AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka addressed performance rights supporters in a May 27th press conference on Capitol Hill. Labor leaders assembled to show their support of the Performance Rights Act included AFM President Tom Lee, AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon, and recording artist Peter Yarrow, a longtime ally of the labor movement.

"In America, whether you're a performer, a firefighter, a teacher, a steelworker, or a coalminer, you shouldn't be cheated out of the wages that you earn. And yet, for the past 80 years, radio stations have used the publicly owned airwaves to make billions of dollars playing music without paying the artists who created it one red cent for using their recordings. That's why all 11.5 million members of the AFL-CIO stand united with our performing sisters and brothers in support of the Performance Rights Act."

"The Labor movement was founded on the principle of a fair day's work, for a fair day's pay. That's the principle that's at stake in the fight for the Performance Rights Act. Our efforts are tied to the struggles of workers across the country who are saying collectively "no" to corporate excess, and "yes" to corporate accountability.

The reckless greed that drives Wall Street is the same as the unconscionable greed that drives the handful of conglomerate corporate radio executives that control 75% of our nation's radio stations.

I'm going to give you one example, that's Radio One executive Cathy Hughes. In the middle of the great recession, Radio One executives fired workers, they cut salaries, and they slashed benefits while they set up for themselves a $2.7 million treasure chest for their own benefits and bonuses. Today the parking lot at Radio One may be less crowded than it was last year, but there are probably a few new Porsches there."

"I know where the American people stand in this battle. President Obama's administration has endorsed the Performance Rights Act. Even George Bush - even President George Bush endorsed the Performance Rights Act, and now it's time for congress to stand up and be counted on doing the right thing as well.

If you care about music, if you care about the rights of Americans to get paid for their work, if you care about doing what is right, be part of the good fight for our performing brothers and sisters. It's time to pass the Performance Rights Act; it's time for fair pay for air play."