Labor & Employment Law

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders Meets with Kentucky Union Leaders

By admin

Nate Byer, AFL-CIO communications director in Kentucky, sends us this report.

As part of his congressional August recess, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was in Kentucky yesterday to witness firsthand how residents of the Bluegrass State have risen to the challenging economic realities that face the region. During his first-ever trip to the Commonwealth, Sanders, who was joined by Rep. Jim Yarmuth (D-KY), stopped in at the UAW Local 862 union hall to hold an informal roundtable with union leaders and interested members.

Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londigran briefed Sanders on how the state’s implementation of federal stimulus funds and where union leaders see the greatest potential for job growth in the state. Yarmuth contributed valuable insight into the political challenges friends of labor face across the state and made it clear that he believes the progressive community will be geared up for the upcoming November elections. Says Londrigran.

It was gratifying to hear from a U.S. Senator willing to listen to the concerns of Kentucky’s hard-working men and women. In contrast, Kentucky’s senior senator, Mitch McConnell (R), has turned a deaf ear to workers and, along with Senate candidate Rand Paul (R), has  shown he cares more about the interests of the wealthy elite and corporate CEOs.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Sanders was particularly interested to learn about the current state of Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure. While “shovel-ready” projects funded by the federal stimulus package provided local Kentucky workers with short-term jobs, all participants at the roundtable agreed that much more needs to be done. Specifically, participants communicated how additional funding to restore crumbling roads and aging bridges and develop modern rail systems would help drive Kentucky’s economy forward?such support would contribute not only safety and well-being of Kentucky residents, but would also create thousands of local jobs that could not be shipped overseas.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on August 31, 2010 (boomark / email).