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Robb Removal First Step Toward Giving Workers a Fair Shot

Berry Craig
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Kudos to our new president for immediately sacking Peter Robb. We weren't surprised. Up and down the campaign trail, Joe Biden made it plain that he'd be in our corner. A union member was front-and-center in his inaugural ceremony.  Georgia Fire Captain Andrea Hall led the pledge of allegiance--spoken and in American Sign Language. She is president of International Association of Firefighters Local 3920. Jennifer Lopez sang Woody Guthrie's immortal "This Land is Your Land." "When it comes to unions and music, Woody Guthrie is often the first thought. Guthrie (1912-1967) wrote hundreds of political, folk and children’s songs in response to the conditions he saw as he travelled the nation throughout the Depression," says Teamsters Joint Council 10 New England's website"As a travelling troubadour, Guthrie often lent talents to union organizing drives. He penned the songs 'Union Maid' and 'You’ve Got to Join the Union.' He even led the way in writing the first Trump protest song 'Old Man Trump'. It was a song castigating Fred Trump, father of Donald Trump and his wicked ways as Guthrie’s landlord. [Italics mine.'This Land is Your Land' is probably his most recognizable song. It was written in February 1940, after hearing 'God Bless America'. Legend has it that after repeatedly hearing Kate Smith’s rendition on the radio, Guthrie was spurred to write his own song honoring the spirit of America. 'We can’t just bless America, we have to change it,' Guthrie said..." 

Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the removal of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Peter Robb:

In his first hours in office, President Joe Biden has taken immediate action to secure the rights and protect the well-being of America’s working families by removing Peter Robb as NLRB general counsel. A union-busting lawyer by trade, Robb mounted an unrelenting attack for more than three years on workers’ right to organize and engage in collective bargaining. His actions sought to stymie the tens of millions of workers who say they would vote to join a union today and violated the stated purpose of the National Labor Relations Act—to encourage collective bargaining. Robb’s removal is the first step toward giving workers a fair shot again, and we look forward to building on this victory by securing a worker-friendly NLRB and passing the PRO Act so all working people have the freedom to form a union.   

For the latest, follow @RichardTrumka and @AFLCIO on Twitter and check out our blog.

Statement online here: https://aflcio.org/press/releases/robb-removal-first-step-toward-giving-workers-fair-shot