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DAY FOUR

Ann Widger, Deputy Director Office of External Affairs, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

Deputy Director Office of External Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Ann Widger addressed the convention, focusing her discussion on the recent passage of the Affordable Care Act.

“Thanks to all of you in the BCTGM for all the hard work you did for passage of this historic health care legislation. It may not have everything we all wanted – but is an excellent first step,” Widger told delegates.

Widger explained the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23. The law puts into place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will hold insurance companies more accountable and will lower health care costs, guarantee more health care choices, and enhance the quality of health care for all Americans.

Widger concluded her address to the convention by encouraging delegates to check the Health & Human Service’s special web page, www.healthcare.gov, regularly for additional details of the Act.

Jack Marco, Chairman of the Marco Consulting Group

Jack Marco, Chairman of the Marco Consulting group, spoke to the delegation about the economic crash of 2008 and its aftermath. Using a Power Point presentation to help illustrate his points, Marco began by discussing the collapse of the U.S. housing market and how the flow of money has halted.

He explained that in the first half of 2008 overall lending slowed and was frozen in risky areas. In the second half of 2008, Marco discussed the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and how that caused the freezing of lending across the board in prime mortgages, corporate bonds, and interbank lending.

“Imagine a world where people can’t get mortgages; people can’t get car or student loans; Companies can’t raise funds for new factories or new products; companies have to stash more cash to cover payroll or operating costs; and, banks don’t want to lend to each other,” Marco recalled.

Click here to download Jack Marco's Power Point Presentation

 

Allison Beck, FMCS Deputy Director

Allison Beck, the Deputy Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), served as the general counsel of the IAM prior to taking her post in 2010. She detailed her 30 years of labor experience and explained how that experience enhanced her current position at the FMCS.

“I am passionate about collective bargaining and about encouraging real relationships between honest companies who want to share their success with their workers. We know that committed workers can help make these companies a success,” Beck told delegates.

Click here to download Allison Beck's Power Point Presentation

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DAY FIVE

Dina Titus, Congresswoman, state of Nevada

U.S. Representative Dina Titus (D-Nevada) began her address by telling delegates that it is an exciting time to be in Congress, calling her job “fast and furious.” The Congresswoman noted, “I would not be here if not for organized labor. So thank you for the good work you do,” she said.

She informed delegates that in May she toured the Hostess bakery in Henderson, Nevada with BCTGM International Representative Marco Mendoza and Local 37 President Danny Polanco. “I learned all there is to know when it comes to the production of bread. I saw the machines, the ovens and most importantly, I met the people who make the bread. I will never look at a slice of bread the same,” said Titus.

She noted the importance of labor law reform and told delegates that she is a proud co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Titus informed delegaes that there are several important worker safety bills that are being considered by Congress. Specifically, Titus noted the July 30 passage of legislation to extend whistleblower protections to workers engaged in oil and gas exploration, drilling, production, or cleanup on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Titus concluded her address to delegates with the famous quote by Mother Jones, “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to download the Post-Convention Issue of the BCTGM NEWS

**All photography is available to view and purchase online through Hank deLespinasse Studios, the official photographer of the 2010 Convention.  The photo site is: www.bctgm2010conv.com.

SPEAKERS address the delegation...

 

DAY ONE

Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO

Focusing in on the day’s theme, Uniting to Win Legislative and Political Change, Trumka detailed labor’s efforts and battles in the political arena.

“Two years ago, working Americans had the courage to elect a president whose very victory gave new life to our nation’s pledge to be ‘one nation, with liberty and justice for all.’ And over the last 18 months, President Obama has continued to make history.”

 

Danny Thompson, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Nevada AFL-CIO

Danny Thompson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Nevada AFL-CIO, addressed the convention and reminded delegates of the importance of supporting worker-friendly political candidates. “Stand up for what you believe. Stand up for politicians who will stand up for you,” said Thompson.

 

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DAY TWO

Arlene Holt-Baker, Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO

Arlene Holt-Baker, the Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO, discussed the vital importance of staying politically active leading up to the November elections.

“In just a little more than three months, Americans will vote on whether to continue our difficult but dramatic progress under President Obama, or back to the job-destroying, wage-cutting, home-foreclosing, union-busting policies of George W. Bush.

 

Ron Oswald, General Secretary of the IUF

Ron Oswald, the General Secretary of the IUF, addressed the convention. The IUF is a global federation of more than 360 food, drink, agriculture, tobacco and hospitality unions in 125 countries around the world.

Reflecting on the diversity of the IUF membership, Oswald noted that the values and purpose of all the unions remain the same around the globe: to build a better life for our families.

“Beyond that basic purpose, our members are also engaged in a fight to ensure our workplaces, communities and societies are built on democracy, respect and decent work. In too many societies around the world, new generations grow up and simply don’t know that if they have a decent life and decent standards of living.

 

Larry Mishel, President of the Economic Policy Institute

Larry Mishel, head of the Economic Policy Institute addressed the delegation in the afternoon session. Mishel began his speech by outlining some of the economic problems facing working families. However, he noted that there was a bright side: “it is in our power to change this course, because these are man-made problems”.

Mishel explained how the stimulus package helped avoid what could have been an even worse economic disaster. He then used the analogy of a burning building to describe how the stimulus package was working but how certain interests are blocking its effectiveness and ability to be even more effective.

“Imagine a 10 story apartment building that is up for sale. President Obama buys the building when five stories are on fire. By the time he takes possession of the building, all ten stories are on fire. So, he mobilizes all the firefighters he has at his disposal to fight the fire. Against great odds, he and the firefighters succeed in putting out the fire on five different stories. This is an accomplishment. Yet five stories remain burning so President Obama tries to rally more firefighters and resources to battle the remaining blaze. But certain individuals block his efforts and say he shouldn’t spend more resources. These same individuals then blame Obama for starting the fire in the first place. These individuals don’t want others to remember that it was these individuals who were the ones that started the fire in the first place."

 

Paul Lemmon, Assistant to the President, AFL-CIO

Paul Lemmon, Assistant to the AFL-CIO President Trumka, gave a rousing speech to the delegation to end the afternoon session.

“There is no other segment of America that fights social justice like labor does.” But, added Lemmon, it was imperative for organized labor to continue its organizing efforts because there was a direct link between union density and voter turnout. “For every 1% drop in union density, there is a quarter percent drop in voter turnout. Which means you are all an essential element to ensuring democracy in America,” he said.

Click here to download Paul Lemmon's Power Point Presentation