THE focus on local politics by the fire fighters union is a smart move, one that other unions would do well to copy. That is the strategy tea-baggers like fotze michelle bachmann used in their climb to power. Local organizations are more likely to influence the electorate and gain favorable results, and their influence then grows through the local, state and then national government. It is time to turn the tea-baggers tactics on them, time to stop being on the defensive all the time and take the initiative away from the tea-baggers and the extremist in the gop and return power to the people. It will take time to take back our country, but persistence will yield results and the destructive policies of the gop and tea-baggers can be stopped. From HuffPost....
WASHINGTON -- Faced with hostility from Democrats and Republicans alike, as well as scant hope that his organizational objectives can be accomplished, one of the most powerful union officials in the country is pledging to fundamentally revamp the way his outfit conducts political business.
In an interview with The Huffington Post, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called the current climate "absolutely" the worst he has seen during the course of his 40-year career in organized labor. His 11-million-plus federation has been forced to adjust, he said, and is making a concerted push to expand their campaign operation so the organization can better pressure lawmakers while in office, and not just on the campaign trail.
"In the past we've spent a significant amount of resources on candidates and party structures, and the day after election, workers were no stronger then they were the day before," Trumka said, during a sit down at his Washington D.C. office slightly more than a week ago.
"What we are now focused on is doing a couple of things differently," Trumka said. "In the past, we would build our structure six to eight months before the election," he added. "Now we're not going to do that. We're going to focus our resources on building a structure that has total fidelity towards America's working people, both union and non-union working people. We'll do it 12 months a year, so they'll be able to transition from electoral politics, to advocacy, to accountability with no effort. And it will continue to build greater strength for workers after the election and in between elections."
The comments from the AFL-CIO chief provide a detailed outline of the vision he has in store for a tinkered -- but still-powerful -- campaign apparatus. To execute that vision, the union federation is outfitting itself with some new tools, including a super PAC that will allow it to raise unlimited funds from corporations, individuals and other unions.
The AFL-CIO doesn't just plan to extend its political engagement, but to hyper-localize it as well.
"One of the most important aspects of the labor movement, which is different then for other entities, is that we have an enormous network of local community workers who are responsible for talking to people after their election," one top union official said. "The experience of the last six years should teach progressives a great deal about the difference between elected people who say the right thing in their candidate questionnaires and the people who are there voting for workers, voting for jobs and advocating our positions."
"There was a perception in the progressive community in January 2009 that things had gotten pretty good," the official, who requested anonymity, added. "But we didn't have an infrastructure in place to say we need a bigger stimulus, or we need to be concerned about jobs or we need to have a different national agenda."
For Trumka too, the issue of post-election follow-through has now taken on paramount importance. While he said he wouldn't "draw lines in the sand" in terms of what future debt reduction recommendations the AFL-CIO would support, he did make it clear that there were certain promises he expected labor-endorsed lawmakers to uphold, certainly when the topics turned to Social Security and Medicare.
"How do you tell someone like my dad, who retired the day he was 62, that he has to work to 67? It would have been a death sentence for him," said Trumka. "He couldn't have worked to 67 -- he was completely disabled of black lung. So what do you tell then? You tell them that they ought to be able to retire at a lower range."
President Obama, who was endorsed by the AFL-CIO in the 2008 elections, proposed raising the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 during debt ceiling negotiations, and he seems likely to embrace the idea again when he makes his recommendations to the congressional supercommittee tasked with finding $1.5 trillion in additional debt reduction.
Trumka remains an administration ally who will, it appears, be in the president's corner during the reelection campaign.
"Barack Obama's a friend," he said, "and when you place him in the context of those who are running against him right now, he is a giant."
But the past disappointments -- including the non-movement on the Employee Free Choice Act and the public health insurance option, the renewal of the Bush tax cuts and the consistent push for free trade deals -- are impossible to ignore, even with the president speaking out recently in defense of collective bargaining and public sector unions.
More than a dozen trade unions plan to sit out the 2012 Democratic National Convention because it's being held in North Carolina, a right to work state. The International Association of Fire Fighters has closed their federal PAC, convinced they can get a bigger bang for their buck on the local level. And even Trumka, in an interview that was largely respectful if not appreciative, let his frustrations show.
"I think the President made a strategic mistake when he abandoned talking about the jobs crisis and job creation and focused completely on the politically manufactured debt crisis," he said when asked for a review of the administration's economic record. "You have one very obvious way to make a dent in the deficit crisis, which is to get people back to work."
"But you don't have anyone actually talking about jobs," Trumka said. "And when you bring it up to people at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, their almost universal response is we have a Congress that won't do it. So what do you do? You do what leaders do, you lead."
BUCKNACKT'S SORDID TAWDRY BLOG We should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive & well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate, bier or wein in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO-HOO, WHAT A RIDE!!!!!!"
Showing posts with label Richard Trumka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard Trumka. Show all posts
25 August 2011
15 May 2011
In 'Survival' Mode, Union Lashes Out At Democrats 11MAI11
THIS is a warning shot to the Democratic Party, and is a threat not without merit. It reflects the disgust of the left wing base of the party with the constant caving in to repiglican and tea-bagger demands that end up hurting the poor, the working class and the middle class. This constant giving in and kow-towing to the repiglicans and tea-baggers also sends the wrong message to the American electorate. Passing the opposition's legislation in order to get something passed, or to keep the government open raises the question of any difference between to two parties and who they are actually representing. The Democrats have less then a year to prove to the American people they are the party that is in fact representing our best interest. The budget negotiations over raising the deficit cap will provide the answer, and if it is just more "compromise" then I think the Democratic Party will find itself short of cash and campaign workers for the 2012 elections.
There's new tension in the marriage of organized labor and the Democratic Party.
Unions were already angry that Democrats in Congress haven't done more for them. And now, as Republican-controlled state legislatures take aim at labor's bargaining and political power, some union leaders say national Democrats aren't showing enough solidarity.
'Weak Friends, Or Worse'
In a little publicized but bluntly phrased speech last month, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka gave some union lawyers a dire prediction of what's ahead for organized labor.
He said the Republican assaults on unions amount to "true existential challenges," and that labor needs to demand accountability from its allies, including "Democrats who have been weak friends, or worse."
The AFL-CIO itself isn't ready to take any dramatic steps, but one public employees union is.
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, says his union is going to stop giving contributions to federal candidates and federal party committees "for an indefinite period of time."
He says national Democrats don't stand up against the Republicans' anti-union offensive. "It's orchestrated, it's centralized, it's very disciplined," he says.
Now, Schaitberger says, the firefighters union will direct its money and energy to the states, "where we are engaged in survival."
Taking A Stand
If other unions were to follow the firefighters, congressional Democrats would be in a tough spot.
In 2010, unions gave $65 million to congressional candidates and party committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Of that money, 94 percent went to Democrats.
This year, though, Republicans in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio have passed laws undercutting union bargaining power. A database at the National Council of State Legislatures lists more than 200 similar bills proposed by Republicans in 35 states.
Labor fights back with protests and ads. A TV spot by the firefighters union in Oklahoma says: "We're there when you need us. Now we need you. Tell politicians to do what's right."
So far, the International Association of Fire Fighters is alone in shutting out the national Democrats. But other unions share the deep frustration.
"You know, once in a while, you have to take a clear stand," says Matt McKinnon, political director for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He says members of his union are still angry that Democrats didn't pass a stronger health care bill.
But "whether we punish all Democrats over that," he says, "I don't think so."
Nowhere Else To Go?
For their part, the Democratic Party and its candidates may seem to look at unions as having bottomless pockets. But Democratic fundraiser Michael Fraioli says that's just not true.
"They have a lot of money," he says. "But as much as they have, they still have to target it."
Last year, Republican challengers took out half of Fraioli's clients in the House. But now, when asked if unions will close their checkbooks to Democrats, Fraioli says no. He predicts that the rift will heal as the 2012 races heat up.
In fact, the biggest union of all — the National Education Association — is already moving toward endorsing President Obama. And Fraioli is not the only boycott skeptic.
"Sometimes, individual unions do follow through with those threats," says Taylor Dark, a political scientist at California State University in Los Angeles. But, he says, the alienated unions usually don't stay away too long.
"Because in our two-party system, they really don't have anywhere else to go."
Enlarge Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images President Obama pats AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the back before speaking at the AFL-CIO Executive Council Meeting in Washington last August. Trumka said recently that unions need to start demanding accountability from their allies.
Unions were already angry that Democrats in Congress haven't done more for them. And now, as Republican-controlled state legislatures take aim at labor's bargaining and political power, some union leaders say national Democrats aren't showing enough solidarity.
'Weak Friends, Or Worse'
In a little publicized but bluntly phrased speech last month, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka gave some union lawyers a dire prediction of what's ahead for organized labor.
He said the Republican assaults on unions amount to "true existential challenges," and that labor needs to demand accountability from its allies, including "Democrats who have been weak friends, or worse."
The AFL-CIO itself isn't ready to take any dramatic steps, but one public employees union is.
Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, says his union is going to stop giving contributions to federal candidates and federal party committees "for an indefinite period of time."
He says national Democrats don't stand up against the Republicans' anti-union offensive. "It's orchestrated, it's centralized, it's very disciplined," he says.
Now, Schaitberger says, the firefighters union will direct its money and energy to the states, "where we are engaged in survival."
Taking A Stand
If other unions were to follow the firefighters, congressional Democrats would be in a tough spot.
In 2010, unions gave $65 million to congressional candidates and party committees, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Of that money, 94 percent went to Democrats.
Related NPR Stories
Why Unions Matter To Democrats: It's Not Just Money
The real strength in the alliance, say analysts, is the political manpower that unions provide. Union Battles: A 'National Campaign' Against Labor? Feb. 26, 2011
Labor Unions Fight For Their Right To Influence Feb. 23, 2011
Labor fights back with protests and ads. A TV spot by the firefighters union in Oklahoma says: "We're there when you need us. Now we need you. Tell politicians to do what's right."
So far, the International Association of Fire Fighters is alone in shutting out the national Democrats. But other unions share the deep frustration.
"You know, once in a while, you have to take a clear stand," says Matt McKinnon, political director for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He says members of his union are still angry that Democrats didn't pass a stronger health care bill.
But "whether we punish all Democrats over that," he says, "I don't think so."
Nowhere Else To Go?
For their part, the Democratic Party and its candidates may seem to look at unions as having bottomless pockets. But Democratic fundraiser Michael Fraioli says that's just not true.
"They have a lot of money," he says. "But as much as they have, they still have to target it."
Last year, Republican challengers took out half of Fraioli's clients in the House. But now, when asked if unions will close their checkbooks to Democrats, Fraioli says no. He predicts that the rift will heal as the 2012 races heat up.
In fact, the biggest union of all — the National Education Association — is already moving toward endorsing President Obama. And Fraioli is not the only boycott skeptic.
"Sometimes, individual unions do follow through with those threats," says Taylor Dark, a political scientist at California State University in Los Angeles. But, he says, the alienated unions usually don't stay away too long.
"Because in our two-party system, they really don't have anywhere else to go."
18 March 2011
Vice President Biden Fires Up Union Activists: Organized Labor Keeps 'Barbarians From The Gate' (AUDIO)
TELL it like it is Joe!!!
WASHINGTON -- Vice President Biden gave the Obama administration's most forceful statement of solidarity with organized labor in its current battles around the nation on Thursday, encouraging activists to continue fighting for workers' rights.
"You guys built the middle class," said Biden in a virtual town hall conversation hosted by the AFL-CIO. "I would just emphasize what Hilda [Solis] said and say it slightly different: We don't see the value of collective bargaining, we see the absolute positive necessity of collective bargaining. Let's get something straight: The only people who have the capacity -- organizational capacity and muscle -- to keep, as they say, the barbarians from the gate, is organized labor. And make no mistake about it, the guys on the other team get it. They know if they cripple labor, the gate is open, man. The gate is wide open. And we know that too."
The e-mail announcement for the call went out to labor activists, including members of the growing advocacy group Working America, and it pitched the call as a conversation with 100,000 supporters about "Republican assaults on collective bargaining in at least a dozen states." AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis joined Biden on the call, where listeners were also allowed to ask questions (although Biden had to leave before that portion).
Biden's comments underscored the importance of labor not only in terms of workers' rights but also politically. He acknowledged the role that unions played in helping launch his political career, and he noted his personal identification with the activists as someone who grew up in the Rust Belt in Scranton, Penn.
"I've got to state the obvious," he said. "There's an old expression: 'You go home with them that brung you to the dance.' You guys all brought me to the dance 36 years ago in Delaware as a United States senator. You've been with me, and I've stayed with you."
Both Biden and Solis used the opportunity to promote what the Obama administration has done for this valuable constituency, such as restoring a level "playing field" at the Labor Department and the National Labor Relations Board upon taking office.
"Now look, I'm sure a lot of you out there saying, 'Gosh, why hasn't the President, why hasn't the Vice President -- why haven't they stopped these guys in the states? Why haven't we been able to do this?' Look folks. We are flat committed," Biden assured the listeners, bringing up the jobs created and retained by the Recovery Act -- many of which were for public workers such as teachers and firefighters.
"Now look. Here's the irony of all this. I find this ridiculous," said Biden later in the call, becoming increasingly passionate. "The very philosophy, the very conservative people who got us in this ditch, who created -- through their greed -- this orgy of focusing on the super wealthy and Wall Street without regulations, the very people who drove us into this ditch, are now the people using you guys as the scapegoats. This is what you call blaming the victim. The people of the neighborhoods we all grew up in and you guys live in, organized labor, they're the very people getting killed right now by this economy. And the audacity these guys that come along and say, 'Hey, this is the fault of collective bargaining' -- that is malarkey."
"I'm available, I'm here, I'm working with you, I wish I could be even more effective than we've been, but this is only the beginning of the fight," he ended.
LISTEN:
WASHINGTON -- Vice President Biden gave the Obama administration's most forceful statement of solidarity with organized labor in its current battles around the nation on Thursday, encouraging activists to continue fighting for workers' rights.
"You guys built the middle class," said Biden in a virtual town hall conversation hosted by the AFL-CIO. "I would just emphasize what Hilda [Solis] said and say it slightly different: We don't see the value of collective bargaining, we see the absolute positive necessity of collective bargaining. Let's get something straight: The only people who have the capacity -- organizational capacity and muscle -- to keep, as they say, the barbarians from the gate, is organized labor. And make no mistake about it, the guys on the other team get it. They know if they cripple labor, the gate is open, man. The gate is wide open. And we know that too."
The e-mail announcement for the call went out to labor activists, including members of the growing advocacy group Working America, and it pitched the call as a conversation with 100,000 supporters about "Republican assaults on collective bargaining in at least a dozen states." AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis joined Biden on the call, where listeners were also allowed to ask questions (although Biden had to leave before that portion).
Biden's comments underscored the importance of labor not only in terms of workers' rights but also politically. He acknowledged the role that unions played in helping launch his political career, and he noted his personal identification with the activists as someone who grew up in the Rust Belt in Scranton, Penn.
"I've got to state the obvious," he said. "There's an old expression: 'You go home with them that brung you to the dance.' You guys all brought me to the dance 36 years ago in Delaware as a United States senator. You've been with me, and I've stayed with you."
Both Biden and Solis used the opportunity to promote what the Obama administration has done for this valuable constituency, such as restoring a level "playing field" at the Labor Department and the National Labor Relations Board upon taking office.
"Now look, I'm sure a lot of you out there saying, 'Gosh, why hasn't the President, why hasn't the Vice President -- why haven't they stopped these guys in the states? Why haven't we been able to do this?' Look folks. We are flat committed," Biden assured the listeners, bringing up the jobs created and retained by the Recovery Act -- many of which were for public workers such as teachers and firefighters.
"Now look. Here's the irony of all this. I find this ridiculous," said Biden later in the call, becoming increasingly passionate. "The very philosophy, the very conservative people who got us in this ditch, who created -- through their greed -- this orgy of focusing on the super wealthy and Wall Street without regulations, the very people who drove us into this ditch, are now the people using you guys as the scapegoats. This is what you call blaming the victim. The people of the neighborhoods we all grew up in and you guys live in, organized labor, they're the very people getting killed right now by this economy. And the audacity these guys that come along and say, 'Hey, this is the fault of collective bargaining' -- that is malarkey."
"I'm available, I'm here, I'm working with you, I wish I could be even more effective than we've been, but this is only the beginning of the fight," he ended.
LISTEN:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)