Unions Take the Lead

[babsbunny]

http://www.politicsplus.org/blog/?p=5703

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.

For a long time, I have said that Democrats need to take a more grass roots approach to politics, putting quality progressives in office locally, at the state level, and federally, effectively taking control of the entire party away from corporate DINOs. While in national elections, even the worst Democrats are an improvement over the best Republicans, most of our work and dollars need to be directed at those Democrats who will best represent us. The AFL-CIO is taking the lead to do these very things.

[RKP5637]

1. I think this is great!!! n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. I don't know how old Trumka is but it's EASILY the worst I've seen. nt

[sabrina 1]

3. Things are finally changing, for the better imo.

They have to do this as the attacs on Unions over the past several decades have reduced the numbers to just 20% of working Americans who now are part of a Union I read somewhere recently. The plot to turn things back to when child labor was acceptable has been working beautifully. Time to put a stop that moving train.

The President of the Firemen's Union has also announced that they will be freezing their donations to all Federal races and will be putting their money behind people who support them from now on. Starting on the local level.

I hope Teachers join them now. I also hope there is a Global Labor movement that comes out of all this because the reason they were so successful in diminishing the power of the workers was they could always go overseas for cheap labor.

Once we have a strong, Progressive Democratic Congress in place, laws can be changed to make it mandatory that any US Corps doing business overseas must abide by the same standards they would here. These are Human Rights issues, not just business decisions also.

[roguevalley]

4. been union 33 years and the men in unions don't take shit, especially

the labor ones. Teachers? Depends on the issue whether they will stand up but other unions? Awesome. Ibew and teamsters... will always come to a strike line. I LOVE YOU, UNIONS!

[Omaha Steve]

5. Marta was CWA starting in 75, I was GAU starting in 80 just b4 Raygun declared war on unions

The war he started continues.

K&R!

[leeroysphitz]

6. All I need to know is where do I send the check?

I'm certainly not sending another one to Captain Compromise.

[Starry Messenger]

7. k&r