PRESS RELEASE from Change to Win
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 21, 2008
CONTACT: Noreen Nielsen or Greg Denier
RESTORING THE AMERICAN
DREAM FOR WORKERS AT 2008 DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL CONVENTION
Change to Win Leaders
Will Raise Workers Voices’ By Focusing On Issues
Critical to Working Families
DENVER, CO. – More than 330 Change to Win delegates, labor leaders and
members will gather in Denver next week for the 2008 Democratic
National Convention to make sure the interests and concerns of working
families are represented, and to promote the Working America Agenda for
change. The issues most critical to working Americans today are
reforming our government to make it work for working people again; the
right of workers to join a union without fear of employer interference,
intimidation, or coercion; affordable health care; a secure retirement;
and, building a new green infrastructure to create good jobs and a
sustainable economy for the next generation.
“This election is about change – changing our nation, our workplace,
and our government so it works for working people once again,” said
Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win. “The seven unions of Change to Win
will spend tens of millions of dollars and commit thousands of
volunteer hours to contact members at their worksites and in their
communities every day between now and November 4th to make sure Barack
Obama is elected president and pro-worker majorities are put in the
United States Congress. Change to Win is dedicated to building a new
American Dream for working families and providing a better future for
the next generation.”
Change to Win unions have been working tirelessly to bring workers’
voices and the issues most important to them – good jobs, affordable
health care, economic fairness, the freedom to join a union without
fear or intimidation – to the forefront of the election agenda. Since
endorsing Barack Obama in February 2008, Change to Win members and
volunteers have knocked on millions of doors, made millions of phone
calls, and conducted member-to-member outreach at worksites across the
country. Earlier this week, Change to Win launched the “McCain Truth
Squad” bus tour: 9 workers traveling across 10 states to spread the
truth about what a John McCain presidency would mean for working
Americans and the entire nation, to raise workers’ voices at the
Democratic National Convention and across America.
CHANGE TO WIN’S DEMOCRACTIC NATIONAL CONVENTION PROGRAM
Overview:
-- 330 Change to Win delegates, leaders and members will attend the
Democratic National Convention.
-- Change to Win chair Anna Burger will use her prime-time Tuesday
night Convention address to call for “Justice for All.”
-- The Change to Win Truth Squad will bring workers stories from across
the country to Denver to expose the impact of McCain’s anti-worker
agenda on real workers.
-- Local United Food and Commercial Worker members are hand-making
nearly 100,000 signs for use at the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field.
-- Over 300 Colorado Change to Win members will commit hundreds of
volunteer hours to the Convention.
SCHEDULE OF CHANGE TO WIN EVENTS (All Times Local)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2008
Change to Win Truth Squad Bus Tour Rally >
The Change to Win Truth Squad will hold a rally exposing John
McCain’s agenda to put the interests of Big Oil before the interests of
working families.
When: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: 15th and Welton Streets, (next to the Hyatt hotel)
Change to Win, AFL-CIO and NEA Labor Unity Rally
Change to Win unions join other unions to welcome members from
throughout the country at a reception to celebrate the opening of the
Convention.
When: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Colorado Convention Center - Four Seasons Ballroom
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008
PANEL DISCUSSION: Creating a New American Dream for Workers
INVITATION ONLY
In association with SEIU, the Creative Coalition will host a
morning reception, featuring SEIU members and socially conscious
celebrities, to discuss the Employee Free Choice Act and the key role
it plays in rebuilding the American economy.
When: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Where: Tambien Restaurant, 250 Steele Street
Change to Win American Dream Forum
Change to Win, Lake Research Partners and the Economic Policy Institute
host a forum on impact of the American Dream on America’s workers,
including the release of a new poll on what Barack Obama needs to do to
capture the working American vote in November; an analysis on the
economic trends threatening the Dream; and a discussion of Change to
Win’s action agenda and 2008 political program.
When: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Colorado Convention Center, Room 502
Symposium on Transportation Infrastructure
Symposium on Transportation Infrastructure with former Rep. Dick
Gephardt (D-Mo.), Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.), LIUNA General President
Terence O’Sullivan, Policy Link President Angela Glover Blackwell,
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.),
sponsored by the Democratic National Convention Committee.
When: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Space Theatre, 13th & Curtis Streets
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2008
Special Film Sneak Preview and Celebration: Battle in Seattle
Actress Charlize Theron and writer director Stuart Townsend will
join Teamsters general president James Hoffa and United Steelworkers
president Leo Gerard to preview Battle in Seattle, a new film about the
protests at the Seattle WTO Ministerial
When: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Zengo’s Restaurant
1610 Little Raven Street
Riverfront Park
Change to Win Chair Anna Burger Addresses Democratic National Convention
When: Between 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Pepsi Center
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2008
SEIU, HCAN, NEA and Progressive Allies Host a Rally to Fix Health Care
Now!
Join health care advocates, working families, and celebrities like
Chuck D, Death Cab for Cutie, and others in rallying for change. With
live music, a health clinic, art exhibitions and more.
When: 2:00 p.m.
Where: Sunken Gardens Park, Corner of W 8th Avenue and Speer Boulevard
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