March with Labor in World Pride!
On Sunday, June 8, Pride at Work and the AFL-CIO hosted March with Labor in World Pride. A little (or a lot) of rain couldn’t stop us from joining together to stand up against the attacks on our trans, non-binary, and intersex siblings. Across race, place, and genders, we all deserve to have the freedom to shine bright as our authentic selves, and to work and live with safety, respect, and dignity.
Before we set out to march, we gathered in the AFL-CIO to hear from an inspiring group of leaders, including three international presidents:
We first heard an energizing speech from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who leads the federation of 63 national and international unions, representing over 15 million union members. She is the first woman to be elected as Secretary-Treasurer and as President of the AFL-CIO. “No matter who you love and how you identify - we are stronger together,” Liz shared on Sunday.
Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, joined us remotely. She was the first out of the closet national union president and leads the 1.8 million-member AFT, dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy.
Stuart Appelbaum, the President of the Retail Wholesale Department Store Union and Executive Vice President of the United Food and Commercial Workers, reminded us “you cannot be for justice for some if you are not for justice for all.”
We also heard from rank-and-file members from across unions:
The SEIU Lavender Caucus Co-Presidents Jared Reece and Nicole Crist shared why the caucus is so important and detailed the horror of SEIU California president David Huerta’s detainment in Los Angeles.
Malik Burnett, Assistant Manager of Dance Programming at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and proud member of the Kennedy Center United Arts Workers, provided updates on the Kennedy Center unionization fight.
Ellery Grimm, a busser and food runner at St. Anselm, shared background into the UNITE HERE boycott called for STARR and Knightsbridge restaurants in D.C.
Cassie Pritchard, a Starbucks employee and member of the Starbucks Workers United, closed us out with insight into the unionization efforts at Starbucks locations across the country, especially in her home city of Los Angeles.
We then set out to march to the National Mall, passing by the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. We ended at the World Pride events at the end of the National Mall and joined in the festivities.
It was a great day for Pride at Work, our members and our allies. Solidarity!
