Congresswoman Linda Sánchez Trains AFL-CIO Organizers at National Summit
December 9, 2006
Washington - Congresswoman Linda Sánchez participated today in a training workshop at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Organizing Summit. The two-day summit in Washington, which provided training to 700 labor leaders, is part of the AFL-CIO’s celebration of International Human Rights Day.
Congresswoman Sánchez, a current member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 441 and a co-founder of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus, was the only Member of Congress to address the summit in this morning’s panel on linking union organizing to political mobilization.
“The labor movement demonstrated in our recent Congressional elections that they understand the beauty of democracy,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “We know that people who unite behind a shared set of beliefs can improve their own lives by turning their individual votes into a powerful political force.”
Congresswoman Sánchez has been a vocal champion for the labor movement and its advocacy for American working families and those across the world. Earlier this week, she joined AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and leading labor leaders from Iraq to honor the efforts, achievements and sacrifices of the growing labor movement in that country.
“Iraqi leaders like Abdullah Muhsin and the late Hadi Saleh remind us that you can not separate economic justice for all workers from other fundamental human rights,” added Congresswoman Sánchez.
Congresswoman Sánchez recently returned from a trip to Colombia, where she spoke with local legislators and civil society leaders on the potential negative effects of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed by the Bush Administration last month. The FTA must be approved by legislatures in both countries.
“Trade is important and necessary for U.S. workers,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “After a decade of catastrophic trade policy under the failed NAFTA model, we need to scrap NAFTA clones and create a trade policy that benefits working families here at home and across the world.”
Congresswoman Sánchez, a current member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 441 and a co-founder of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus, was the only Member of Congress to address the summit in this morning’s panel on linking union organizing to political mobilization.
“The labor movement demonstrated in our recent Congressional elections that they understand the beauty of democracy,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “We know that people who unite behind a shared set of beliefs can improve their own lives by turning their individual votes into a powerful political force.”
Congresswoman Sánchez has been a vocal champion for the labor movement and its advocacy for American working families and those across the world. Earlier this week, she joined AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and leading labor leaders from Iraq to honor the efforts, achievements and sacrifices of the growing labor movement in that country.
“Iraqi leaders like Abdullah Muhsin and the late Hadi Saleh remind us that you can not separate economic justice for all workers from other fundamental human rights,” added Congresswoman Sánchez.
Congresswoman Sánchez recently returned from a trip to Colombia, where she spoke with local legislators and civil society leaders on the potential negative effects of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed by the Bush Administration last month. The FTA must be approved by legislatures in both countries.
“Trade is important and necessary for U.S. workers,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “After a decade of catastrophic trade policy under the failed NAFTA model, we need to scrap NAFTA clones and create a trade policy that benefits working families here at home and across the world.”