Split in organized labor over immigration

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

Split in organized labor over immigration
Unions not on same page when it comes to legislation

Updated: 2:14 p.m. CT June 21, 2007
WASHINGTON - The revival of the Senate's immigration legislation also resurrected a rare split inside organized labor.

The AFL-CIO formally came out against the bill Wednesday, reflecting the distaste among manufacturing unions and others whose members have been displaced by overseas competition and would have to compete with an influx of cheaper workers who don't have labor rights.

Embracing the bill are a couple of unions that cater to workers in the fast-growing service sector of the economy and also split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. They've seen their membership rosters swell with immigrants taking jobs in hotels and restaurants and as janitors.

The Senate legislation would legalize some 12 million unlawful immigrants and create a new temporary guest worker program wanted by employers in virtually all sectors of the economy. That's where the unions' interests diverge.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19352537/

[pinto]

1. I support a legalization process, don't support a guest worker program, support unionization.

[bluestateguy]

2. I plan to call both of my senators and my congressman top urge them to defeat this bill

The objective of this bill is to create a permanent class of low wage, low skill workers with few or no rights, all at the expense of American workers.

This "path to citizenship" (or whatever it's called) is also unfair to legal immigrants who have been waiting in line and respecting our laws.

We need to enforce the laws on the books first before passing this monstrosity of a bill.

[sandnsea]

4. Those who are in line

will stay at the front of the line. The ones who are here will have to go to the end of the line, wait many years, jump through a ton of hoops, etc. The people who are in line right now will not be hurt at all.

If this bill didn't have guest worker, it would be a good bill.

[sandnsea]

3. I think SEIU is bad for unions

This is just one more reason why. They should stand up for the immigrants who want to come here and stay, not create a revolving door of exploitable labor. I think they have been duped by right wing anti-union rhetoric.