America's broad, deep Middle Class, indeed, the American Dream was formed in the 20-25 years after the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935 which codified the right of workers in America to freely form unions and bargain collectively.

Between 1935 and 1955 12 million workers formed unions and more than one in three workers in America became union members.

These workers literally bargained their way into the Middle Class and bargained into existence the American Middle Class and the American Dream.

We can restore that freedom to form unions and bargain collectively again, thereby increasing consumer demand to lift our economy and restore economic vitality and to allow workers to rebuild their power in the marketplace so critical to restoring the power average Americans need to get America back to work.

Labor unions, people of faith, civic and community leaders, academics, and other Americans of good will have been working hard since about 2002 to restore these very important freedoms. And until these freedoms are restored millions of workers will continue to be denied entry to the Middle Class.

Already 12 states have reformed their laws governing public employee labor relations to give state workers and others the freedom to form unions and bargain collectively--including majority sign-up.

Very productive work is underway to change the rules in the Railway Labor Act to restore essential freedoms to workers in America's transportation industry to form unions and bargain collectively.

Most importantly, we are very close to getting the support necessary to pass the Employee Free Choice Act which would simplify and streamline organizing, effectively punish employers who violate workers rights with $20,000 civil fines and triple damage back pay for firing workers, and force the Financial Elite to bargain in good faith with unions by allowing unions to seek arbitration for recalcitrant employers.

The legislation has the support of President Obama and the US House of Representatives which passed it 241-185 in March of 2007. The Employee Free Choice Act has the support of a majority of the US Senate. But under the current rules in the Senate you need not a majority -- 50 votes-- but a super-majority of 60 votes to move legislation to where a vote to pass it can even take place.

We are very close to the 60 votes we need. It we aren't able to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, we will work with President Obama and Vice President Biden and their appointees to the National Labor Relations Board to change the rules governing forming a union through administrative action to once again allow workers in America access to one of the most basic freedoms in a democracy--the freedom of speech and assembly and association so that workers can build the collective power to challenge the Financial Elite and Get America Back to Work.

Then, imagine, if forming a union were a simple, straightforward act, if the boss were powerless to stop you and if you could bargain for a fairer share of the wealth you create with your work and a real slice of the productivity you generate. And if together we could help one in five workers or one in three workers form unions where they work, then, together, unified we could have the people power to counteract the money power of the Financial Elite.

We are very grateful for the $5 million grant we just received from the Department of Labor for green energy training.  This reflects the commitment of Secretary Hilda Solis and the Obama Administration to the labor movement, to new and renewable and sustainable sources of energy, and green energy as a source of good, union jobs that will help lift our economy out of the ditch the previous administration left us in.

 You will see your union work on green energy development more and more.  A key part of my vision for the future is our involvement in green energy.  Our country needs new sources of renewable energy to cut our dependence on fossil fuel.  Our economy needs a new industry that is highly unionized to put more money into the pockets and budgets of workers.  And our union must keep up with new developments in our industry if we are to maintain or grow union density in utilities and good wages and benefits.

Read press release: U.S. Department of Labor Awards UWUA $5 Million for Training Programs

Utility Workers President Michael Langford, right, and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the climate change summit in Copenhagen.

The Utility Workers Union was part of the Labor Delegation going to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

President Mike Langford, Secretary-Treasurer Gary Ruffner and Regulatory Affairs Director Carl Wood are in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. We were asked to send top officers who could make decisions for the Union for a possible global environmental agreement.

Standing in line in the freezing cold for five hours we were able to get passes for the Bella Center in Copenhagen and meet with the Secretary of Energy Steven Chu during this historic Climate Change Conference of United Nations world leaders. Bob Baugh, Director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Department spoke first of the goals of Labor on behalf of all AFL-CIO affiliates and concerns in the global environment. After Bob spoke he introduced UWUA President Langford who thanked Secretary Chu for meeting with us and spoke of the Utility Workers interests and goals in the global economy where we advocate:

A Message from UWUA President Michael Langford

These are tumultuous and pivotal times. Reforming our nation’s broken healthcare system, defending a worker’s right to join a union without fear or intimidation, and developing the energy systems of the future that will promote growth while protecting our environment are all issues now being tackled by our representatives in Washington. The decisions they make and the legislation they pass in these critical areas will determine our future and that of our children and grandchildren

I have written extensively about the UWUA’s longstanding support for universal healthcare. We are closer to securing that now than ever before. We must each do whatever we can to ensure national healthcare legislation is passed, that will put us on the road toward making medical care available and affordable to everyone. Similarly, I have written about the need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Although it has been eclipsed by the debate over healthcare legislation, protecting the basic right to join a union by passing EFCA remains a high priority for the UWUA and the entire labor movement.

View photos from the AFL-CIO Convention held in Pittsburgh.

The September AFL-CIO Convention was a huge success. Not only did Rich Trumka get elected AFL President, for the first time in its history, the UWUA won a seat as a voting member of the federation's Executive Council! Pictured here is the Union's delegation to the AFL Convention, left to right, Noel Chrismas, president of New Jersey Local 601, Steve VanSlooten, national executive vice president, Mike Langford, national president, Helen Olague-Pimentel, California Local 132 officer, Marei Burnfield, vice president of Pennsylvania Local 537, and Harry Farrell, president of New York Local 1-2.

For high school juniors who will be completing or leaving high school and entering college in the fall of 2011.

This scholarship program was established by Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO for the children of active members of Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO.