“Workers Stand for America” Rally – Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 11AM
Attention: Philadelphia Area Union Brothers, Sister, Family Members and Supporters,
On Saturday, August 11th, 2012, the National AFL-CIO has chosen the City of Philadelphia, the birthplace of American Freedom, to conduct the largest and most important rally of union members and their families that we may ever see in our lifetime. The event is titled “Workers Stand for America” and will take place at Eakins Oval located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, directly across from the Philadelphia Art Museum, beginning at 11:00 AM.
The purpose of the “Workers Stand for America” rally is to call together every union, not only in our State of Pennsylvania, but from the surrounding states of New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. to send a unified message to all politicians, at every level of government, that ‘we are the electors’ and will no longer tolerate the type of partisan politics that has for the past several years, caused the economic crippling of our nation to linger without resolution while at the same time ignoring the financial problems of millions of middle class American citizens, who are losing their homes at the rate of over eight thousand (8,000) families per day due to mortgage defaults.
If this is not a good enough reason to stand up and rally together, then there will never be one! The “Workers Stand for America” rally is just too important to miss!
Therefore, each and every union member is urged to make plans to attend, along with any members of your family that wish to participate.
For Immediate Release
July 12, 2012
Washington, D.C. – At a press event, union leaders announced plans to launch a national campaign to refocus America’s national priorities on the needs of working men and women, demanding an economy
that works for all, not just those at the top.
“In many ways, what we are saying here today is not new,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka at the National Press Club news makers press conference July 12. “What is new is the energy we plan to put behind insisting that the power structure in America pay attention to the needs of the men and women whose labor drives this country.”
“Workers Stand for America” will feature a major rally on Aug. 11 in Philadelphia, bringing together working people – union and nonunion – in the run-up to the Democratic and Republican national conventions to urge elected officials to stand with working families in supporting a Second Bill of Rights promoting individual freedom and economic opportunity for all.
“Economic recovery is not reaching the vast majority of working men and women in America, and it is time to refocus the agenda on rebuilding economic opportunity for all,” said International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Edwin D Hill. “Our message to both political parties is to return to the basic values that created America’s best days.”
Emphasizing the nonpartisan nature of the event, Hill said, ” Republicans and Democrats need to hear what the people are saying and break through the gridlock and the attacks on the rights of workers at all levels of government.”
Inspired by President Franklin Roosevelt’s proposed 1944 economic Bill of Rights, rally participants will be encouraged to sign their names to America’s Second Bill of Rights, which will be presented to delegates at both nominating conventions.”
America’s Second Bill of Rights is a broad-based statement of what the American people need and deserve,” Trumka said. “If some of it sounds redundant, it is because we once took some of these rights for granted.”
More information on the Aug.11 rally as well as the Second Bill of Rights is available on www.WorkersStandforAmerica.com .
The Second Bill of Rights is also available for people to sign online.
“This is not a union bill of rights, ” Trumka said. “And our campaign and rally on Aug. 11 is not just for union members. As the largest body of organized working people in America, the labor movement is
leading the way, but we invite all who share our goals and values to sign on in support of America’s Second Bill of Rights. “
Who:
• Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
• Edwin D. Hill, President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
For more information, go to www.WorkersStandforAmerica.com . Follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
