Maritime Trades ALF CIO
Search
Close this search box.

Sacco Opens Novelty Workers Convention With Call For Election Action

blog-stock-new

 

MTD President Michael Sacco poses between International Union of Allied, Novelty and Production Workers President Mark Spano (left) and Secretary-Treasurer Steve Torello after delivering the keynote address at the union’s convention.
MTD President Michael Sacco poses between International Union of Allied, Novelty and Production Workers President Mark Spano (left) and Secretary-Treasurer Steve Torello after delivering the keynote address at the union’s convention.

MTD President Michael Sacco kicked off the quinquennial convention of the International Union of Allied, Novelty and Production Workers by urging the delegates get and stay involved in the upcoming fall elections.

“We need to make sure our members know who really supports workers and get those people elected,” declared Sacco to the more than 125 delegates. “We don’t care if they are Republican, Democrat or independent – they must support workers and jobs!”

Sacco was the keynote speaker for the Novelty Workers, who were gathered in St. Petersburg Beach, FL. Members of the MTD-affiliated union produce Weber grills, Great Dane trailers and various other goods.

The MTD president reminded the delegates a lot of money will be spent during the upcoming election cycle to confuse workers and their families as to who will watch out for them once elected. He noted his union – the Seafarers – had endorsed Hillary Clinton because she better understood the issues before the SIU and the maritime industry than any of the other presidential candidates running from either party. But he added that his union readily supports candidates from both major parties running for the U.S. Senate and House.

While the unions may not come close to matching the dollars that will come from big business and other sources, “we still know how to get out the vote. That’s how we’re able to elect pro-worker candidates, and that’s the key to our resurgence. We’ve literally made the difference, time after time, in elections at the federal, state and local levels.”

Sacco pointed out several of the issues for which the Labor Movements is fighting: workers’ rights to join a union, overcoming income inequality, reigning in health care costs while providing coverage for all, infrastructure needs and improved education.

“We have to throw our support behind the political candidates who will stand with us not just between now and November, but for years beyond. And we must hold them accountable,” he advised the delegates.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Fill out the form below the get the latest updates

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share this post