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 Securing the Middle Class, November Election Top Agenda
Securing the middle class was the theme of the California Labor Federation's 27th Biennial Convention July 22-23 in Oakland. Delegates discussed the right to organize, universal health care, education, a fair economy and protecting the environment. They passed resolutions in support of US Labor Against the War, strengthening global activism for economic justice and educating Californians about John McCain's real record, as well as others.
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums urged the labor movement to continue to advocate for ending the war in Iraq and to pressure the state and federal governments to support cities. He said that mayors were on the front lines and resources wasted waging war should be redirected to education, health care and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told delegates that his city – along with organized labor – was leading the way forward with efforts to expand health care coverage and universal preschool, enact paid sick leave and establish a higher living wage than any other major U.S. city.
California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski noted that 50 years ago the labor movement defeated an anti-union right-to-work ballot measure by organizing union members and reaching out to non-union voters. He said the Labor Federation would work this year to mobilize two million union voters and bring one million more voters to labor's side. He pointed out that, "One million more votes in 2003 would have stopped the recall [of Gov. Gray Davis] in 2004, Prop 72 would have won and we'd have employer-paid health care. One million more union-friendly voters will enable us to elect a pro-worker governor and legislature and Barack Obama as president."
 Cal Fed President Connie Leyva said that unions had won many organizing victories since 2006. Among building trades unions, Electrical Workers Local 11 in LA County added over 500 members among LA County electrical construction contractors, Local 551 unionized 50 electrical workers in Del Norte County, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104 added 10 members with Acura Mechanical, and Operating Engineers Local 3 organized a dozen new members with Cox and Cox.
The Labor Federation also outlined its legislative priorities, including fighting misclassification of employees as independent contractors, cracking down on the underground economy, strengthening social insurance programs like unemployment and workers' compensation, and promoting economic security by indexing the minimum wage to inflation and resisting attempts to privatize retirement plans.
Dozens of delegates also joined a march and rally in support of a "Clean Trucks" program at the Port of Oakland July 22 (see related story).
For more information on the California Labor Federation's electoral and organizing campaigns, and for campaign materials, check www.calaborfed.org.
 State Propositions
The Labor Federation voted to support Prop. 1, 5, and 12; oppose Props. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11; and took a neutral position on Props 2
and 3.
Prop. 1, the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, would authorize $9.95 billion in bonds for construction of a new high-speed rail line, prioritizing the route from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Prop. 5 deals with Nonviolent Offenders, Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation and would increase programs for drug treatment and decrease penalties for simple possession of marijuana. Prop 12, the Veteran's Bond Act of 2008, provides $900 million in funding for farm and home aid for veterans. The Labor Federation urges a YES vote on 1, 5, and 12.
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