At the highly anticipated IAM 41st Grand Lodge Convention held in New York City, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) delivered a riveting address to over 1,200 delegates and attendees. She championed the cause of the working class and called for a united front against corporate greed. Her message was clear and resonant: a united working class is the key to securing a better future for everyone.
Ocasio-Cortez recognized the labor movement’s efforts to bring equity and justice to working families and praised the IAM for its commitment and recent organizing achievements.
“[The IAM isn’t] just taking it on, you’re winning, and there’s a reason why this union is the AFL-CIO affiliate with the most organizing victories in the last five years,” said Ocasio-Cortez.
In her speech, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized, “This union understands the power of standing together and demanding what working people deserve. It believes that a united working class will win a better future for all of us, for this entire country.”
She underscored the broader positive implications of the IAM’s victories, stating, “To gain those victories is also to win victories for every American because a rising tide lifts all boats.”
“We also want to be clear about what we’re up against and how to fight back because we also know that a better future and higher wages and better benefits are not going to be handed down to us by a private equity group or a C-suite executive,” continued Ocasio-Cortez. “We know and we see every day how they try to muddy the waters and also try to confuse people about the value of our labor.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s inspirational call to action was a reminder of the collective power of workers when united.
She also expressed her support for the IAM’s campaign to unionize Delta Air Lines workers.“It’s also why I’m very proud to continue to stand with workers in this union, to organize our Delta workers at LaGuardia.”
Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s presence and words at the IAM Grand Lodge Convention have ignited a renewed spirit amongst delegates and attendees, further fueling the momentum for transformative change for working people across the nation.