In his first visit to Orange County since his election as AFL-CIO president, Richard Trumka held a workers' round table to discuss the AFL-CIO's five steps to put America back to work. As part of the tour, President Trumka visited Orange County to meet workers and union leaders to hear first hand their struggle to survive in today's jobless economy.
The AFL-CIO is pushing on Congress and the Obama administration to enact the five point plan to create jobs.
1. Extend the lifeline for jobless workers.
2. Rebuild America's schools, roads, and energy systems.
3. Increase aid to state and local governments to maintain vital services.
4. Put people to work doing work that needs to be done.
5. Put TARP funds to work for Main Street.
Rose Nguyen, a member of the United Domestic Workers of America who provides in home health services in Orange County said " The state budget and priorities are making it impossible for me and my co-workers to provide the needed services to the aged, blind, or disabled Californians who depend on our services to survive day to day. We need an economy that works for all of us not only Wall Street."
Trumka's visit also shows the growth of the labor movement in Orange County. Tefere Gebre, Executive Director of the Orange County Labor Federation stated "Orange County is no longer a 'drive by' county for progressives. The Orange County Movement is leading the change to make Orange County work for all of us. This visit is an indication of how Orange County is viewed by the national labor movement."
