Biden: Unions are way to rebuild middle class - VP says it's time to level playing field, pass EFCA

[jefferson_dem]

Biden: Unions are way to rebuild middle class

Vice president says it's time to level playing field by passing 'card check'



WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden, making a renewed pitch for a major change in labor law, told union leaders Tuesday that the best way to rebuild the middle class is to help labor unions grow.

Biden said it's time to "level the playing field" for unions by passing a bill that would make it easier for workers to organize.

"You've got to climb up a hill with so many roadblocks on the way to organize that it's just out of whack," Biden told a conference of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which has about 1.6 million members.

"If a union is what you want, then a union is what you should get," Biden said.

The Employee Free Choice Act — also known as "card check" — is organized labor's top priority this year, but business groups are adamantly opposed. It would allow a majority of workplace employees to sign cards to join a union instead of holding secret ballot elections.

Senate lawmakers are working on a compromise version of the measure that will satisfy some moderate Democrats that have concerns about the bill. Democratic leaders need to garner 60 votes in the Senate to overcome an expected GOP attempt to filibuster.

<SNIP>

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30706018/

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Maybe it'll come to a Senate tiebreaker.

The only way he'll make a difference.

[Muttocracy]

7. I keep forgetting about the tie-breaker thing! nt

[Occam Bandage]

11. I doubt we'll see any of those in Obama's Presidency,

given that Republicans are reflexively filibustering anything and everything.

[Fire1]

2. Kick and Rec'd.

[nichomachus]

3. And a way to rebuild the country

which is why the corporatists will fight it tooth and nail. They've been fighting unions since the Bush coup attempt in 1934 -- and they're really close to turning this into a feudal society. So, expect them to fight hard and fight dirty, if they have to.

[bvar22]

4. Nice speech to give in front of "union leaders ".

Lets see him give it in front of the Nation,

or to the Chamber of Commerce,

or to WalMart executives

or (while twisting their arms) to Landrieu, Pryor, Lincoln, Nelson, Nelson, Bayh (waterboard him), and a couple of other "Centrist" Dem Senators (ConservoDems).

[Earth Bound Misfit]

9. Now THAT'S something I'd watch even if it were PPV.

Not holding my breath, though.:shrug:

[vaberella]

5. I'm too distracted by the craziest pic of Biden I've seen yet. n/t

[firedupdem]

6. Go Joe. n/t

[Muttocracy]

8. C-Span.org has the whole thing (audio only). nt

[WA98070]

10. So, end Free Trade. Unions and the middle class will prosper. n/t

[tomreedtoon]

12. Unions are good. But jobs would be better.

Jobs in America, that is. Worked by Americans. Making real, physical products in America that are durable, useful and accepted the world over.

I can't help escape the feeling that one of the biggest lies sold to us is that, to be worthwhile, all jobs have to be executive, college-educated jobs. One of the reasons we have problems is that people have been afraid to be factory workers, and the Republicans and the corporations relied on that to destroy the American workplace.

For the record, manual labor is not evil or despicable, and workers can think and philosophize and write articles for DU and have fulfilling lives without wearing a suit, coat and tie. Although I know most people here will reflexively vomit when they hear that.

[Kdillard]

13. I agree with you wholeheartedly.