Huffington Post: Randi Weingarten: Renewing America's Labor Movement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randi-weingarten/renewing-americas-labor-m_b_6495962.html

Randi Weingarten Become a fan
President, American Federation of Teachers

Posted: 01/18/2015 9:14 am EST Updated: 01/18/2015 10:59 am EST

Across the country, people are clamoring to be heard. They want a voice.

These are people who work hard but never see their wages keep up. After a lifetime of work, they don't have a pension or savings for a secure retirement. They rack up debt so they and their children can get a higher education, which is more necessary now than ever before. People are searching for a way to transform an economic system that benefits the few over the many. They are searching for fairness, opportunity, justice and real change.

I believe that search can and should lead to the labor movement. At this week's Albert Shanker Institute conference, The American Labor Movement at a Crossroads: New Thinking, New Organizing, New Strategies, Labor Secretary Tom Perez reminded us: "The growth of the middle class was linked to a labor movement that was strong."

But we must re-envision and renew our labor movement to face the challenges of the 21st century, to be the voice that today's working people want and the robust engine our economy needs. Because, as we face a new global economy -- one powered on technology and knowledge, where information travels at lightning speed -- we can no longer operate as if we're in a factory. As circumstances change, our nation changes, our world changes -- we too must change.

FULL story at link. Follow Randi Weingarten on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rweingarten

[RiverLover]

1. We ARE searching for fairness, opportunity, justice and real change!

We need a new labor movement in the country. A strong one, with Democrats backing it all the way.

Great article. Thanks for posting!