Officers of Metal Trades Councils from across the country met March 26-29, 2011 with the leadership of the Metal Trades Department in New Orleans, La. to set the departmental agenda for 2011. This years planning session was more significant due to the potential closure of Avondale Shipyard located in New Orleans.
The AFL-CIO along with the eleven affiliates at Avondale shipyard have banned together to form the “Save Our Shipyard” campaign which is in full swing and was a major topic at this years planning session. Council officers were updated on the Avondale fight by Keith Maddox and Nick Unger from the Strategic Campaigns Department of the AFL-CIO, Congressman Cedric Richmond of Louisiana’s 2nd District, and Merland Farria President of the New Orleans Metal Council.
Other items discussed included the consolidations of the Navy’s NAFAC/MIDLANT facilities on the east coast, The Department of Energy’s proposed consolidations of nuclear facilities, and the upcoming Metal Trades Department Convention scheduled for the first week in November 2011.
For More information on Avondale Shipyard and the "Save Our Shipyard Campaign" go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jirvROfN5w
