Biden says unions are way to rebuild middle class

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden tells union leaders the best way to rebuild the middle class is to help labor unions grow.

Biden says the White House is committed to passing a bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions.

The Employee Free Choice Act is organized labor's top priority this year, but business groups are adamantly opposed. Senate lawmakers are working on a compromise version of the measure they hope can garner 60 votes to overcome an expected GOP filibuster.

Biden made his remarks at a conference of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which has about 1.6 million members.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h4o-2UyEwyzOPDDpVQ41Am_bgVfQD984Q3G80

---

I'm an AFSCME member. Local 251.

AFSCME Legislative Conference Features Vice President: http://www.afscme.org/publications/26184.cfm

May 11, 2009

Hundreds of AFSCME leaders and activists this week will hear from Vice Pres. Joe Biden and other speakers at the union’s 2009 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

Building on AFSCME’s “Make America Happen” campaign, the conference – May 11-14 at the Washington Hilton Hotel – will focus on the union’s three legislative goals:

*
The need to invest in public services that keep America strong.
*
Reform that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all.
*
Passing the Employee Free Choice Act to grow the middle class.

During the week, about 700 union leaders will head to Capitol Hill to lobby lawmakers on these key issues. They will also hone their communications skills so politicians will take a stand for America’s working families. Sessions on effective public presentations and communicating with the news media will be conducted as well.

In addition to Vice President Biden’s address on Tuesday, May 12, the participants will hear from a number of other speakers, including:

*
U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor (May 13)
*
Former U.S. Rep. David Bonior, chairman of American Rights at Work (May 13)
*
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis (May 14)
*
Wisconsin state Sen. Spencer Coggs (D) (May 14)

[pleah]

1. K&R

[Demeter]

52. Yes But First Comes a Job--Then the Union!

[Xipe Totec]

2. K&R!

[Wednesdays]

3. K&R

:kick:

[greengestalt]

4. The Union is the Working Man's friend!

My grandfather risked his life to help unions. And he didn't do it out of any "Socialist" agenda, he worked hard all his life. It's just that in the 30s and earlier the phrase "I worked my fingers to the bone and have nothing for it!" was literal, not some Dad griping when his ungrateful son crashes the family car in a fender bender.


Those that "Don't care what bosses did in the past" long for those days to return, they just hope to be the LickSpigot/Smithers.

[demosincebirth]

5. My dad remembered those days. Was so happy when he got to work only 8hrs a day

[murielm99]

7. When I was a little kid, my dad took me to visit some of the old

railroaders who pioneered the union movement. Some of them were old socialists and communists from the thirties. Others were just working men who wanted a fair wage for a day's work. He and I never forgot the stories they told.

When I was growing up, we were not rich, but we had enough. My dad could buy a house for us and a car. There was food on the table. That is all people want. They want to be able to care for their families. The union saw to it that my dad could do that.

[TBF]

23. Same here. We painted strike signs with my dad, as he explained that unions

weren't perfect, but that without them workers would have nothing. He was right, as we see with the low-paying service jobs (whether here or abroad) that are replacing them.

[AlbertCat]

44. 8 hours a day!

Wow! Those days are gone. I don't know anyone who just works or is expected to work 8 hours a day. 10 is more the norm. Usually 5 hours at 2 part time jobs so, not only are they working longer hours, they are not eligible for benefits or overtime.

The 8 hour day is as old worn out 20th century as only Dad going to work!

[Dinger]

6. Teachers Unions Too

I'm just sayin'.

[Two Americas]

8. thanks Steve

K and R.

We are to believe that the debates here are between the people who "support the administration" and those who allegedly are trying to tear it down.

But the super-loyal "supporters" are very selective in the things they praise from the administration, and the things they praise are almost always conservative ideas or actions, or back pedaling on the left wing and pro-Labor program.

In a representative democracy, good politicians, good leaders, and successful leaders are listening to the public - especially those of us who are informed and who write and speak - in order to tell what they have support for doing and what they do not have support for doing.

If we do not have the president's back - on repealing DADT, on EFCA and Labor issues, on prosecuting the war criminals, on single payer - then we are not really supporting the administration at all, but are using the cover of super-loyalty to promote cautious and conservative ideas and are signaling the administration that if they should seriously take on the right wing we will not have their backs. That can only harm the administration and it's potential success, as well as work against the very causes that led us all to support, work for, and vote for Democrats in the first place.

I support the administration 100% in pushing for the passage of the EFCA. 100%

I reject the approach of "supporting the president" only when he moves to the right, and then calling those who disagree with moving to the right disloyal, while remaining silent when the administration puts out trial balloons on left wing or progressive ideas to gauge the level of support.

Every single person who claims to support the president, and who can call themselves a Democrat, should be kicking and praising this thread and expressing their support for the administration - supporting them in doing the right things, the needed things, the things that Democrats have been working and fighting for over decades and decades, not merely screaming "I support him" whenever left wing critics try to say anything, using claims of "loyalty" in order to shut the leftists and pro-Labor people and GLBTQ people and teachers and anti-war people and anti-poverty people, and safe food people and anti-torture people down.

K and R.


...

[TBF]

24. K&R to this post for explaining the dynamics so well.

I also support the EFCA 100% and call on everyone to support Obama/Biden on getting this act passed.

[bluedawg12]

41. I support the Administration on Unions and ECFA!

Go Dems!

[bottomtheweaver]

9. Finally a Dem who sounds like a Dem.

I guess that's better than nothing.

[Deja Q]

54. I think VP Biden is a good guy.

I think he's naive on some of the DRM stuff (though a content creator myself, I am no longer dead set against some of it - we need protection too and we're not the big companies that can mooch off of everyone else), his heart was in the right place on that as was the bankruptcy bill.

Nobody really thought corporations would do sleazy things.

[bottomtheweaver]

59. I like Biden.

I think he's a good guy too. A little too quick to compromise, or to sell out to put it bluntly, but then I remember what happened to his wife and daughter -- yeah, you know what I mean -- and I have to think he might have his reasons.

[Vehl]

10. great news! K&R

[Waiting For Everyman]

11. K&R

I don't care how unlikely it is... I want (and expect) EFCA passed, and single payer.

Bullshit on this "it's too hard" attitude. People forget, there's a lot of old bad law from the Repub years to undo as well as good new law to get done. Congress needs to go get its big pants on. They need to out-talk a couple of fillibusters too, if that's what it takes. Get devious with procedures, if that's what it takes, or with funding the troublemakers want, I really don't care. No excuses - they know ways to do things. (And somebody needs to find a way to put the fear of God into Max Baucus!)

Go Biden! :thumbsup: I hope he keeps pushing EFCA relentlessly.

[dotymed]

33. Middle Class

If it weren't for Unions, there would have never been a middle
class in America. The original Union supporters in this
country had to fight and many, many were killed. The
authorities overlooked most anti-union violence and usually
helped the corporations (literally) kill the Union movement.
All the time, I hear idiots blame many of our countries
problems on Unions. That takes a special kind of stupidity,
Unfortunately, and this can be remedied, Unions have made too
many concessions to corporate America. These days almost all
Union workers have to submit to random drug testing. I say
fine, but make all of the executives do the same. It used to
be that Unions were extremely loyal to their members, sadly
now they have to sacrifice some members so that they can keep
the others working. Unions used to fight for what was right,
no matter the consequences. When the corporations knew that,
then they were much more likely to treat all members
professionally. Also, Unions used to take care of their own.
If a worker became disabled, then the Union would find a place
for that loyal employee, in their organization. Now they'll
just cut you loose. Most of them want business execs running
the show, not people who have worked hard and ruined their
health, or given their youth to their Unions.
No matter, the world is still a much better place with Unions.
I remember when I joined the carpenters Union after 15 years
as a non-union carpenter. I could actually get ahead and my
family had health care. After all of those years being told by
my bosses of the "evil Unions" I found out that I
was being lied to the whole time. I worked for companies that
made us attend "dinners" where they showed
anti-Union films and told us how evil the Unions were. What a
schmuck for wasting those years, non-union. Unfortunately,
after a few heart attacks (twelve years of Union work) I got
my B.S. and couldn't get hired in the business side of the
Union. Oh well, I still get a small check and HEALTH
INSURANCE, way better than non-union.

[Waiting For Everyman]

45. "fight for what was right, no matter the consequences"

That's it. That's what we have to get back to, in a nutshell.

Great post, dotymed, and welcome! I agree with you. I watched my parents who were both teachers, join when the first union for them was created. For the first time, they didn't have to take out very scarey loans to live on through the summer, which they scrimped every dime to pay back all winter. The worry they used to go through! Even as a kid, I felt sorry for them. After the union, their salaries were higher and paid over 12 months. For the first time, they could breathe a little.

Around where I live (close to WV), there are lots of stories of the first unions, and their struggles and casualties. You're right, our history should be taught better than it is today - then people could recognize their own self-interest better. And know who's on their side and who isn't.

[cyclezealot]

12. I'd agee with Joe. But.

Too bad US trade policy off shores all the good jobs for which Unions would be a good thing.

[Swagman]

13. wonderful to hear a VP say this and it's true-unions help build wealth

for it's members and thereby for everyone, including business, as it's re-distributed.

[happygoluckytoyou]

14. YEEHAH!!!! Tell the MFs that CLASS WARFARE IS BACK ON!!!!!

it is about time the workers of the country UNITE to have the same clout as the corporations------

adios WALMART $80 BILLION FORTUNE.... goodbye EMPLOYEES WITHOUT HEALTHCARE.... HELLO LIVING WAGES

(i hope the NEW unions can restrain from f'ing up their own water with stupid requests)

[Norrin Radd]

15. kr

[KG]

16. well, duh. now, what's the plan to bring back manufacturing/union jobs?

the 'stimuulous' plan isn't going to do much without addressing the two major drags on the ecomony - the lack of manufacturing base and out of control military spending.

[Fumesucker]

17. Three things..

"Free trade" needs to have the harsh light of economic reality shone upon it.

[madrchsod]

18. plan? we do`t have no stink`n plan....

you are spot on. another is trade and tax policy reform to restart our manufacturing base.

[Romulox]

20. Barack Obama "believes in Free Trade" (see sig). So nothing. Nothing will be done.

[Auggie]

25. I'm waiting for one too

[Two Americas]

60. how to do that

The loot handed to Wall Street would put 20 million people to work at $50,000 a year, and they could be building things. That would begin to restore our manufacturing base, get money flowing, revive the economy, upgrade wages everywhere, stabilize communities, and bring relief to the people. It would leave the billionaires on Wall Street out of the loop for the time being as they waited for wealth to trickle up, and they are the ones who own our politicians and control our government.

Reaganomics policies made outsourcing easy. Repeal all of those policies.


...

[tclambert]

19. The first three priorities of the unions should be:

1) Unionize Wal-Mart.
2) Unionize Wal-Mart.
and
3) Unionize Wal-Mart!

[bdamomma]

21. I'm glad we have a VP who gets it.

[scentopine]

22. Corps have lobbyistst and use collective barging to cheat workers and consumers

and pocket the cash ...that's called good "business". When workers look after their own interests its called communism.

Good for Joe, he is right. Recently my co. told us they are cutting back janitorial staff to 2 or 3 times a week. Our conditions border on filthy as is. Meanwhile CEO took home 6 or 7 million last year, near record pay on biggest losses in many years and mass firings. Those that remain are told we are expected to double our output for less pay. Some how its never management's fault for bad acquisitions, friends and family hiring practices and out-right deception.

Folks we are in big trouble. Time to put some pressure on these MBA SOBs.

[The2ndWheel]

26. "a bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions"

Things like this seem odd to me. Why does anyone need a bill to make it easier to form a union? Just get together and form one, and I think you have to be ready to suffer any consequences for that action. Seems to me that if you want something, until you're willing to pay the price to get it, you're always going to be playing by the rules of those who set up the system. So everyone ends up waiting for a bill that may or may not be written at some point.

Another funny thing is that we want the government to help make it easier to form unions, but then we don't like it when the governments allows corporations to merge. In one area, we like consolidation, as it gives people more power. In the other area, we don't like consolidation, as it gives corporations more power. Then the government itself is a monopoly, which is what gives it the power it has. Obviously corporations like their own consolidation of power, and do everything to fight people doing the same thing. Then the corporations and the governments have the same fight over consolidation of power. On a global scale, corporations probably have a large chunk of the power pie since there are a few hundred regional governments around the world, and so there isn't that monopoly on a global scale where government receives its power from, whereas the big corporations are increasingly multi-national.

Perhaps only when there is one global government, one global corporation, and one global labor union, and all three are one in the same, will this fight stop. Wouldn't leave much room for diversity though. Then again, from everybody wanting to consolidate their power, it doesn't seem that diversity is part of the equation anyway.

[eauclaireliberal]

28. nt

nt

[dotymed]

34. The 2nd Wheel

is off the track!
We are talking about what is best for PEOPLE not corporations.
They have their lobbyists. Monopolies are BAD for
people.Unions are GOOD for people. Have you ever tried to get
a Union recognized in a non-union plant? I have. As a member
of the carpenters union, I was mainly off during the winter.
My wife worked for a manufacturing company whose employees
were trying to unionize. The company fired all of the
organizers. They hired "Union busters." They had the
local police on their side and terrorized and arrested
strikers. I was helping out and was arrested too. They
eventually "went out of business." They re-opened
the next week under a new name and hired new employees.They
still pay their workers minimum wage, while the owners live
like royalty. You can keep your fiefdoms, Americans deserve a
slice of the pie. They do all of the work.

[The2ndWheel]

38. "Monopolies are BAD for people"

But the government of, by, and for the people is a monopoly.

"We are talking about what is best for PEOPLE not corporations."

But corporations exist, and act in the same way. Corporations consolidate power by merging. Unions want more members. It's the same coin, just different sides of it.

"Have you ever tried to get a Union recognized in a non-union plant? I have. As a member of the carpenters union, I was mainly off during the winter. My wife worked for a manufacturing company whose employees were trying to unionize. The company fired all of the organizers. They hired "Union busters." They had the local police on their side and terrorized and arrested strikers. I was helping out and was arrested too. They eventually "went out of business." They re-opened the next week under a new name and hired new employees.They still pay their workers minimum wage, while the owners live like royalty. You can keep your fiefdoms, Americans deserve a slice of the pie. They do all of the work."

Yet we continue to try and make it easier for ourselves to be able to stay in the corporate world, by having the government make it easier to form unions, so that we can continue working for the corporation. It's still their pie. They still own the ingredients. Maybe that there is only one pie is the problem. As you said, Americans deserve a slice of the pie. The idea of a single pie is the ultimate dream of the consolidated power of organizations. That would mean that there is no alternative. That there is no existence outside of its own consolidated power structure. We complain about that all the time, yet all we do is make it easier for ourselves to be another cog in the machine.

[redqueen]

27. Excellent.

It's about time we started killing off all that idiotic anti-worker propaganda from the Reagan era.

[eauclaireliberal]

29. Where I am it is a struggle as it is for many

Relations between staff and low-level admins soured yesterday which has been skating on a real thin line for some time now anyway.

The big problem is that a major health-care corporation owns the faciltiy I work at and have anti-union policies that anyone showing interest in unions are out the door.

That and the fact that nursing homes are going to become BIG BUSINESS when the Boomers reach the age. We know what happens with business models like this...WalMart.

[eauclaireliberal]

30. Did I forget to mention the health insurance cap via Anthem?

$50k a year, which is a total joke. Today's health care make it impossible to afford.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Overseas]

31. K&R -- That's the way we did it the first time. Til Papa Ron came along

with his intense union busting and tax cuts for the already rich.

[Mari333]

32. k n r

[Vidar]

35. Yes!!! Recommended.

[cap]

37. Middle class professionals had better wake up and smell the coffee and get into unions, too

Too often, unionization has been looked at as a working man's thing. Unfortunately, professionals thought that getting an education would protect them from an unstable life. That has not been been borne out by the actions of management.

[mule_train]

39. too bad he supportted raising H-1b visa

I'm all for unions as well, butg he supported one of the most vicious labor busting schemes ever

so which side is the real Biden?

[guitar man]

40. Right On

The execs like to howl about how "they have a contract" to justify any and all excess they indulge themselves with. Well, we should have contracts to, not to indulge excess but to guarantee living wages and benefits.

[ChiciB1]

42. As A Direct Recipient Of A Union All Our Working Lives... We Would Be

in a heap of trouble without them! For all the bad rap, what could be worse than what we have now??

I'm all for UNIONS!!!

[LaPera]

43. Support Employee Free CHOICE Act-Republicans & corporations are fighting to defeat Union Free CHOICE

Read the facts if you don't know them...the facts are right here in this link...
http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/voiceatwork/efca/

[pberq]

46. EFCA Now!!! nt

[bluescribbler]

47. Think he was preaching to the choir?

nt

[HelenWheels]

48. Since unions created the middle class it only makes sense.

go unions

[jillan]

49. k&r

[WheelWalker]

50. K&R!

:kick:

[nyc 4 Biden]

51. K&R

[Deja Q]

53. I agree with him, but it's a shame unions are needed in the first place.

Just pay people a good wage for what they do. Companies and their profits are made up of their workers. Why keep them down?

Until then, as my uncle says, "Unions are a necessary evil". And I, having been in one, know they are not perfect either...

[Two Americas]

57. the shareholders and investors

Why would companies ever pay good wages? They answer to the investors, to Wall Street, and the job is to return the maximum on investments. That means wreck the environment, screw the workers, and rip off the consumers as much as you can possibly get away with. Outsource, underpay, cut quality, raise prices, create monopolies, bribe the government officials, skirt the law. Not because they are evil people, nor intend primarily to do those things, but because that maximizes profits and share value.

Why must unions be perfect? What does that have to do with anything? What in this world is? Surgery is a necessary evil for a appendicitis, and is not perfect, but it is the appendicitis that is the problem, not the surgery.



...

[PatSeg]

55. K&R

[ElboRuum]

56. Self-Delete

[Smarmie Doofus]

58. Great. Let's start with teachers' unions. Tell Sec. Duncan. nt