Obama, Kucinich, Richardson salute Rev. Jackson’s dedication to workers

AFL-CIO’s Sweeney, SEIU’s Rivera discuss labor’s pains

ROSEMONT, IL (June 4, 2007)—Commending Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition for keeping the faith with American workers, several of the nation’s most powerful labor and political leaders today offered their programs and platforms to help working people at the 36th Annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., through June 6.

“I would like to thank my friend, Rev. Jackson, for his great leadership in bringing dignity and integrity to all working Americans,” said John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO.

Pointing to the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which removes some barriers to labor organizing, Sweeney called for narrowing the growing gap between rich and poor.

“Now we must knock down the doors for working families to succeed,” he said. “The AFL-CIO is ready. … We must work harder and smarter. When we work together, fight together, stand together—we win together.”

“We have a states-rights president leading our government without a vision for a more perfect union,” Rev. Jackson said. “When you take up the mantle of leadership... you sacrifice to make it happen. There is a need for bold leadership and intervention.”

Hundreds attending today’s Labor Breakfast heard proposals from three Democratic presidential candidates: U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM).

Hailing Rev. Jackson’s work on behalf of Hurricane Katrina’s Gulf coast victims, Kucinich discussed his agenda for closing the wealth gap, stemming the rising tide of mortgage foreclosures, and ending the Iraq war. “Stop the hypocrisy and stand up for the American people,” Kucinich demanded to applause. “Bring back the troops.”

Dubbing himself the “tortoise” in this presidential campaign, Richardson said his platform stresses the renewed Voting Rights Act and the immigration bill now before Congress.

“America is a land of openness and freedom,” Richardson declared, calling for fair immigration legislation and an end to proposals to wall off hundreds of miles along the Mexico-United States border.

Obama attacked chronic under-funding of schools, inequitable daycare for after-school and summer needs, poor wages for teachers and the need for professional and developmental training.

“The No Child Left Behind Act must make a serious effort to fund early childhood education,” Obama said, noting the burdens facing New Orleans’s school system 20 months after of Hurricane Katrina.

Obama also hit at disparities in health care and rising infant mortality rates in some U.S. states such as Mississippi. “The U.S. spends more money on healthcare than any other nation,” he said. “It is time to stop talking about U.S. health care, and get it done.”

Prominent labor leader Dennis Rivera, international vice president of SEIU Local 1199, addressed the labor and immigration crises facing the United States under its present leadership. “This nation has thrown away and squandered America’s good will and moral leadership,” Rivera said. “We are losing [ground on] health care, losing pensions and security.”

The breakfast was moderated by Warner Saunders, news anchor with NBC-5. Also in attendance were Judge Greg Mathis; UFCW international president Joseph T. Hansen; Bill Biggerstaff, president of Unite Here local 450; Gerald McEntee, AFSCME international president; Bob Walston, president of Teamsters Local 743; Nat LaCour, secretary-treasurer, American Federation of Teachers; Kevin Williams, vice president of the UFCW, and Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women.

Biggerstaff was presented with the Freedom Fighter Award, as was Henry Tamarin, president of UNITE HERE, Local 1.

Mathis also spoke out against inequities in America, declaring: “We don’t want charity or social service. We need social justice.”

Source: Rainbow PUSH Coalition

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