This summer has been an eventful and exciting one for the TWU as we have all been preparing for the 23rd Constitutional Convention, which is also a celebration of our 75th Anniversary. During my preparations I have closely considered the nation’s recent political changes and what they mean for the TWU.


The Convention comes at a vital time for our nation. For the first time in U.S. history we have an African-American president, and for the first time in 15 years we have a Democratic majority in Congress. The political atmosphere in Washington D. C. is ripe to make long awaited and much-needed change for working people. However, the recent changes do not mean that greedy special interest groups and corporations have lost all power in Washington, and a Democratic majority does not mean that Republicans are going to give in without a fight.


The TWU is not going to stop its fight either. While we support Obama and his efforts to reform health care, we are fighting to ensure the taxation of employee-based benefits are not included in the plan. TWU, along with the rest of the Labor Movement, is making it clear that the Administration may lose our support on health care if they do not provide a public health insurance option. I urge you to read more about our efforts on this front in the other columns and the health care article in this issue.


While health care stole the headlines all summer, and still does, it became too easy to forget the recent positive changes we have seen in Washington. The historic confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and the certification of Al Franken as a Minnesota Senator were two important victories for working families. 


I am captivated by the achievements of Justice Sotomayor, who rose from humble beginnings to the position she holds today. Sotomayor was the first Supreme Court Justice nominated by a Democratic president in 15 years and I feel that President Obama could not have found a more qualified and deserving person to nominate. Sotomayor has consistently interpreted our labor laws in the manner in which they were intended and has always enforced the rights of all workers to be free of discrimination at work and to receive fair wages and health benefits.


Senator Franken is also a friend of labor and has always been an active voice for working families. On June 30, the Minnesota Supreme Court certified Franken as the winner of the state’s long-running Senate race after it rejected a legal challenge from his Republican opponent Norm Coleman. Franken’s win gives Labor a promising chance at passing the Employee Free Choice Act, but is not a guarantee as other Democratic Senators remain uncommitted.


In politics nothing is guaranteed. That is why we need to stick together as a union to fight for our issues and our members and to celebrate our victories together. I look forward to planning our future together at the Convention, to celebrate our rich history and to reunite with members and their families.