When the AFL-CIO's 50th anniversary Convention convenes in Chicago July 25–28, the more than 900 delegates from around the country will make important decisions about how the AFL-CIO can best lead the workers' movement. The Convention, which will focus on strategies for building good jobs and a voice for working families, caps an eight-month debate on the future of the union movement. In addition to deciding organizing and political strategies, the delegates will determine changes in the structure and governance of the AFL-CIO. On July 25, Convention delegates will consider resolutions on diversity in the union movement, good jobs, public health and retirement programs and the Dominican Republic–Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The following day will be devoted to decision making about organizing, political mobilization and strengthening state and local labor movements, while on July 27, the focus will be the global and U.S. economies, along with nominations for AFL-CIO officers. Convention speakers will include prominent national leaders including Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) (by video), Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Peter King, (R-N.Y.) (by video), the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Julian Bond and John Edwards. Building Power for Working Families, a pre-Convention conference July 23–24, will address diversity in the union movement, organizing, strengthening state and local labor movements and bringing justice to the global economy.
For up-to-date coverage of the Convention, be sure to visit www.unionvoice.org/campaign/convention2005, where you can also sign up for Convention e-mail updates.