Hundreds of union members gathered at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 613 hall in Mechanicsville, Atlanta, last week as part of the AFL-CIO’s Better in a Union bus tour.
The event aimed to amplify calls for union strength and solidarity among workers in the face of billionaires who, according to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, have “rigged the game” against the working class.
Shuler delivered a passionate speech highlighting the struggles of working people in a challenging economic climate.
“We all are living on the edge as working people, and more acutely than ever right now,” she stated, emphasizing that workers are laboring longer hours and receiving diminishing returns for their efforts.
The rally featured nearly a dozen local union representatives from various organizations, including the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, National Nurses United, the Union of Southern Service Workers, and the American Federation of Government Employees.
Shuler’s remarks particularly targeted wealthy individuals such as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who she accused of ignoring the plight of workers while enjoying their extravagant lifestyles.
She cited Bezos’s ventures into space as a stark contrast to the working conditions faced by Amazon employees, saying, “Jeff Bezos … is sending his wife into outer space, while the workers at his Amazon factory down the road here in Atlanta are throwing out their backs, peeing in bottles because they’re so overworked and underpaid.”
Shuler condemned the political support billionaires receive, referencing tax breaks that allow them to accumulate wealth while ordinary workers struggle.
Teamsters Local 728 Vice President Chuck Stiles also expressed his frustrations during the rally, using emotionally charged language to characterize the actions of the ultra-wealthy.
He labeled Bill Gates a “f–ing hypocrite” for his financial interest in waste management, drawing attention to ongoing strikes by Teamsters workers seeking better pay and working conditions.
Stiles’s fiery address resonated with the crowd, as he noted, “They’re shaking down everybody in this room!” and rallied support with a resolute, “The hell with those billionaire bastards!”
The overarching theme of the rally was a call for working families to reclaim power from the wealthy elite.
“Let’s take this country back for working families. To hell with them with their gated communities — we’re coming for them one day,” Stiles declared, igniting applause and cheers from attendees.
Despite the overwhelming support for unions showcased at the event, the speech by Shuler acknowledged the challenges posed by President Donald Trump’s administration, which has been broadly viewed as pro-corporate.
Shuler specifically pointed to Trump’s nominations to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), expressing concerns over the potential impact of anti-union appointees Scott Mayer and James Murphy.
“If we don’t have a traffic cop that can actually put the needs of working people first, then the system doesn’t work like it should,” she reflected on the significance of the NLRB’s role in mediating labor disputes.
Nevertheless, Shuler remained confident that the determination of the working class could overcome the adversities posed by the current political climate.
“It’s going to be, obviously, more challenging in this environment, but working people are rising up in their own ways, regardless,” she asserted, noting that history shows labor movements have persevered despite obstacles.
As the rally concluded, the collective energy and resolve of the attendees underscored a growing movement among American workers to organize and fight for their rights in the face of overwhelming economic inequality.
image source from：atlantaciviccircle
