families when working people are under attack by giant corporations and anti-worker elected leaders, capping an eight-month debate on the future of the union movement. .
Preliminary events that are open to the press begin Sunday, July 24. A meeting of the AFL-CIO’s Executive Council, the federation’s top leadership, will be held on Friday, July 22. Guests will include Sen. Barack Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Former U.S. Senator John Edwards, Julian Bond, Senator Ted Kennedy, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rep. Peter King (by video), Sen. Arlen Specter (by video), Senator Harry Reid, Sharan Burrow, head of the Australian trade union movement and president of a 125-million member international labor federation; and Ken Georgetti, President of Canadian Labour Congress.
Weekend pre-convention events will address how to develop diverse leadership, organizing best practices, building grassroots strength for state and local labor movements and global labor solidarity.
Schedule:Thursday, July 21
1:30 p.m.
Executive Committee meeting
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers
(Closed to press)
Friday, July 22
9:30 a.m.
Executive Council meeting
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers
(Closed to press)
Saturday, July 23
Building Power for Working Families
Pre-Convention Conference
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers
(OPEN TO MEDIA)
8:00 a.m– 3:30
National Summit on Diversity in Our Union Movement
Sunday, July 24
Pre-convention Conference (cont.)
9:00 to noon
Changing to Organize, Organizing for Power
12:30 – 3:00
Strengthening State and Local Union Movements
3:00 – 6:00
Bringing Justice to the Global Economy
Monday, July 25 (all convention events are at Navy Pier)
9:00 a.m.
AFL-CIO Convention Begins
The first day of the convention will feature a welcome for delegates, including music, AFL-CIO President Sweeney’s keynote address, speeches from a number of members of Congress and a major discussion about diversity in the union movement.
Speakers to include: AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney, Sen. Barack Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Former U.S. Senator John Edwards, Julian Bond, Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Harry Reid
Music to include: Lester Chambers from The Chambers Brothers, Jill Sobule and Tom Morello, of Audioslave and Rage Against the Machine
Tuesday, July 26
9:00 a.m.
AFL-CIO Convention Resumes
Highlights will include an organizing and political discussion/debate, a speech by Rev. Jesse Jackson, and discussion of Resolution 1: A Plan to Help Workers Win: Uniting our Power to Build a Stronger, Growing Labor Movement.
Speakers include Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rep. Peter King (by video), Sen. Arlen Specter (by video)
Wednesday, July 27
9:00 a.m.
AFL-CIO Convention Resumes
Highlights will include a Global / U.S. Economy Discussion, nominations for officers of AFL-CIO, a Wal-Mart presentation and a discussion of Industry Coordinating Committees
Speakers include: Sharan Burrow, head of Australian trade union movement and Pres. of ICFTU; Ken Georgetti, President of Canadian Labour Congress
Thursday, July 28
7:00 – 9:00 a.m.
AFL-CIO Election (if there is a contested election)
9:15 a.m.
AFL-CIO Convention Resumes
Highlights include an Election Report and discussion of additional resolutions and Constitutional amendments
1:00 p.m.
ADJOURN