Labor Leader Blasts Big Business, Republicans; Says Unions Gaining White Collar Workers.

TACOMA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 1999--

The current economic boom pads the pockets of big business and corporate CEOs, while average workers still fear losing health care benefits and their jobs, according to one the nation's top labor leaders.

That stark reality is fueling resurgence in the labor movement, said William (Bill) Lucy, International Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) during a speech to more than 400 delegates Saturday at the biannual convention of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees. The state union represents city and county workers in 140 municipalities.

"Today, the average CEO earns 450 times the salary of the average worker," Lucy said. "These are the same people who announce record corporate profits and then lay off workers.

"These people believe an employer has the right to do anything they choose with their employees," Lucy said. "They layoff workers, ship jobs oversees and cut employee benefits. That's wrong."

The presidential election is a fight over money and power, Lucy said. He urged delegates to listen carefully to what candidates say. He pointed out that in Washington State the unemployment rate has dropped from 12 percent under the Reagan-Bush administrations to about 4.8 percent today.

"Reagan slept through eight years and Bush stumbled through four," Lucy said. "Do we want to return to that when under the Clinton-Gore administration we've begun to pay down the national debt?"

Lucy said the state union is a model of the new labor movement. Under president and executive director Chris Dugovich, the state affiliate of AFSCME doubled in size, from 7,000 to 15,000 members, in just 10 years. The work helped Dugovich win election to international vice president. In that capacity he represents 60,000 workers in six states.

"I congratulate you on your work," Lucy said. "This union is an example of the resurgence in the labor movement. Today, we are organizing more pink collar and white collar workers and not losing sight of the fact there are a vast number of blue collar workers who can benefit from union representation."

The convention opened Friday at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Tacoma. It concludes with a speech by King County Executive Ron Sims on Sunday.