By the PA. AFL-CIO

The 54th annual Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Community Services Institute kicked off on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South. Workshops and seminars continue through Saturday, as participants learn strategies for building community partnerships, planning community actions, and growing the labor movement while promoting the role of organized labor in their communities.

The opening evening included a keynote address by Community Services Chairman and AFSCME District Council 13 Executive Director Dave Fillman.

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Community Services Director Carl Dillinger said that the attendance for this year’s conference is impressive and continues the growth that we have seen in recent years. “I’m especially encouraged to see higher participation by young activists and union members, among the 26 first-time participants that we have this year” Dillinger said.

One primary focus of this conference has been organizing and growing the labor movement. A well-received general session on Thursday was dedicated to this topic, and was led by a panel that was moderated by Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Snyder and included Rick Bloomingdale (President, PA AFL-CIO), Jack Shea (Allegheny CLC), John DeFazio (USW), Joe Molinero (Teamsters), Dave Vinski (Southwestern PA ALF), Bill Cagney and Keith Thurner (Operating Engineers), Gabe Kramer (SEIU), Nicole McCandless (UNITE-HERE), Patrick Young (USW/FBP), and Robin Sowards (Professor at Duquesne University).

Participants also attended rotating workshops on immigration and engaging young workers, and worked on planning for this year’s week of action in September. Other workshops and seminars covered public policy, communications, and building community alliances. The conference wraps up tomorrow with a general session on the Affordable Care Act, and a Graduation Luncheon with Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale.

Go To: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=2335