Saunders Insprires Members To Carry On Organizing, Mobilizing And Fighting In Farewell Address
AFSCME President Lee Saunders rallied union members to continue organizing, mobilizing and fighting to build power for working people and protect public services.
Delegates to AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago showed their enthusiastic support and love for Saunders, who was giving his farewell keynote address.
Saunders blasted billionaires and their political allies who are hoarding power and wealth at the expense of working people and retirees. And he encouraged AFSCME members to mobilize like never before to take power back during November’s mid-term elections.
Saunders, the son of Ohio public service workers who’s retiring after nearly 50 years with AFSCME at the end of this Convention, called his 14-year tenure as AFSCME president “the privilege of a lifetime.”
“Leadership changes every so often, but there’s something that never changes — the fierce, proud members of the Mean Green Machine,” Saunders said. “Never forget that you have the power. All of you collectively. Every steward and activist. Everyone who stands up to the boss. Who asks a co-worker to join the fight. Who simply gets up in the morning and answers the call to strengthen our communities, by doing the heroic and selfless work of public service. That is who you are. That is what you do. Every single day. We are AFSCME!”