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http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Aug16/0,4670,DemocratsLabor,00.html
Dems Pledge to Help Labor Organize
Thursday, August 16, 2007
WATERLOO, Iowa - Six Democratic presidential contenders, courting one of
the party's most crucial interest groups, pledged Wednesday to work to
reverse decades of decline in the nation's union movement.
Sens. Joe Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chris Dodd and Barack Obama, former
Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said they would
support labor-backed issues, such as expanding health care and toughening
trade rules.
However, they contended that the biggest problem facing unions was the
steady drop in membership, and all vowed to make it easier for unions to
organize.
"It is not rich people that made this country great," Clinton said. "We
would not have had a middle class without the American labor movement."
Edwards sounded a similar theme: "If we want to grow and strengthen the
middle class, we have to grow the union movement."
Labor leaders grilled each of the candidates at the annual convention of the
Iowa Federation of Labor, a key player in the state's Democratic politics.
Each candidate had a half-hour session, and they were often dragged through
the arcane details of policies backed by labor.
The umbrella labor group is unlikely to formally endorse a candidate for
Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses, but the more than 250 activists who
listened to the candidates are all local political leaders. The federation
represents roughly 55,000 workers, and it's likely that about 100,000
Democrats will settle next winter's caucuses.
"As long as I'm alive and breathing, I will be standing with you," said
Edwards, who joined Obama in pledging to walk a picket line if elected.
"Think about a president of the United States walking a picket line,"
Edwards said. "You're looking at one."
All the candidates noted their long ties to unions.
"The AFL-CIO in New York has dubbed me their favorite sister," Clinton said.
"I will use the bully pulpit as president."
If elected, Obama promised to include organized labor when he shapes his new
administration.
"You have to have a president who is willing to talk about unions," he said.
"I'd make sure the AFL-CIO was involved in the transition process."
Biden called for easing restrictions on union organizing and noted the
decline in membership from the 1950s, when roughly one in four workers
belonged to a union.
"You are the middle class," he said. "If you want to grow the middle class,
you have to grow the union movement."
All agreed that a series of trade deals has given competitors an unfair
advantage and shifted jobs overseas.
"There ain't no such thing as free trade unless its fair trade, and that's
not what's happening now," Biden said.
Dodd called for new restrictions on toys and food imported into the U.S.
from China, pointing to reports of contaminated food and recalls of
dangerous toys.
"This is an issue of safety," he said. "Parents should be confident that the
toys they give their children have been inspected and are safe."
Richardson said he would set concrete goals for increasing union membership
from its current 12 percent of the work force, pushing for a level as high
as 20 percent.
"My secretary of Labor would be a union member," he said. "All of those
union-busting attorneys would be gone."
Dems Pledge to Help Labor Organize
Thursday, August 16, 2007
WATERLOO, Iowa - Six Democratic presidential contenders, courting one of
the party's most crucial interest groups, pledged Wednesday to work to
reverse decades of decline in the nation's union movement.
Sens. Joe Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chris Dodd and Barack Obama, former
Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said they would
support labor-backed issues, such as expanding health care and toughening
trade rules.
However, they contended that the biggest problem facing unions was the
steady drop in membership, and all vowed to make it easier for unions to
organize.
"It is not rich people that made this country great," Clinton said. "We
would not have had a middle class without the American labor movement."
Edwards sounded a similar theme: "If we want to grow and strengthen the
middle class, we have to grow the union movement."
Labor leaders grilled each of the candidates at the annual convention of the
Iowa Federation of Labor, a key player in the state's Democratic politics.
Each candidate had a half-hour session, and they were often dragged through
the arcane details of policies backed by labor.
The umbrella labor group is unlikely to formally endorse a candidate for
Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses, but the more than 250 activists who
listened to the candidates are all local political leaders. The federation
represents roughly 55,000 workers, and it's likely that about 100,000
Democrats will settle next winter's caucuses.
"As long as I'm alive and breathing, I will be standing with you," said
Edwards, who joined Obama in pledging to walk a picket line if elected.
"Think about a president of the United States walking a picket line,"
Edwards said. "You're looking at one."
All the candidates noted their long ties to unions.
"The AFL-CIO in New York has dubbed me their favorite sister," Clinton said.
"I will use the bully pulpit as president."
If elected, Obama promised to include organized labor when he shapes his new
administration.
"You have to have a president who is willing to talk about unions," he said.
"I'd make sure the AFL-CIO was involved in the transition process."
Biden called for easing restrictions on union organizing and noted the
decline in membership from the 1950s, when roughly one in four workers
belonged to a union.
"You are the middle class," he said. "If you want to grow the middle class,
you have to grow the union movement."
All agreed that a series of trade deals has given competitors an unfair
advantage and shifted jobs overseas.
"There ain't no such thing as free trade unless its fair trade, and that's
not what's happening now," Biden said.
Dodd called for new restrictions on toys and food imported into the U.S.
from China, pointing to reports of contaminated food and recalls of
dangerous toys.
"This is an issue of safety," he said. "Parents should be confident that the
toys they give their children have been inspected and are safe."
Richardson said he would set concrete goals for increasing union membership
from its current 12 percent of the work force, pushing for a level as high
as 20 percent.
"My secretary of Labor would be a union member," he said. "All of those
union-busting attorneys would be gone."
