Editor's note: In the following interview AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka talks about what should be Obama's highest priority: creating jobs.
BILL MOYERS: You no doubt noticed that president Obama had something on his mind in that state of the union speech Wednesday night.
FOOTAGE OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S SPEECH: And we're on track to add another one and a half million jobs...Jobs...Jobs...Jobs...Job creation...New jobs...Job market...New jobs...Create jobs right here in the United States of America.
BILL MOYERS: That's right, jobs. Twenty-nine times he mentioned jobs. And well he might. In 43 states last month the number of people out of work was higher than a month earlier. This month, one million people will run out of unemployment compensation. Voters in Massachusetts had jobs on their mind, too - and sent Washington a message saying, "Pay attention!"
My next guest has been saying the same thing for months now and often directly to the president. He thinks the message finally broke through.
Richard Trumka is the head of the AFL-CIO, representing eleven million members and 57 national and international unions. He became its president less than six months ago, after serving 15 years as the AFL's secretary-treasurer.
The son and grandson of coal miners, he made his way through college and law school working as they did -- blasting, drilling and hauling coal from the dangerous depths of the Pennsylvania coal fields.
He climbed his way up the ranks of the United Mine Workers of America at a time when that union was still rocked by violence and corruption. Leading a reform ticket, at age 33, he became the Mine Workers' youngest president. The AFL-CIO leadership marked him as a comer.
He's still out there with the workers, even getting himself arrested with more than a hundred union members just a couple of weeks ago, demanding a fair contract for San Francisco hotel workers.
Americans Need Jobs - Does Obama Finally Get It?
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Bill Moyers and Richard Trumka: Americans Need Jobs -- Does Obama Finally Get It?
Richard Trumka, head of the AFL-CIO and Bill Moyers discuss the drastic steps Obama must take to quell the frustration and anger over joblessness.
By Bill Moyers
Alter Net, February 1, 2010
Straight to the Source
