AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka On Making Mines Worldwide Safer

http://www.laborradio.org/node/13278


Submitted by Doug Cunningham on April 8, 2010 - 4:09pm
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionSend to friendSend to friend

Wednesday night AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka spoke at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy, Jr. Forum about the anger of working people. Jesse Russell reports.

After his speech the former coal miner was asked about the recent mine tragedies in both the United States and China and if U.S. mining unions have ever tried to form alliances with Chinese mining unions. Trumka explained that U.S. unions have always worked to build bridges with unions in other countries, but China is unique because their unions are “really an adjunct of the government, so they’re not free trade unions.”

: That doesn’t mean that the miners don’t help and we’ve offered to send help to do what we could. Sending our training people over there, sending our inspectors over there, and doing everything we can to help.

Trumka called the Chinese mines “death traps” and no one should have to work in those situations.

: I only wish we could do more because I don’t care what country you come from because there is a kindred spirit when you do the same employment.

For more on his talk listen to the Workers Independent News internet radio broadcast at laborradio.org