The NewsHour on PBS dedicated a segment of their Tuesday broadcast to the new leader of the American labor movement with a profile of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. The story highlighted Trumka’s start as a coal miner in Pennsylvania, his graduation from Villanova Law School, his rise to president of the Mine Workers and his key role in the tough battle against Pittston Coal Co. Included in the segment were clips from throughout Trumka’s career, including his emotional acceptance speech at the AFL-CIO convention in September.

As NewsHour pointed out, Trumka made his name “as a bulldog against corporate overreach” while he was AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer. The new AFL-CIO president made it clear he’s not about to let up now:

“I’ll stop demonizing big business just as soon as they put their country before their profits and they put their workers before their greed.”

Watch the full segment here:

At A Better Deal 2009, a conference taking place Oct. 15-16 in Washington, D.C., a broad coalition of youth and progressive organizations will look at the crisis facing today’s young people in an economy that just isn’t working for them. The free conference is hosted by Demos, an advocacy organization focused on building a fairer economy.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler will give the keynote address at the conference. As documented in the AFL-CIO report, “Young Workers: A Lost Decade,” young people are struggling to find good jobs that provide them with fair wages, health benefits, retirement security and decency on the job. The next generation could be on track to be the first in a century to be worse off than their parents, and that sets a dangerous standard for generations to come.

Attendees will discuss the details of a policy agenda that supports young workers. Workshops and plenary sessions will tackle issues like job creation, the high cost of a college education, our broken health care system and the abuses of the credit card and banking industries. In addition, the conference will focus on getting young people engaged in politics and civic action in their communities.

Learn more and sign up to attend on the conference website.

Richard Trumka was elected the new AFL-CIO President at the convention in Pittsburgh earlier this month along with Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. The AFL-CIO is now led by a dynamic team ready to lead the union movement in the 21st century.

Watch this video to learn about President Trumka’s background, his values and beliefs, and vision for the future of the labor movement:

The last day of the AFL-CIO Convention opened with a big bang as newly elected AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka stood on stage with UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm to make the dramatic announcement that UNITE HERE is reaffiliating with the federation. The 250,000-member UNITE HERE was one of the unions that left the AFL-CIO in 2005 to form a new federation.

Trumka, who said he developed a special bond with Wilhelm around the struggle for Horse Shoe and Frontier Hotel workers in Las Vegas more than 15 years ago, hailed the reaffiliation, saying:

The solidarity of the American labor movement is about to grow.

It pained me personally when UNITE HERE left this federation four years ago—and I can’t think of a more uplifting way to begin this day than by welcoming UNITE HERE back to our union family as an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

Trumka noted the importance of unity within the labor movement as workers are hit hard by a bad economy, the lack of freedom to form unions and Republican’s continual attack on working people.

A united labor movement will serve the interests of working people during this time of incredible opportunity and progress.

The AFL-CIO Executive Council met earlier today and approved the reaffiliation and using its authority under the AFL-CIO Constitution, expanded membership on the Executive Council and Executive Committee and named Wilhelm to those seats.

UNITE HERE represents more than 250,000 workers in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry and airport industries.

More from the AFL-CIO Now blog.

Following this afternoon’s election of the AFL-CIO’s new leadership team at the AFL-CIO 2009 Convention in Pittsburgh, AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee released the following statement:

“We have a new leadership team that is committed to preserving the fundamental freedoms of America’s workers, including the right to form unions, the right to quality health care, the right to bargain collectively and the right to safe workplaces. They will organize and fight for a new generation of working Americans, building on the progress we have made in recent years.

“Since 1995, when he joined John Sweeney on the ticket committed to transforming the AFL-CIO, Rich Trumka has become a tireless advocate on issues of major importance to AFSCME members. Rich as been a leader on health care reform. He’s led the fight for the Employee Free Choice Act. And he’s worked with us to increase federal aid for the vital public services our members provide. Whenever AFSCME needed him, Rich was first in line to offer help.

“I’ve known Arlene Holt Baker for more than 30 years. She’s a member of the AFSCME family, and served as our area director in California. Her empathy for working people’s struggles, experiences, her tenacity and intellect, make Arlene an invaluable leader in revitalizing the labor movement.

“Liz Shuler is a remarkable new leader, who at the age of 39 will bring youthful dynamism and strong experience into her role as Secretary-Treasurer.

“Rich, Arlene and Liz know that the rank and file members are the heart and soul of our unions. Their voices keep us strong.

“AFSCME looks forward to working with Rich Trumka, Arlene Holt Baker and Liz Shuler to open the doors of opportunity to all working Americans in the years ahead.”

Newly-elected AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka shares a light moment with AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee during a meeting of the AFSCME caucus at the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention. (Photo by Jason Cohn)

President Obama just ended his speech to the delegates at the AFL-CIO 2009 Convention in Pittsburgh, where he pledged to grow the middle class and strengthen the labor movement:

“When organized labor succeeds, that’s when our middle class succeeds. And when our middle class succeeds, that’s when the United States of America succeeds. That’s what we’re fighting for.”

Obama also reiterated his call for action on health insurance reform now — including a public option — “Because in the United States of America, nobody should go broke just because they got sick.”

Watch the full speech here:

For more coverage from the AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh, visit the official convention site.

Today young workers are less likely to have health care or economic security than they were 10 years ago, and one-third live in their parents’ home, according to a new national survey released by the AFL-CIO.

• 31 percent of young workers report being uninsured, up from 24 percent 10 years ago, and 79 percent of those without health care coverage say it’s because they can’t afford it or their employer does not offer it.
• One in three young workers live at home with their parents.
• Only 31 percent say they make enough money to cover their bills and put some money aside — 22 percentage points fewer than in 1999.

Young workers are facing many new challenges on the job, especially during this recession. AFSCME joins the AFL-CIO in working with young union members to build the labor movement, revitalize the economy, and to pass health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act.

That’s why AFSCME started a special program, the Next Wave, designed to reach out to young union members and to provide them with the tools and connections to get them ready for future union leadership. The Next Wave is bringing new ideas and energy in into AFSCME and advancing the labor movement.

More than 600 young labor activists came together in Chicago this summer for the inaugural Next Wave conference. “Next Wave is dedicated to showing members 35 and younger how critical the union is and how it is relevant to them today,” said Natasha Pranger, a Next Wave activist from Washington Council 28, Local 304. “We are AFSCME and we are much stronger working together than alone.”

Sen. Kennedy visited the AFSCME offices in 2007 to congratulate Pres. McEntee on 50 years with the union. (Photo by Jay Mallin)

This entry by AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee is cross-posted from Huffington Post and Firedoglake.

In nearly 47 years spent serving the American people, Ted Kennedy never stepped away from a fight, never stopped being a champion of the middle class, never ceased being a friend to labor and working families. From civil rights to health care, right until the end, he was our strongest advocate. We will always remember him. In his memory, we will continue to pursue our shared dream of opportunity for all.

Senator Kennedy’s congressional accomplishments were monumental, and health care was a significant theme throughout his career. He first advocated for health care reform in 1966 when he proposed amending the Economic Opportunity Act. In 1972, he created and ushered through the Congress a program focused on nutrition and health care for low-income women and children known as WIC. In 1997, he carried the banner high for the children’s health care program, S-CHIP. He even made a surprise return to the Senate last summer to cast the decisive vote for the Democrats on a Medicare bill.

Ted was always there to remind us, when too many had forgotten, that health care for all Americans was not a privilege but a right. This is his legacy. He said that quality, affordable health care for all Americans is “the cause of my life.” And he fervently believed, “Quality care shouldn’t depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face.”

Known as the “Lion of the Senate,” we counted on Ted to fight for fairness in the workplace and serve as a voice for those whose labor makes this country great. He crusaded for the best, most comprehensive plans on immigration, housing discrimination, rights for the disabled, poor children and struggling young adults hoping to attend college. He never sought credit or recognition. When he co-authored the sweeping Patients’ Bill of Rights, he even asked that Sen. John McCain’s name appear first and his last.

Beyond what he achieved on the national stage, Ted was an empathetic and caring man. When my father died, Ted was the first person to reach out to me in my time of sorrow. He stayed in contact with families who lost loved ones on 9/11 and remained in touch long after the cameras were gone. The tragedies he experienced made him especially compassionate when others endured their own hardships.

For me this loss is particularly difficult. He was not just an ally, but a dear friend. Ted’s great voice has been silenced, but we will forever remember what he gave all of us: his life, his passion, his commitment to a more fair and equitable nation. In remembrance of him, we must all keep fighting for the causes he championed so well and rededicate ourselves to winning national health care reform and lifting the lives of all Americans.

AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee issued a statement today calling Senator Ted Kennedy “Our closest ally and most steadfast friend in the U.S. Senate.”

Senator Kennedy called health care reform the cause of his life, first advocating for national health care in 1966. He made a surprise return to the Senate last summer to cast the decisive vote for the Democrats on a Medicare bill. In his memory, we must continue to do all we can to realize his goal of health care reform.

Read the full statement.

Earlier today on The Ed Schultz Show, President McEntee reflected on the legacy of Sen. Kennedy. Visit our tribute page to listen to the full segment.

This video, from the 2008 DNC Convention, celebrates the life and accomplishments of the Lion of the Senate:

Find more on AFSCME.org.

The AFL-CIO Now blog reflects on the passing of Joe Ames, AFSCME’s former secretary-treasurer.

Joseph L. Ames, 83, former AFSCME secretary-treasurer, died June 17, the union reported last week. Ames served in the post from 1968 to 1972. Prior to that, Ames was secretary-treasurer at AFSCME Local 410 in St. Louis and served as president of the Missouri AFL-CIO.

AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee praised Ames and said Ames was

a man whose vision of fairness and justice in the workplace extended beyond his own union to the everyday men and women who work hard to live the American dream. Joe helped build AFSCME into the union it is today, and we will always be grateful for his dedication.

Ames also served on AFSCME’s executive board, chaired the commission that rewrote AFSCME’s constitution (adopted in 1965) and helped establish the guidelines and precedents for the union’s Judicial Panel, which he also chaired. The panel decides challenges concerning the eligibility of nominees for office and other matters.

The Washington Post said Ames—who lost a leg in combat during World War II—became a “a civil rights activist” when he returned to St. Louis after the war. He also served one term in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Ames also was close friends with the “Labor’s Troubadour” the late Joe Glazer. He co-wrote several songs on Glazer’s 1984 album “Jelly Bean Blues.”

His survivors include his wife of 56 years, Lillian, and three children. Memorial donations may be made to The Southern Poverty Law Center, the Georgetown University School of Medicine or a charity of choice.

Read more about Ames at AFSCME.org here and here.