Statement of Anna Burger on Meeting with Senator Barack Obama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2008

CONTACT: Greg Denier
Noreen Nielsen
202-721-0660

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Change to Win leaders met with Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, today to discuss the economic concerns and needs of America’s working families. The following is a statement from Change to Win chair Anna Burger regarding today’s economic meeting.

“America’s workers believe the American Dream is at risk and they want positive government action on critical economic issues – from jobs, to health care, to retirement security. For working families, the Dream is not about great wealth, it’s about a good job, affordable health care, and the opportunity for a better future.

“Over the past seven years of the Bush administration, wages have fallen, the number of uninsured has risen, and more and more good jobs are being shipped overseas. America’s workers want change.

“One, workers should have a free choice to form unions in their workplaces. Workers with union representation earn better wages and are more likely to have health care and pension benefits. The freedom to form unions is the foundation of the American Dream.

“Two, workers want government action to guarantee quality, affordable health care. We need to make comprehensive, affordable, high-quality health care available for all Americans. National health care reform will provide security for our families, and make our economy and employers more competitive.

“Three, America needs a new trade framework that promotes global prosperity for workers, as well as profits for corporations. Trade agreements should focus on raising living standards and improving working conditions for all workers rather than allowing multi-national employers to sink wages and strip workers of their rights.

“The Change to Win economic policy prescription would restore the American Dream, create good jobs, and give hope to the next generation. Barack Obama is the candidate of the American Dream. He has inspired working families to get active and involved in politics. Barack Obama is building a movement that not only will win in November, but will transform our country. The six million members of Change to Win unions are proud to be in the forefront of that movement. On the key economic issues, Barack Obama stands with us.”

Change to Win, a partnership of seven unions representing six million workers, endorsed Sen. Obama for president on February 21, 2008. As the largest worker organization to endorse any candidate in the primary process, Change to Win members and volunteers made the difference in critical contests across the country, knocking on millions of doors, making millions of phone calls, and mobilizing coworkers at worksites from coast to coast. Change to Win and its affiliated unions have developed an unprecedented program of member-to-member contact, direct mail and phone banks to mobilize millions of working family voters in swing states across America to help elect Barack Obama in November.

** Note: Media representatives interested in scheduling an interview to discuss Change to Win’s plan for restoring the American Dream for working families in the 2008 election should contact Noreen Nielsen at Noreen.nielsen@changetowin.org. **

This web page is paid for by the Change to Win Committee for the American Dream and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.