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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUnions set to blast Dems for selling out on FAA reauthorization
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/unions-set-to-blast-dems-for-selling-out-on-faa-reauthorization/2012/01/30/gIQAeH9pcQ_blog.htmlUnions set to blast Dems for selling out on FAA reauthorization
By Greg Sargent
One of the biggest requests that labor had made of Congressional Dems was this: Dont sell out unions when the long-term Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization is renegotiated with House Republicans. Unions saw this as a top prioritiy for 2012.
Well, now the verdict is in: Over a dozen unions including a number of AFL-CIO affiliates, like the Communications Workers of America and the International Association of Machinists; and possibly the SEIU are preparing to unleash a new letter blasting Senate Dem leaders for reaching a bad deal with Republicans on this core priority, claiming it could compromise their ability to organize in the future. They will demand that Dems pull out of the deal and insist that Dems push the GOP harder for a clean reauthorization that doesnt rewrite labor law.
snip//
Their objection is that the raised threshold will make it harder to organize amid mergers of unionized and non-unionized airlines, a key labor target. They also see opening the door to rewriting longstanding labor law as a terrible precedent. In a draft of the letter to Dem leaders that Ive obtained, unions will say:
We remain strongly committed to passage of a clean FAA Reauthorization bill. An aviation safety and security bill is no place to impose unrelated and controversial labor provisions that will ultimately serve to harm both airline and railroad workers. The proposed Railway Labor Act changes would drastically rewrite a statute that was crafted by labor-management cooperation and has not been changed for over 75 years without the agreement of both employer and employee representatives. Airline and rail workers would suffer significant losses as contracts are jettisoned, collective bargaining rights are cut and legal hurdles will be placed in the way of gaining a voice at work...
Rewarding the House Republican Leaderships desire to rewrite decades of long standing labor law in a flash by inserting an unrelated and controversial labor provision in a much needed aviation safety and security bill, without notice, hearing, or debate, sets an extremely dangerous precedent. We urge the Senate to delete the provisions of the bill that would amend the RLA and pass the clean FAA Reauthorization that all concerned recognize this country sorely needs and supports.
Rewarding the House Republican Leaderships desire to rewrite decades of long standing labor law in a flash by inserting an unrelated and controversial labor provision in a much needed aviation safety and security bill, without notice, hearing, or debate, sets an extremely dangerous precedent. We urge the Senate to delete the provisions of the bill that would amend the RLA and pass the clean FAA Reauthorization that all concerned recognize this country sorely needs and supports.
This could create a headache for Congressional Dem leaders at a moment when theyre trying to unite the party behind a populist, pro-labor message heading into this years elections. More when I learn it...
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Unions set to blast Dems for selling out on FAA reauthorization (Original Post)
babylonsister
Jan 2012
OP
The problem with Congressional Dem "leaders" is that they seem to be more interested
Vincardog
Jan 2012
#2
Hawkowl
(5,213 posts)1. Will ultimately hurt consumers
Often times the only thing that deters mergers is the obstinance of the unions. As we've seen time and again, once there are fewer airlines, fares increase.
Why Dems are willing to throw unions and consumers under the bus for FAA reauthorization is bewildering. It is not a "national security" issue, and the FAA certainly isn't essential in the operation of the air transport system (excluding Air Traffic Control which is not affected by this bill).
randome
(34,845 posts)3. I don't get it, either.
Hopefully, there is still time to change course.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)2. The problem with Congressional Dem "leaders" is that they seem to be more interested
in messaging that action.
T S Justly
(884 posts)4. K&R (nt)
Found in Yonkers
(100 posts)6. DR NT
ProSense
(116,464 posts)5. That's
ridiculous. From the OP:
To back up: Last fall, Obama and Senate Dem leaders won applause from labor for standing fast against the House GOP, which was trying to insert a union-busting provision into the FAA reauthorization. That provision would count it as a No vote when airline or railway workers failed to vote at all on whether to unionize. After Dems refused to budge, the House GOP backed down and agreed to a clean temporary extension.
This increased hopes among unions that Dems would again hold fast when the longer-term reauthorization was negotiated with Republicans.
A few weeks ago, Harry Reid announced a deal, authored by Senator Jay Rockefeller, that would nix the GOPs desired union-busting provision; in exchange, the threshold required for triggering a union election would be raised from 35 percent worker interest in a union to 50 percent. Labor was mostly quiet on this deal, but now, after closely examining its implications, officials say theyve concluded it could be disastrous.
This increased hopes among unions that Dems would again hold fast when the longer-term reauthorization was negotiated with Republicans.
A few weeks ago, Harry Reid announced a deal, authored by Senator Jay Rockefeller, that would nix the GOPs desired union-busting provision; in exchange, the threshold required for triggering a union election would be raised from 35 percent worker interest in a union to 50 percent. Labor was mostly quiet on this deal, but now, after closely examining its implications, officials say theyve concluded it could be disastrous.
So they didn't budge on the other provision, but they compromised to create a different obstacle, from 35 percent to 50 percent?
That's absurd!
mmonk
(52,589 posts)8. Seems like it was a trade and maybe they thought no one would notice?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)7. Here's the statement:
WillyT
(72,631 posts)9. HUGE K & R !!!