Working Life

On the list today of no-brainer questions and answers: If you are an undocumented immigrant working for a low wage, would you trust the Chamber of Commerce or the AFL-CIO to look after your interests. Ok, on to a tougher question…

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   A few days ago, I took part in a meeting organized by the AFL-CIO to launch a new publication called "Exiting From The Crisis"–a roadmap for a new global economy. The main speaker at the small meeting was Joseph Stiglitz. He outlined some great points and realities about the economic crisis with the bottom [...]

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   It’s official. The president’s stroll to the Chamber of Commerce marks the handing over of the keys to the future of the middle class to the business world (not to mention the complete airbrushing out of the entire economic picture anyone considered poor). And it really has happened with not much struggle.   For [...]

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You can’t find a better contrast between the vision for our country than those offered by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Goldman Sachs. One vision sees America as the land of equality and fairness. The other vision sees an America where greed is good.   Here is some of what Trumka will say today at [...]

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So-called "free trade" is part of the relentless class warfare under way in America. And the so-called "free trade" deal with South Korea is no exception. That said, a lot of the shallow criticism of the UAW’s support for the deal is–well, shallow. Here’s my view about how we should engage the UAW–my union–via an [...]

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There isn’t any other way of putting it: last night was a disaster for the labor movement and for its members and all working people. When the working class "hero" John Boehner choked up in recounting his humble roots, I said aloud, "will you remember that when you unleash Big Business to press its boot [...]

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   This could be important in the scheme of things next week–the labor movement is holding its collective nose and helping out people who were less than helpful on key issues: Big Labor’s big threat to punish misbehaving Democrats has largely evaporated in the heat of the midterms, as unions now scramble to rescue incumbents [...]

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   The AFL-CIO says it will make the difference in many races in two weeks. In my opinion, I think the tide is too strong. We’ll see after the election. Here’s the memo: To: Political Directors From: Karen Ackerman, AFL-CIO Political Director Re: ‘State of the Field’ – Two Weeks Out Date: Monday, October 18, [...]

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I want to try to make a subtle distinction here: between something that I’m glad is happening, on the one hand, and changes that fundamentally reshape economic power in the country, on the other hand. The first does not necessarily bring about the second. And it’s important, I would argue, for us to keep our [...]

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   I sent the below around a couple of weeks ago and I’m sticking to it. It’s, of course, very optimistic–that’s the kind of guy I am–but feel free to comment yourselves. The upshot: Obama wins 390 Electoral votes Democratis end up with 58 Senate seats (net gain of 9–could mean after run-off in the [...]

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   So, I’ve always been a big admirer of the work the AFL-CIO and Change To Win do in the arena of capital strategies–meaning, trying to use the significant resources unions have, mainly in the pension funds that labor has a role in guiding, to force a change in corporate behavior. It isn’t the only [...]

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   Once again–sigh–what this financial mess shows is how the progressive movement is disorganized, incoherent and fragmented. The bankers are pretty clear what they want. The public has been heard loudly that it rejects the Paulson bailout for bankers. But, progressives? I think I’ve seen at least half a dozen different "THIS IS THE SOLUTION" [...]

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  Well, I’m only half serious. But, there is something interesting to watch when it comes to China and its labor movement. And a lesson to learn when a government says "you have to have unions".   China is wracked with labor strife literally every day, though we almost never read about it: work stoppages, [...]

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   So, friends, here in Denver, I’ve finally gotten strapped to my chair after a very busy morning (okay, it was a groggy one given the…eh…number of margaritas that I was forced to consume last night–only in the service of talking to people to bring you the best info).   Yesterday, I attended two briefings [...]

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   The AFL-CIO endorsed Barack Obama today…    Weren’t you holding your breathe in anticipaton? From the press release: Calling Sen. Barack Obama a champion for working families, the top leaders of AFL-CIO unions today voted without opposition to endorse him for president of the United States, thrusting the labor federation’s largest ever grassroots mobilization [...]

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    Reports out yesterday about what labor will spend on the 2008 general election campaign. This from The Wall Street Journal: With a $54 million budget, the AFL-CIO is likely to spend more than any organization outside the presidential campaigns and the political parties. The AFL-CIO spent $49 million on the 2004 election. Other labor [...]

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