Picture this: a stronger, more diverse labor movement that pushes our nation to have an economic and political system that values workers' rights, offers health care for all and delivers on promises of a stable retirement.

That's the agenda the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists presented during its 36th annual convention held recently in Chicago, where USW's Director of Civil Rights Maxine Carter and Vice President Fred Redmond were among the 1,200 attendees.

About 40 Steelworker members also attended the event that featured an appearance by Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and a day of planning strategy for turning out the vote next year.

Redmond, who with Carter sits on the CBTU executive council, said highlights included spending time with USW members and other union leaders.

CBTU was formed in 1972 to be an independent voice of black union workers. Today, more than 50 unions, including the United Steelworkers, are members of the coalition.

In recent years, the group has worked to reverse the damage done to minority workers who have been hit especially hard by the massive loss of manufacturing jobs. In 2004, some 55 percent — 168,000 — of the nation's union jobs lost were held by black workers.

"We have to embody in our planning the right of workers to join unions; the right to bargain collectively; the right to have access to universal health care; a fair trade policy as opposed to a free trade policy, so that all of us can benefit from the fruits of our society," said CBTU President William Lucy, who also is Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers.

Carter, who served as the presiding officer on the convention's opening day, said it's vital that the issues get discussed. 

"Our members and the others who attend are inspired to continue the conversation back home in their local union halls and in their neighborhoods where action really begins," she said.

For more on the CBTU convention, listen to POWERcast Episode 19.