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Dear Reader,
They say that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Maybe, at times, that’s true.
This is about what is going to happen in another city, however — the
home of the Pirates, Steeltown, USA, — the city of Pittsburgh.
Consider this an invitation to come with us to that city this September
to help launch something that will definitely not stay in Pittsburgh.
In fact, it just might be a shot heard round the world and the
beginning of something bigger and better than anything we have ever
seen in American politics.
The AFL-CIO will hold its quadrennial national convention in Steeltown
from Sept. 13 to 17.
Just another meeting, you ask? Not on your life.
The gathering comes on the heels of the historic and successful full
fledged entrance of a united labor movement into our national politics
and the resulting election of President Barack Obama.
The gathering in Pittsburgh comes while lawmakers in the nation’s
capital put the finishing touches on legislation that could end the
national shame of 50 million Americans living, in this 21st century,
without health insurance.
The gathering in Pittsburgh comes as Congress prepares to vote on the
most significant labor law reform since the Great Depression.
The gathering in Pittsburgh comes as labor and its allies confront the
task of clearing away the economic wreckage of a 30 year era of
ultra-right domination in our country.
The gathering in Pittsburgh comes as the entire world grapples with how
to beat swords into ploughshares and how to forge a future of growth,
jobs, and income for all.
The gathering in Pittsburgh comes while the world grapples with how to
save the planet itself from dangerous warming.
The gathering in Pittsburgh comes as this country we love enters an
unprecedented era of reform. The question we, as a people face, is
whether that reform will fizzle out or whether it will last for a very
long time and perhaps grow into something bigger and better.
The reforms of the 1930s lasted a long time because they were working
class led. In Pittsburgh we expect to literally see a massive labor-led
peoples’ movement catching its breath, energizing itself and mobilizing
for the struggles ahead.
Labor will be mapping plans to expand union membership to millions now
unorganized.
Success will mean a much more organized working class in America.
That success will guarantee that the reforms of this era will, indeed,
be enduring ones.
Through us you can be where all of this is happening.
The People’s Weekly World will be in Pittsburgh, covering developments
every step of the way.
We will give you the best coverage you can get because, as you have
read, we have the perspective others don’t. The People’s Weekly World,
unlike others, knows what to look for at a labor convention. We, like
the labor movement and its allies, know the people want to read about
what’s at stake for them.
We’re taking our responsibility so seriously that we plan to have a
full team on the ground to bring you developments as they happen. We
want to do our best because you deserve the best.
You can help us accomplish this by sending a contribution of whatever
you can afford. You can be confident that whatever you send will be
used to make the quality of our work that much better. You can read
about, listen to and watch the events in Pittsburgh at the PWW website
every day and you can read about them again when the paper comes out in
print.
We are excited about this and want to produce a product that you, our
readers, will be proud of and a product that helps the whole movement
move forward. Please help. Please come with us to Pittsburgh.
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