AP: Labor tries to regain clout, Push is on to recruit and organize

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070328/NEWS01/703280382

Labor tries to regain clout
Push is on to recruit and organize
By Dan Sewell
Associated Press

On a frigid winter afternoon, scores of people stood shoulder-to-shoulder on Fountain Square to chant, cheer, give speeches and wave placards and banners in support of better economic opportunity and union rights.

Linda Watson, a janitor, told of life at minimum wage, depending on a bus for transportation, lacking insurance to pay for medicine, hoping that becoming unionized could help.

"We all need to stick together," she said.

Loud rallies. Aggressive organizing. Proud talking. Flexing political muscle.

Once common traits of one of America's most powerful movements, today they reflect the fanning of efforts to rekindle unions' importance, after years of decline.

"We think it's going to turn around; we think it's a movement that's going to continue and grow," said Bill Dudley, an organizing strategist for the United Food and Commercial Workers in southwest Ohio.

Watson, who is black, was part of a diverse group including Hispanic workers, civil rights activists and religious leaders in the boisterous rally. It was one of several across the Midwest this month by a labor coalition - including the UFCW, UNITE HERE and the Service Employees International Union - that has stepped up organizing of lower-wage workers.

Earlier this month, leaders of the AFL-CIO gathered in Las Vegas to map the federation's strategy for the 2008 elections. They talked about people feeling good again about being in unions, about union pride in the aftermath of 2006 elections that represented one of the best results for labor-backed candidates in decades.

"It's time to finish what we started," said John Sweeney, the AFL-CIO president.

The new Democratic-majority Congress offers hope for labor initiatives, including a bill to make it easier to organize union representation. And established unions are broadening their recruiting efforts to add members from janitors, nurses, casino dealers and other groups beyond their traditional bases.

"The situation for labor is a little more optimistic than it has been in awhile," said John Schmitt, senior economist for the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a nonprofit think tank. "That said, the labor movement is really in a significant squeeze. There's a lot of movement and activity to address it right now."

Mark Weaver, a veteran Columbus-based Republican strategist, said that while unions remain effective at mobilizing their voters, they are being eclipsed in political importance.

"One thing that we know is that 40 years ago, labor unions were the Tyrannosaurus Rex of politics," he said. "Today, they are a smaller, less-dangerous dinosaur. Whether they'll soon be extinct remains to be seen."

FULL story at link.

[yourout]

1. Years ago I would have said we don't need unions.....now I would join one in a second.

If you want to really make a Republican head spin tell them you want to allow illegals to immigrate and they must join a union when they do.