President's Column - September 11th Anniversary

September 11th Anniversary

One year ago, today, all of us remember where we were when the Terrorist captured four airplanes and attacked American. We watched in horror as two planes hit the World Trade Towers and one other hit the Pentagon. While most of us could only watch in horror, in New York, hundreds of others ran for the Towers, they came by ambulance, pick-up trucks, fire trucks and running. Brave men and women headed to the holocaust in an attempt to save the thousands of people trapped in the burning and collapsing buildings. They ran up the stairs, clawing their way through thick smoke a fiery inferno and many lost their lives.

That dark day, one year ago, I lost 634 union brothers and sisters, for all of the rescue workers, police, firefighters and EMTs were all union members. Every rescue worker who ran for the Towers and the 634 who died in that attempt were from organized labor. Of that number 343 were unionized firefighters, 70 of who were through with their regular shifts and were technically off duty.

Hundreds of union construction workers left their paying jobs, ran to Ground Zero and immediately started the rescue and recovery work, working long 15 to 20 hours shifts for days. None of these union members asked who was going to pay or what were the benefits. The union contracts they all enjoyed never got in the way of the work that needed to be done.

So while today, we commemorate the 3000 American citizens that died on 9-11, I have a special place in my heart for the 634 sisters and brothers that were killed in the line of duty. Politicians praised them during the year and great oratory will happen all over the country today. Yet, isn't it ironical that in the Senate there is a heated debate as to whether federal employees of the newly created Department of Homeland Security should enjoy union rights, even 50,000 currently do prior to any transfer. The debates are going because the Administration believed union rights would get in the way of national security.

No one believed that of my 634 union sisters and brothers that gave their lives that fateful day one year ago. To suggest that now tarnishes their memory. I am sure they are in that "better place, singing "Solidarity forever with those other brave union members who died in struggles for human and union rights. And leading the group is that great union leader Mother Jones, who said, "Mourn the dead, but fight like hell for the living"

So I ask the Administration and the Congress - If you really want to preserve the memory of those brave first responders who gave their lives in service to their fellow man, don't give them phony praise, but let them know that you wish to preserve the right of workers to live in a country where union rights or for all… public or private sector.