U.S. Sen. and presidential candidate Barack Obama, D-Ill.—speaking at the HEART/AFSCME Council 31 on March 3—told 1,000 people at the Chicago labor rally that the Senate would pass the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill making it easier for workers to start unions. However, opponents have vowed to stop the measure. The act passed through the House of Representatives on March 1.
Others who appeared at the rally included AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Chicago. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 sponsored the event.
