PA AFL-CIO’s Maurice Cobb Calls for Unity and Purpose  

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Maurice Cobb delivered a personal, heartfelt address Tuesday that centered on the enduring strength of solidarity.

Cobb, a fourth-generation steelworker and U.S. Army veteran, shared stories from his early days as a member of USW Local 1688, when he worked as an overhead crane operator at the former Bethlehem Steel plant in Steelton, Pa. His experiences, he said, differed greatly from those of many of his coworkers. 

Despite these differences, Cobb said, it was through conversation, curiosity and mutual respect that he began to understand the depth of unity that makes the labor movement strong.  

“We found common ground around that break room table, simply by listening to each other,” he said. 

Cobb reflected on a formative moment early in his union career, when a coworker defended him against discrimination. That moment, he said, became his first powerful example of solidarity in action. 

He urged union members to stay united as they face unprecedented threats to organizing and collective bargaining.  

“We didn’t all vote for the same person last November,” he said, “but we’re still on the same team.” 

Quoting scripture and invoking his hopes for his daughter’s future, Cobb reminded workers that solidarity is rooted not in sameness, but in shared purpose and love for one another.