Yesterday, our union brothers and sisters approved one of our most bold and far-reaching plans to further expand diversity and ensure that all voices are heard within our union movement. 

The reality is the actual face of the labor movement has changed and will continue to do so with these new measures…this isn’t your father’s union movement anymore.   And our leadership should reflect those changes. At this convention, we elevated our efforts to a whole new level.  The difference is that we are now holding unions, our state and local bodies, and OURSELVES accountable for ensuring that our leadership is diverse. 

Our new redirection plan will 1) require that women and people of color are represented among convention delegates at least in proportion to their representation in the membership 2) fully integrate the AFL-CIO constituency groups into the state federation and central labor council programs and leadership 3)require that AFL-CIO leadership bodies at the national and local levels develop plans to achieve targeted levels of diversity by 2009 and 4) urge affiliated national unions to agree to diversity principles and report annually on the representation of women and people of color in their membership, staff and elected leadership.

AND to ensure diversity at the highest level of the AFL-CIO, we have established that:

o       Representatives of the six constituency groups will be added to the AFL-CIO’s General Board;

o       We will ensure and enhance gender and racial diversity on the Executive Council;

o       And the Executive Committee should also include representatives to ensure diversity by race and gender.

The union movement must embody our goal of equal welcome and equal opportunity for all --we know that we cannot build a better future for working families without the full strength brought by brothers and sisters of every description.

As the only organizations in our country dedicated exclusively to standing up for working people and their families, our union movement must lead the way for employers and government on openness, fairness and opportunity .

We cannot ask more of a broader society than we are willing and able to do ourselves.