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Sometimes stories happen because of planning; other times serendipity intervenes, which is how we got to the conversation we'll be having today.
In an exchange of comments on the Blue Hampshire site, I proposed an idea that could be of real value to unions, workers...and surprisingly, employers.
If things worked out correctly, not only would lots of people feel a real desire to have unions represent them, but employers would potentially be coming to unions looking to forge relationships, and, just to make it better, this plan bypasses virtually all of the tools and techniques employers use to shut out union organizers.
Since I just thought this up myself, I'm really not sure exactly how practical the whole thing is, and the last part of the discussion today will be provided by you, as I ask you to sound off on whether this plan could work, and if so, how it could be made better.
It's a new week...so let's all put our heads together and rebuild the labor movement, shall we?
Reposted from Eddie Vale's page on FB. What a guy !
http://tinyurl.com/ltcd54 from Boston Globe Online
Romney speaks out against labor bill
Mitt Romney today joined the battle over a bill that would make it easier for unions to organize, coming down on the side of business, which vehemently opposes the legislation.
snip
The AFL-CIO, which has made the bill its top legislative priority, quickly responded to Romney.
"The idea that Mitt is a voice who is concerned about workers is hilarious considering he spent his career buying companies, firing the workers, and then breaking them up," it said in a statement. "Mitt lecturing anyone about the Employee Free Choice Act and 'politics' is as credible as taking marriage advice from Newt Gingrich. The only reason he is junketing around the country trashing workers is to get the old Romney 2012 train rolling."
Why do these people from Michigan and Massachusetts think they can come to NH and tell us what is fair and right. Screw Mitt.
"There is a road, no simple highway, between the dawn and the dark of night, and if you go, no one shall follow, that path is for your steps alone"
For every move President Obama and the Democratic Congress make to push back the darkness of the Bush years and step forward into the light, there is a massive push back. We did not get here by accident. Struggle is enobling we are told. New legislation to protect the rights of American workers is on the table. Push back the night.
STATEMENT BY AFL-CIO PRESIDENT JOHN SWEENEY
ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE
Released on March 10, 2009
Today is a banner day for working Americans, a milestone on the road to rebuilding our nation's middle class - and it couldn't come at a more crucial time. We thank the House of Representatives and the Senate for introducing the Employee Free Choice Act, which will restore workers' freedom to bargain for fair wages, job security, better health care and secure pensions. Special thanks also go to Congressman Miller, Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Harkin for being the lead sponsors and champions for America's working families.
(Cross-posted from the AFL-CIO Blog and Firedoglake.)
Anyone can get health care in the United States. Just ask George W. Bush. Last year in Cleveland, he had this to say to the 47 million Americans without health care coverage:
I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room.
I know many will want to drill down, complain, or explain away this position. I am against any more "Free Trade" deals, until we finish understanding the ramifications of the disasters already passed. Since the Oman and Jordan deals signed by Hillary and Barack had little to no worker protections we should, IMHO, have a moratorium on new deals until after the next election. I can't believe this. I like Sen. Obama though I am an Edwards supporter. I want to know what I am missing here.
http://www.workingas...
BREAKING: Obama Says He Will Vote for NAFTA Expansion
By David Sirota
Working Assets, 10/9/07
Hot off the presses from MSNBC:
"Obama said he would vote for a Peruvian trade agreement next week, in response to a question from a man in Londonderry, NH who called NAFTA and CAFTA a disaster for American workers. He said he supported the trade agreement with Peru because it contained the labor and environmental standards sought by groups like the AFL-CIO, despite the voter's protests to the contrary. He also affirmed his support for free trade."
The voter's "protests to the contrary" are exactly right. The AFL-CIO does not support the Peruvian agreement, and the labor/environmental standards leave enforcement up to the Bush administration, rather than empowering third parties to enforce them (like corporations have the power to enforce investor rights provisions in these same trade agreements).
Obama is the first presidential candidate to officially declare his/her support for the NAFTA expansion moving through the Congress. His announcement is not necessarily surprising, considering he was the keynote speaker at the launch of the Hamilton Project - a Wall Street front group working to drive a wedge between Democrats and organized labor on globalization issues. His announcement comes just days after a Wall Street Journal poll found strong bipartisan opposition to lobbyist-written NAFTA-style trade policies.
Trade has been known to be a huge issue in Iowa (remember Dick Gephardt in 1988), so this announcement could very well ripple through the 2008 primary.
On Monday, Barack Obama returned to the Granite State. With roundtable discussions at Jesse's Restaurant in Hanover in the morning, and Lindy's Diner in Keene in the afternoon, Barack Obama sat down with small groups to talk about the way that broken culture in Washington affects the lives of everyday Americans. In addition to the Hanover and Keene roundtables, Barack held a rally in Keene and a town hall in the late afternoon in Nashua.
You can read the full recap of Monday's events on the New Hampshire campaign blog.
Other highlights from the campaign this week:
On Friday, volunteers from Keene, Lebanon, Nashua and Portsmouth participated in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and community organizing activity called Hoops.Action.Change. In order to qualify, the teams had to perform some volunteer community service activity with their local campaign office, including phone-banking and canvassing. Craig Robinson, Barack's brother-in-law and head coach of the Brown University men's basketball team, dropped by for the regional tournament play. On Saturday, the championship round was held in Manchester, with the winning team, Keene's "Railroad Team", meeting with Barack and receiving signed basketballs.
On Thursday, the NH Obama campaign blog profiled former State Representative Peter Sullivan.
On Tuesday, the NH Obama campaign blog profiled Jeff, a teacher from Wolfboro.
On Tuesday night, Barack participated in the AFL-CIO Presidential Forum in Chicago. In this, one of the signature moments of the debate, it became abundantly clear that Barack Obama is the candidate with the intelligence to challenge the conventional ways of thinking that have led to the present administration's foreign policy catastrophes, and the toughness and integrity to stand up for what he believes in.
For the latest in the campaign's efforts across the country and right here in New Hampshire, check out the NH Obama campaign blog at nh.barackobama.com
August 19, 2007 - Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa (ABC) 8PM
August 27-28, 2007 - Cancer Forum, Cedar Rapids, IA (MSNBC & Live Streaming)
September 26, 2007 - Hanover, New Hampshire
October 30, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 15, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
January 6, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 - California
My kingdom for a photo of this action from the NH AFL-CIO:
On Friday, June 1st, union and community members will participate in an obstacles course outside Senator John Sununu's office to demonstrate what workers currently face when trying to exercise their freedom to form a union. The participants will call on the Senator to support the Employee Free Choice Act, which will help eliminate the obstacles that exist under current labor law.
Workers will jump through a series of hula-hoops, representing legal and illegal tactics currently used by employers to stifle workers' freedom to form and join unions to bargain for a better life. The Employee Free Choice Act, currently pending in Congress, would change labor law to give workers a fair choice to join a union free from intimidation. Senator Sununu has not indicated he would support this important piece of legislation for working families.
I'm getting kind of tired of John E. sprinting past a position on everything. I mean, c'mon, even Loserpalooza bandmate Gordon Smith said he was voting against this common sense labor protection. Do we really think free marketeer Sununu is going to support changing this?
Right now, if a worker tries to form a union in their workplace, there is a one in five chance that they will be illegally fired. It is likely that over nine out of every 10 of their co-workers will be forced to have one-on-one meetings with their supervisors to convince them to oppose the union.
It's at 11:30 in Manchester if you can make it. Bring a camera!
