Celebrating Alabama's Working Families

Statement

On Labor Day, we pause to celebrate the countless contributions of the working women and men of Alabama.

Alabamians are a hard-working people. Together we have built strong communities across this state, but in this age of economic recession and outsourcing, the future of state is at a crossroads. We must work together to create jobs here in Alabama and restore the hope of the American Dream.

For years, the women and men of organized labor have struggled for safe, good-paying jobs here in Alabama and across this country. Today we watch as our progress slips backwards as our state and nation loses jobs, plants close and hours for remaining workers are cut.

Right here in the 7th District, we have seen more than our share of loss. And that's why I am running for Congress - to go to Washington and fight to bring jobs back to Alabama. In Washington, I will bring that Alabama ethic of hard work to create jobs and support our sisters and brothers in organized labor. I'm proud to have the endorsement of the Alabama AFL-CIO in this campaign. In the past few weeks, I've had the privilege to speak out for the rights of Alabama's hard-working families at the AFL-CIO Convention, at the Jobs and Justice rally in Montgomery, the Laborers' Union Local 559 picnic in Birmingham, and to welcome 30 new Teach for America participants to serve as reinforcements for our hard-working and dedicated teachers in the Black Belt. And our campaign has been honored to celebrate the hard-working women and men of Alabama organized labor at the AFL-CIO Annual Awards Dinner, the West Alabama Labor Day Parade and the AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic at Tannehill State Park.

But all our progress and hard-work hangs in the balance. The 2010 election is critical to what the future of our country. Democrats in Congress and in the Alabama legislature are working hard to rebuild our economy. We need to maintain our Democratic majority in Congress - starting right here in Alabama's 7th, 2nd and 5th Districts - and in Montgomery. I am ready to join my sisters and brothers in organized labor in working to elect pro-labor Democrats like Ron Sparks for Governor and the rest of our ticket here in Alabama, and across this country. But I need your continued support to bring the fight for jobs, hope and opportunity to Washington, and to help support continued Democratic majorities in Washington and Montgomery. Please make a generous contribution of $25, $50 or $100 today to our campaign at www.sewellforcongress.com and help me fight on behalf of our hard-working families this Labor Day.

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