AFL-CIO CONVENTION TO GET UNDER WAY IN L.A.

Byline: Jason Takenouchi Staff Writer

Thousands of unionists are expected to converge on Los Angeles this weekend for the 23rd biennial convention of the country's largest labor organization, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

The six-day event - mostly at the Los Angeles Convention Center - will include presentations on sweatshops, human rights and changes in the labor movement. Pre-convention events begin today, and the formal convention - with an estimated 700 delegates - will convene Monday.

The AFL-CIO, an umbrella group for 68 national and international unions, represents about 13 million workers. Delegates from member unions are slated to vote Wednesday on their endorsement for next year's presidential race, but AFL-CIO officials say they may delay that vote.

Speakers scheduled to speak at the event include Gov. Gray Davis, perennial presidential candidate Jesse Jackson and Juan Somavia, director-general of the International Labour Organization.

AFL-CIO spokesperson Deborah Dion said the organization chose Los Angeles because of its growing union activism.

``It's where some of the most aggressive new organizing is happening in the nation,'' Dion said. ``Organizing has been (AFL-CIO President John) Sweeney's top priority.''

Growing distress among workers at all wage levels is also fueling the union effort here, according to Jack Kyser, chief economist for the nonprofit Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.

``A lot of people may feel they're getting shortchanged,'' he said.

``When you talk to your peers, more and more people are saying they are stretched to the limit,'' Kyser said. ``When you have that type of situation, that opens the door'' to union membership.

The Los Angeles labor movement has used that opening.

More than 90,000 area workers have joined unions since Jan. 1, including 74,000 county home health care workers. Other union efforts include 1,700 teaching assistants at the University of California, Los Angeles; 6,100 aides in the Los Angeles Unified School District; and 800 doctors in the county health system.

Thanks to increased activism, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO now includes more than 350 union locals with about 800,000 members.

``We are turning it around,'' said Neal Sacharow, director of communications for the federation. ``People are looking more and more at unions as a way to get a bigger piece of the American pie.''

AT A GLANCE

WHO: The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations

WHAT: 23rd Biennial Convention

WHEN: Today through Wednesday

WHERE: Various downtown locations, including the Los Angeles Convention Center, the Bonaventure Hotel and the Biltmore Hotel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Most events are closed to the general public. Conference information is available at www.aflcio.org or by calling [phone] (today only).

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