the 26th constitutional convention of the AFL-CIO Sept. 13-17 at the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center. Over 2,000 participants are expected at the
convention, where delegates will elect a successor to president John
Sweeney, who has headed the organization since 1995.
Jack Shea, president of the Allegheny County Labor Council, says he
expects a turnout “in the neighborhood of 1,000 delegates, 1,000
guests, and 500-600 others.” Delegates will elect a new president to
replace Sweeney, who is retiring this year. Current AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer and former
United Mine Workers head Rich Trumka is the only candidate to formally
announce his candidacy. Discussion of two major issues, health care
reform and the proposed Employee Free Choice Act , are expected to be
high on the participants’ agenda.
Two other labor conclaves precede the gathering: the
AFL-CIO State and Local Conference on Sept. 12 and the
AFL-CIOs Diversity Summit on
Sept. 13.
Source: Jack Shea, Allegheney County Labor Council
Writer: Chris O’Toole