AFL-CIO's Stewart Acuff at Little Rock rally for Employee Free Choice Act

[Omaha Steve]

Run time: 04:56 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qDNyUsIMGI   Posted on YouTube: May 29, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: June 13, 2009 By DU Member: Omaha Steve Views on DU: 256

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/art-levine/as-senators-huddle-over-b_b_214661.html

Art Levine

Contributing editor of The Washington Monthly
Posted: June 12, 2009 03:21 AM

Senators, led by Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, are stepping up the pace of negotiations for a version of the Employee Free Choice Act that could be introduced by next month, Roll Call and CQ reported this week. Conservative bloggers and pundits are alarmed, with the right-wingers at Red State quoting with dismay the new developments involving moderate Democrats:

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) indicated Wednesday that he will be ready to bring up the long-stalled Employee Free Choice Act next month, following weeks of negotiations with key stakeholders.


"We're in meetings right now. I'm still hopeful that we can get something done," Harkin said.

The Iowa Democrat has regularly huddled with Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor (Ark.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Arlen Specter (Pa.) to try to hatch a compromise on the measure, known as "card check." On Tuesday, Harkin included AFL-CIO legislative director Bill Samuel in the talks -- an indication that progress is being made.

Excluded from the closed-door talks have been Democratic naysayers to the bill such as Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), whose support Harkin will need to avoid a filibuster...

The conservative pundits are worried: "Polls show Specter is vulnerable to a real Democrat; he may need the foot soldiers the unions bring, and it's likely that whatever his public posture, he's working behind the scenes to deliver for labor."

Meanwhile, unions are stepping up the pressure on wavering Democratic Senators, such as Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Union activists are using every strategic tool at their disposal, from grass-roots campaigns to tough ad campaigns. As Stewart Acuff, the special assistant to the AFL-CIO president, noted in a recent column citing as one example the mounting support by black mayors in Arkansas:

Both nationally and in targeted states, every element of the Democratic Party is stepping up to demand that Democratic Senators support the Employee Free Choice Act.

FULL story at link.

[wtbymark]

1. K&R Thanks for the Labor posts Steve n/t