October 28, 2003
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, Union Presidents, National, Consumer, Civil Rights, Religious, and Women’s Community Leaders Will Announce Actions to Support Striking Grocery Workers
Sweeney to be Joined by UFCW President Doug Dority, SEIU President Andrew Stern, IAM President Thomas Buffenbarger, NOW President Kim Gandy
Across the country, from Southern California to West Virginia, Missouri, and Ohio, almost 90,000 supermarket workers are on strike, fighting to save affordable health care for their families and all of America’s workers. Under the banner of “Hold the Line for America’s Health Care,” AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and UFCW President Doug Dority will be joined by other union leaders, as well as national leaders from consumer, civil rights, religious, and women’s groups to show their commitment and support for the striking workers. Several of the strikers will be also be available. Sweeney and the other labor leaders will announce a major initiative to support the striking workers, including nationwide financial support.
WHO:
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AFL-CIO President John Sweeney
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Douglas Dority, President, United Food and Commercial Workers, UFCW
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Andrew Stern, President, Service Employees International Union, SEIU
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Thomas Buffenbarger, President, International Association of Machinists, IAM
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Kim Gandy, President of National Organization for Women, NOW
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Leaders from religious groups, health policy, women’s, and community leaders
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Striking grocery workers from Southern California
WHAT: For the past two weeks, workers have held the line for America’s health care against managements’ proposed cuts that would make health insurance unaffordable and unattainable for grocery workers. Press conference in support of striking grocery workers. Slide presentation of the health care proposals at the heart of disputes. Announcement of AFL-CIO strike fund.
WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 2003, 1:00 PM EST
WHERE: AFL-CIO, President’s Room, 815 16th St. NW, Washington, DC.
(A call-in number will be available for out-of-town reporters. Call Sarah Massey at 202-637-5018.)