Obama Seeks To Improve State Of The Unions

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/31/labor-unions-update-markets-equity-0130_markets36.html

Ruthie Ackerman, 01.31.09, 09:00 AM EST
President makes clear that he will be pro-labor and right away.

It's no suprise the America's new president, Barack Obama, is pro-labor; promises to help workers were part of his campaign and his party has traditionally catered to them. What is a surprise was the forceful statements in support of unions he made on Friday, in the opening days of his term and against a backdrop of economic malaise that might have justified some coddling of business at least for a while.

"I believe we have to reverse many of the policies toward organized labor that we have seen over the past eight years, policies with which I have sharply disagreed," Obama told a gathering at the White House. "Labor is not part of the problem, it is part of the solution," he said to loud applause from an audience that included representatives of labor unions and business groups.

"Obama's actions are a significant thing to take place in the earliest days of the adminstration," said Bruce S. Raynor, general president of the labor group Unite Here. "This shows this will be a proworker administration that wants to affirm workers' rights to join unions and be represented by unions and have those organizations play a significant role in public policy under the news president."

The president was meeting with labor leaders to announce the creation of a Middle Class Task Force. Led by Vice President Joe Biden, the panel is meant to help the middle class, and those aspiring to be middle class, gain a foothold on the American dream. Obama said the task force will focus on “policies to create jobs that pay well” and “workplaces that are safe and fair,” a move applauded by labor unions across the country.

FULL story at link.