‘Let’s do the work that needs to be done.’

By CARL GREEN
Correspondent

Belleville, IL — Unionists at the annual awards banquet of the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council were urged to turn out for Democrats in the general election and told about efforts being made on workers’ behalf in the state Capital in a speech by one of Labor’s strongest proponents, Pat Devaney, secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

Devaney reported that the legislature had approved a $45 billion economic development package, the biggest in the state’s history, with Labor’s support.

“And guess what? The projects all are going to be manned by people from Organized Labor,” he said, drawing applause.

He noted that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said workers who go on strike should be fired — hardly a Labor-supporting stance.

Devaney replied, “The right to strike is fundamental, in our democracy, in our workplaces, and for our families.

“We can’t give that up, ever!” he said, drawing a big response from the crowd.

The annual event was held during Labor Day weekend, of which he noted. “This is our weekend, from the people who brought the workers the weekend, the 40-hour workweek and everything else.

“It’s really hard to pass legislation in Springfield,” Devaney added. “Literally thousands and thousands of bills get filed every year, and a small fraction of them pass, and it’s because of pro-Labor, pro-worker candidates like those here this evening. They’re just incredible.”

Devaney thanked state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) for his long record of strength and success in the legislature.

“He works his butt off, and we get a lot of legislation passed, with the help of our great legislators. I can’t thank him enough,” Devaney said.

THE PRITZKER EFFECT
Labor’s fortunes in Springfield have especially turned upward in the past five years since the election of Gov. JB Pritzker, including $46 billion in capital spending that has put thousands of people to work, Devaney said.

In his remarks, Hoffman noted that he is second in seniority among state representatives in Illinois, having first been elected in 1971 at the age of 27.

“It’s been the honor of my life, and I’m not quitting, so don’t think this is a farewell speech,” he said. “It’s been the honor of my life to represent the working men and women and members of Organized Labor.”

Hoffman told about visiting a school with young children recently. “I had a suit on, and I walked in, and one of the students said, ‘Wow, Joe Biden is here!’” The story drew a nice laugh from the hundreds of union members and supporters in attendance at Bel-Air Bowl.

YOUNG WORKERS WANT TO BE IN UNIONS
Devaney said that in the latest national polls, unions have a 71 percent favorable rating, and that in the United States, nine out of 10 young workers under 30 want to be in unions.

“They know that life is better in a union, with higher pay, access to insurance and better retirements,” he said.

He recounted the good experience he had at the Democratic National Convention.

“The energy at our convention,  and the inspiration from watching Gov. Pritzker come in and sign the the Workers Freedom of Speech bill that prevents employers from using captive audience meetings, because they know how popular we are, were very important to us. We left there more unified and inspired than I’ve seen from many other conventions.

“Every single speaker talked about policies to help working people,” he added. “Almost every speaker name-checked unions and union members as a pathway to the middle class.

“It hasn’t been that long ago when presidents and other elected officials on both sides of the aisle kind of shied away from the word ‘union.’ They weren’t sure if it was popular. Now, they know that life is better in a union, and talking about it and promoting it is the right thing to do for the American people.”

This new support for unions is an opportunity for the Labor Movement, Devaney said.

“We cannot let this moment pass us by. We need to leverage the popularity that we have as union members. We need to recommit ourselves to engaging over the next (few weeks) to make sure that the right people are elected.”

‘SUPER OPTIMISTIC’
Devaney was also impressed by Labor’s event at the Illinois State Fair. “Hundreds of unionists left the fair with the same type of inspiration,” he said.

“I am super optimistic about what’s going to happen. Everybody recommit to themselves to doing what is necessary for the time we have left.

“Looking around this room and seeing the energy, I know that that is going to happen. Please know that the Illinois AFL-CIO has your back. We’re shoulder-to-shoulder with you, and let’s do the work that needs to be done.”