September 16, 2009
Pennsylvania Retirees Congratulate Pennsylvania Native Richard Trumka on his Election as President of the AFL-CIO
PENNSYLVANIA ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS
319 Market Street, 3rd Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 231-2866 www.pennretiredamericans.org
For Immediate Release Contact: Adam Swope (202) 341-7821
September 16th, 2009 aswope@retiredamericans.org
Pennsylvania Retirees Congratulate Pennsylvania Native Richard Trumka on his Election as President of the AFL-CIO
Retirees Hope Trumka’s Leadership Can Help Bring About Real Health Care Reform
Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans President, Jean Friday, released the following statement regarding the AFL-CIO elections at their Convention on September 16th, 2009:
“It was only fitting that the AFL-CIO gathered here in Pittsburgh to elect a coal miner from Nemacolin, PA to be the labor movement’s next leader. Richard Trumka, the former International President of the United Mine Workers and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, was elected AFL-CIO President by a unanimous vote Wednesday. He joins Liz Schuler, Secretary-Treasurer and Arlene Holt Baker, Executive Vice President, as the AFL-CIO’s leadership team.”
“The labor movement is moving into a critical time. After victories at the ballot box by endorsed candidates over the past two cycles, we face critical fights to enact the priorities of working families as well as working class retirees. Our most important struggle, for health care reform that controls costs, improves Medicare and curtails heinous insurance company practices, will require President Trumka to take labor’s organizing strength and advocacy activities to the next level. His record of success as an organizer, a labor leader, a labor attorney and a tireless advocate for all working families gives retirees great confidence that Rich Trumka is the leader that President Obama needs to help him get it done.”
“Pennsylvania Retirees from Greene County and all over our Commonwealth are proud that one of our own will lead the AFL-CIO. We send President Trumka our sincerest congratulations, wish him the best of luck, and look forward to working with him, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Bill George and the rest of our friends in the labor movement to advocate for policies that improve the lives of working families and retirees.”
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The Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing 300,000 senior activists and retired workers in Pennsylvania and has over 130 affiliated organizations throughout the state. It is a state affiliate of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a national grassroots organization representing 3 million retirees.