(The AFL-CIO issued the following news release on February 2.)
WASHINGTON — With manufacturing job loss taking hold as a national crisis, over 3,000 union members will gather in Washington, D.C., on February 3 in a massive mobilization on Capitol Hill. The workers from 14 industrial unions are taking their message from America’s heartland to D.C. — calling on Congress to implement bold initiatives to stimulate job growth, bring back manufacturing jobs, and stop the trend of offshoring and outsourcing of America’s jobs.
Workers will hear from union leaders, such as Richard L. Trumka, Industrial Union Council Chair and Secretary Treasurer, AFL-CIO and Linda Chavez-Thompson, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President, and elected leaders Tom Daschle, Democratic Leader, U.S. Senate and Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives. They will describe the root causes of today?s job loss and manufacturing crisis and make the case for national economic policy reform.
Over the past three years, America has lost 2.6 million middle-class supporting, manufacturing jobs. The jobs are in steel, garment, electric motor manufacturing, car parts, and information technology — the old economy and the new. Every state but one has lost manufacturing jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.
After hearing from the Democratic leadership and union leaders on the morning of February 3, the workers will spend the afternoon taking their message to Capitol Hill, meeting with and urging members of Congress and their staff to support working families through fair trade and tax policies and health care and labor law reform.
Who: 3,000 union members; The Hon. Tom Daschle, Democratic Leader, U.S. Senate; The Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives; Richard L. Trumka, Industrial Union Council Chair and Secretary Treasurer, AFL-CIO; Linda Chavez-Thompson, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President;and
Other Union Leaders
What: AFL-CIO Industrial Unions Council Conference and Hill Visits
When: Tuesday, February 3, 8:30 AM-10:30 AM, Hill visits follow, reporters invited
Where: Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C.