Congressman Keating Highlights the First Mass. AFL-CIO COPE Political Roundtable of 2012

On Friday January 20th, labor leaders and activists from all around Massachusetts joined Congressman Keating, newly elected Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steven Tolman and others to discuss the political agenda for 2012.

Mass. AFL-CIO Political Director Robert Bower began the roundtable by offering his thanks to everyone who helped former PFFM President Robert McCarthy in his campaign for the state senate seat formerly held by President Tolman. Although McCarthy was unsuccessful, he earned 23% of the vote in a tough four-way race against two sitting state representatives with high name recognition. Bower attributed McCarthy’s surprise finish to the “friends of labor who stepped up to the plate.” He reminded everyone to brace for a busy year and to ensure that each union be ready to organize and mobilize for Labor 2012 even more than we did for Brother McCarthy.

Tim Sullivan, Legislative and Communications Director for Mass. AFL-CIO, gave a legislative update. While Sullivan was pleased to report that the new state budget contained funding for collective bargaining, he voiced his disappointment in the rate freezes for unemployment insurance and the need for comprehensive unemployment insurance reform.

President Tolman gave an impassioned address to the roundtable, noting the significance of the 100 year anniversary of the “Bread and Roses” strike at the Lawrence Textile Mills and the need for labor leaders to honor their cause and commitment. He compared the strike to contemporary issues, such as the recent investigation into potential wage violations by the Copley Marriott hotel which was reported by the Boston Globe on January 20th.

Congressman Keating then spoke to the participants about the gridlock in Washington and the potential of Democrats regaining the majority in Congress. He proclaimed that a majority in the House is “within our grasp” and that “millions of jobs are sitting on the table right now because of the irresponsibility of House Republicans.” He also noted that “Republicans don’t want to create jobs, they are too focused on the President’s.” Although the Congressman was upbeat when talking about his chances at re-election and the Democrats re-taking the majority in the House he warned “The American dream itself is at stake…inaction would not only be immoral but unpatriotic.”

For photos of the roundtable click here.

The next COPE Political Roundtable will be on Friday February 17th, 2012. Please stay tuned for more details.