John Paul Smith, Executive Assistant to AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the urgency of passing the Protect America's Workforce Act and the upcoming annual AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference.
Smith began by updating listeners on Redmond’s health as he recovers from an illness. Redmond, he said, was doing better and will soon return to work. Smith expressed gratitude for the well-wishes and support sent to Redmond during his recovery, emphasizing Redmond’s dedication to the labor movement even while recuperating.
Discussion then turned to the Protect America's Workforce Act, legislation designed to restore collective bargaining rights to over 1 million federal workers. Smith explained that the Trump Administration stripped the collective bargaining rights of federal workers, but passing this bill would reverse those policies. He pointed out the challenges in Congress, noting ongoing negotiations around the National Defense Authorization Act, but stressed that lawmakers backing the Protect America's Workforce Act are determined to push the bill forward, potentially forcing congressional leadership to bring it to a vote.
Smith then previewed the upcoming AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference, scheduled for January in Baltimore. Smith detailed the lineup, which features keynote speaker Roxanne Brown, President-elect of the Steelworkers, and other prominent civil and labor rights advocates. He noted the conference’s significant growth, with registration up 30 percent compared to last year and nearly 1,200 trade unionists expected to attend.
For more from Smith, listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast above.
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