Illinois AFL-CIO Delegates re-elect Carrigan, Drea

Political work marks Opening Day of Convention

 

ROSEMONT, IL – Delegates to the 40th Illinois AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention re-elected officers Michael T. Carrigan and Timothy Drea by acclamation at its biennial meeting in Rosemont Tuesday.

Carrigan was elected to his second term as President of the state’s largest labor organization. Drea was also elected to his second term as Secretary Treasurer.

“I’m humbled to serve the working families of Illinois,” Carrigan said. “We have many challenges ahead, but we have a great union state. We will meet those challenges head on. We are together and strong.”

The state federation represents nearly a million union members in Illinois.

The convention, attended by nearly 1,000 representatives of local unions from all areas of the state, focused on importance of voting. The Labor 2012 program has already made more than 200,000 contacts with union families by phone and at the door before Oct. 1

Endorsed congressional candidates Tammy Duckworth (8th District), Bill Foster (11th District) and Cheri Bustos (17th District) spoke to the delegates.  Brad Schneider (10th District) is scheduled to speak Thursday.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler also addressed the conference. Shuler discussed the AFL-CIO “Work Connects Us All” initiative celebrating and showing how each person’s work affects others.

The convention will continue until Thursday.