News Headlines: September 29, 2021

On August 5, 2021, Richard Trumka, President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, known simply as the AFL"CIO, unexpectedly passed away. He was 72 years old. Today on Sojourner Truth, we honor the life and legacy of Richard Trumka. We bring you exclusive audio from his keynote speech at the 2013 AFL-CIO conference in Los Angeles, California. We also speak with Jerry Acosta, a former regional director and senior national representative for the Utility Workers Union of America. In March of 1997, Jerry was appointed by AFL-CIO National President John J. Sweeney as the Arizona State Field Director for the Department of Field Mobilization. By 2005, he was appointed as Regional Director for the Western Region of the AFL-CIO, during which he worked alongside Richard Trumka for several years.