The rally, dubbed the "Bread and Roses Rally" turned out local politicians, labor and clergy to the south side of the State Capitol. All were there to show support of a group of 600 workers who lost there jobs to Mexico. The exporting of jobs illustrates the mass exodus of jobs in the U.S. that many of the speakers pointed out in their speeches. They say trade agreements like the TPP and NAFTA have resulted in the loss of jobs of these 600 in Chicago and across the Nation.

A series of settlements hammered out over the past few weeks between Marriott and its striking workers in Boston and seven other cities are ushering in groundbreaking benefits that could set a precedent not just for the service industry but for workers nationwide.

The Boston agreement, reached after workers spent more than six weeks on the picket lines, marching and chanting in the wind and rain and snow, includes a roughly 20 percent increase in wages over 4½ years, a 37 percent increase in pension contributions, and six weeks of paid maternity leave, plus two weeks for spouses.

There was plenty of punditry plastered across cable news last week. But, as the dust settles, there is one story that has come to define this election: working people standing together to make a difference. The labor movement unleashed an unprecedented political program this year. Across the country, union members made the difference, fighting for our issues, for union candidates and for our proven allies.