Thank you, Casey, for your kind introduction—and for your leadership of System Council U-19.  

Let me congratulate your president, Buck [Stewart Burkhalter] on his retirement. Buck, I wish you the best—and thank you for your years of service and for being a reliable partner with the national AFL-CIO. It's not easy being a labor leader in a state like Alabama, and we are grateful for your dedication and hard work.  

And Alabama's labor movement has proved you know how to pull together in tough times. You really showed the meaning of solidarity when the tornadoes hit in April. It was an inspiration to all of us to see the Steelworkers collecting money and opening their union hall. Electrical Workers cooking and delivering food. Mineworkers transporting food and supplies. Communications Workers staffing phone lines. Teachers passing out sunscreen and bug repellant, and hundreds of building trades volunteers showing up with back hoes and chain saws -- and I'm sure I'm leaving someone out here -- but you set the standard in the community, especially in times of crisis.  

That's what this labor movement can do when we're together. And it's awesome! This is the kind of unity it's going to take to beat back state-level attacks on worker's rights we are seeing all across the country, and to win the nationwide fight for investments in creating good jobs.  

It also shows our communities what unions are all about. That's the kind of effort that really connects our labor movement to the people outside our ranks—and it's not just here in the South that a lot of people don't even know the labor movement exists.  

I've been working a lot with young people, and trying to get them engaged and excited about the labor movement, and let me tell you, we have a lot of work to do to educate and bring this next generation into leadership in the union movement.  Not to mention the public.  As our numbers have shrunk, the relationships have become more distant – it used to be that everyone knew someone in a union.  Now, that's not the case – and there are a lot of misperceptions out there about who we are and what we do.  Bottom line is:  If our labor movement is going to survive – make that thrive – we have got to focus on reaching out beyond our membership and show our communities why unions are relevant to their lives.  

We've done a lot of research on this—and everyone in this room knows this first hand, and it's hard to acknowledge sometimes, but we've learned that most of the public is unfamiliar with us, or only has misinformation about unions. One of the harshest stereotypes unions are branded with is that we belong to the past. That we're unwilling to change, past our prime, meant for another era – that we aren't needed in today's modern workplace. That's not all -- what else? You've heard them -- that we're lazy, that we are bad for business, and forcing companies to ship jobs overseas.  

We know that's not true, but, with our shrinking density, many people today have no first-hand experience with unions. They have no clue what unions do for working people, for families, for communities, for our country.  

That's why we're working on an effort to re-introduce unions to the public. It's what we call "repositioning," or redefining how the public sees us—and it's key to us being able to win the public debate, and more importantly, grow.  

Part of repositioning is simply telling our story—stories like what Alabama's unions did after the storms, but also just letting people know the benefits of what unions do every day and spotlighting the work of our members. We have so many great examples, and it's really unfortunate that the only time we seem to get public attention is when we're in some kind of confrontation—like a strike or political battle. Of course we are always going to be out there fighting for our members. But, does that have to be the only thing we are known for?  

The public rarely hears union members talking about the difference a new contract makes for their children, or what paid sick leave and good health coverage mean to a parent. They don't hear about our amazing training programs. They don't hear about those apprenticeships putting local young people on the road to middle-class jobs. They don't hear about our charitable work. They never hear about the cooperative efforts that we take on with employers like Alabama Power, and partners and allies that benefit the greater good.  

Repositioning unions probably sounds like common sense—but we are looking at ways to take this to the next level—and to create a brand, so that when people hear the word "union," they think of themselves, they think of strong communities and a better way of life for all workers. This is going to be a long-term effort and it's going to take all of us to make it happen.  

So we need to show the good that we do every day. Lift up those positive stories.  But we have to also make sure we look in the mirror and face down those old stereotypes about us, by changing our behavior—by being more transparent, encouraging innovation and quality work, showing that we can bring solutions to the table and opening up to bring innovative young people into our unions and into our leadership.  

I just got back from the AFL-CIO's Next Up Young Workers Summit in Minneapolis—which was three days of amazing energy and inspiration. Eight-hundred young union members and activists came together to talk about the effect this economy has had on their generation—and instead of just sitting back, they are doing something about it—mobilizing actions; educating their peers; taking on leadership roles in their communities—and speaking out.  

There was so much happening at the summit all at once -- between the plenary speakers, the workshops, breakout sessions, caucuses, a march for good jobs, a Verizon Action, and texting and tweeting and Facebook posts. There was more multitasking than I have ever seen at a conference in my life!  It was exhausting!  

And the AFL-CIO—our big institution so many people think is old-fashioned and slow to move—well, we heard them. One example: The summit delegates were inspired and energized by the Occupy Wall Street movement that was building then in New York. At that point in early October, the labor movement hadn't taken a position, so they decided to draft a statement of support that came together organically from the floor, and they passed it overwhelmingly on the final day of the summit. Their action contributed to the momentum that led to the AFL-CIO's statement of support for the Occupy Wall Street movement.  

It's not just young workers we're opening our doors to in new ways. We're looking hard at the future of work, and how unions will need to rise to the new challenges it will present. We know that work is changing – people are working in their homes behind computers – and the traditional workplaces we have represented for years aren't always the norm anymore. Take taxi cab drivers.  

I'm happy to report that last week, the National Taxi Workers Alliance became the newest AFL-CIO union. It started with a group of New York City cab drivers who once had the rights and benefits employed people are due -- they were employees, working for a cab company. But, then what happened?  They were declared "independent contractors"—and there went the labor protections, the benefits, the health care coverage.  

So they self-organized and decided to do something about it – and it's working!  They began acting collectively to have a voice in the decisions coming down from the taxicab commission, instead of just accepting changes to their work rules without recourse.  Strength in numbers has meant that the commission is now recognizing them and works with them on proposals before they are implemented. Their example is spreading to other locations, and now they have their charter with the national AFL-CIO as an organizing committee.  

We've also created partnerships with worker centers, the guestworkers alliance and domestic workers, and we're standing with carwash workers in Los Angeles struggling to win union representation, safe jobs and respect at work.  

And sisters and brothers, as union density shrinks, as the attacks on unions and collective bargaining grow, if we want our labor movement and our middle class to survive, we must expand our reach. That means embracing the broadest range of partners and allies who share our values, including workers who haven't traditionally been part of unions -- the millions of unemployed workers who need our help making their voices heard.

And yes, immigrant workers.

I know immigration is a difficult subject here in Alabama and across the South. It's difficult all over America. And it would be easy for me to avoid the topic altogether, especially as an outsider coming in from DC – believe me, I know how that usually goes over.  

But you can't come to Alabama and not acknowledge what's happening – but, this is a tough conversation that needs to happen, and there's no question we're big enough to recognize, that even where we have differences of opinion, what connects us is larger and stronger than what divides us.  

Again, please don't think I'm parachuting in here to preach to you – that's not why I'm here. But I do want to share the perspective of the leadership of the AFL-CIO and our affiliate unions at the national level.  

Unless you're Native American—every single one of us belongs to a family that came to this country from somewhere else. Some of our ancestors made a choice, bought tickets, packed their belongings and came in search of a better life. Some came out of economic desperation, facing a life of poverty and oppression in their homelands.  Some had no choice and no belongings and were brought here against their will. But together, they built the greatest nation on earth.  

Not so long ago, our unions fought against racial discrimination because we knew that if a company was willing to pay one man a nickel more than another man, based on the color of his skin, neither was earning enough. Left alone, those five pennies held down both black workers and white workers.   

Today, we know we're getting held down, but it isn't a nickel that's got us. It's this notion that some work and the workers that do it have less value.     

Today, we know an employer can replace trouble-makers with workers who have no rights, no citizenship. We know he can pay that nickel less and get away with it because workers who live and work in the shadows, outside our labor laws, can't complain.  

We know that when the bosses can abuse one worker, any of us might be next on the list. How long ago was it that you first heard, "An injury to one is an injury to all," and knew it was the truth?  

Good people can and do have different and strongly held views on the immigration issue. But I don't see a way to justify a state law that scares children out of school. At the national level—which is where the immigration debate and immigration law belong—the AFL-CIO and our affiliates will reject piece meal state solutions, and instead, work for comprehensive immigration reform, because our current immigration system is broken, and is a blueprint for employer manipulation and abuse.  And both immigrant and U.S.-born workers are suffering the consequences.  

Fairness, justice and equality – these are the pillars that unite us – and as we navigate through what we all agree are difficult waters, we must remain focused on the foundational principles that make labor strong.  

In the labor movement, it's time for us to look deeply into our core values, at the solidarity that has brought us this far, and to ask ourselves who we are, and who we will be.  

Will we accept the politics of division, and join those who blame the uninsured for the health care crisis, teachers for state budget problems, the foreclosed for the housing crisis, or immigrants and jobless workers for the jobs crisis?  

Or will we live by the words we say often enough: We Are One?   

While we understand the frustration that motivates passage of immigration laws like those in Arizona and Alabama, we have to look at the big picture.  Anxiety and fear are everywhere in America today.  Working families, and even those in the upper middle class, see how fragile their status is.  They know that this economy spares no one.  And when we look around for someone to blame, it's easy to point the finger at the wrong person or group. It's happened so many times in our history, that it's time we learned.  

The real root of the problem is greed at the top.  The top one percent in America have had their way for too long, enabled by their cronies in Congress – It's gotten to the point where even the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street – as different culturally as it's possible to be – have some common ground!  

They're both fed up with corporate greed and want to restore a sense of opportunity in America.  To be sure, they have different ideas of how to make that happen, but the fact that they acknowledge the same root cause is a breakthrough!  Now, if the Tea Party could just get their heads around the fact that their obsession with the deficit plays into the hands of the people they're mad at, maybe we could get somewhere on creating jobs!  

With the stakes so high for working families, we need the strength of all of us, everyone bound by the common bond of work. We need that in our workplaces, and we also need it in politics—because we need every voter now and in the future to demand better treatment for working families than we're getting from politicians now.  For too long, we've let cultural issues divide us, and it's time we stopped falling into that trap.  Let's put the spotlight on the real problems facing America, and those who are truly causing them.  

In this political era of Tea Party extremists and deficit hysteria, we're just up against too much to be divided.   The labor movement has a tremendous responsibility—we are the only people who are here for the sole purpose of improving the lives of people who work.  

And today what working people need above all else is jobs.

But politics in America is upside down.

Instead of making job creation their Number One priority, politicians in too many states and many in Congress are obsessively focused on stopping investments in the future, hacking the budget, and trying to convince us that America is too broke to afford teachers, retirement and a middle class.

Thankfully, President Obama is focusing on jobs and talking about jobs—It's been great to see him getting feisty out there!  And although Senate Republicans blocked his American Jobs Act from even getting a vote, we're going to keep pushing for the pieces of it that will put America back to work—like investing in fixing our crumbling roads and schools, runways and ports, water and sewer systems. And it's time for millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share of taxes to get this country working again.

I hope every one of you will take part in the America Wants to Work campaign. We'll be holding congressional feet to the fire all across the country, hosting tours of bridges and roads that desperately need repair in communities that desperately need jobs. Whenever a senator or a representative votes against jobs—we'll make sure every voter knows about it. We are going to be everywhere, including virtually, all over the internet using technology to mobilize.

Are you on our jobs team? I just got back from our young workers summit, and everyone was texting constantly, so I'm going to ask you to do the same.  Literally, if you can take out your phone and text JOBS to 235246. Did you catch that? One more time: text JOBS to 235246. You'll get messages about the campaign for good jobs and you'll hear when you can help get good jobs created here in America. Can we count on you to get the word out?  

We're going to mobilize members and allies outside the labor movement – together as one, because:  

When we mobilize people to contact their members of Congress, we can make sure that jobless workers, and not just union members, get unemployment aid; that rich CEOs and profitable companies pay their fair share of taxes; that all of our children have a real shot at attending college; and all of us, and the generations after us, will one day be able to retire with dignity.  

That's the union movement we need the public to know about.  

Now, I know we've all got a lot on our plates. You've got big challenges and big opportunities ahead.  

Keep at it. Keep showing the kind of solidarity and strength we saw after the storms.  

Keep building the Alabama labor movement.  

Keep stirring it up. Thank you for all you do and remember: We. Are. One. !!!