Liz Shuler, the first female leader of the AFL-CIO and nation’s top union official, celebrated the nationwide labor movement and NYSUT’s role in leading the way.
Shuler said she wanted to be here for three reasons: to see the historic moment of Melinda Person being elected president, to see Andy Pallotta and to thank him for his lifetime of leadership at NYSUT, and to be in community with all the delegates to express the labor movement’s gratitude to NYSUT.
The AFL-CIO president highlighted the rising popularity of labor unions nationwide, saying that the labor movement has the momentum and wind at our backs. She praised NYSUT’s nearly 700,000 members for setting a standard for the country and showing everyone what the future could look like.
“If you come after educators, you are coming after the entire labor movement! And you will not win! You will fail, because that is the power of this labor movement,” said Shuler.