Obama aide sees unionization as fix for economy

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.peoplesworld.org/obama-aide-sees-unionization-as-fix-for-economy/

by: Mark Gruenberg
November 5 2010

WASHINGTON (PAI) - Legislation like the Employee Free Choice Act, which promotes collective bargaining, would help pull the U.S. out of its economic hole, a top White House official says.

But Ron Bloom, Democratic President Barack Obama's senior counselor for manufacturing policy, admits that his is a difficult message to get across to the nation, especially in an age of political attack ads and 30-second sound bites.



Repeatedly disclaiming, "I don't do politics," Bloom, a former top financial advisor to the Steelworkers, whom Obama brought into the White House to orchestrate the rescue of the U.S. auto industry, reiterated Obama's support for the Employee Free Choice Act.

The EFCA, labor's top legislative goal, died without a floor vote in the 111th Congress due to a virulent business campaign against it and a planned Senate GOP filibuster. The EFCA promotes collective bargaining by leveling the playing field between workers and bosses in organizing, first-contract negotiations and penalties for labor law-breaking.

To get such a law to congressional votes, "You have to have a real conversation about what kind of country we want to have," Bloom said in an Oct. 29 keynote address at a D.C. conference on the 75th anniversary of the National Labor Relations Act.

FULL story at link.

[OhioBlue]

1. He's right of course

for the long term sustainable economy that this needs to pass IMO...

But... like he said - he doesn't do politics. We need more education (via organizing, marketing, etc.) for the general population as to why this is important. I honestly think a populist push is the only way we can get this legislation up for a vote now. And, chances are even with a huge grassroots effort, Speaker Boner will still block it. We need to take back the House to have a shot.

[Occulus]

2. Unions mean nothing if management refuses to abide by the provisions of the contract

In my workplace, we have a situation wherein management was handed a decision via binding arbitration that they did not like. The decision, handed down five years ago, is now impossible to fulfill, due to cuts only very recently made by management.

We have filed literally hundreds of grievances based solely upon this issue, and those have been filed in the time between the cuts made last year and today. Our union appears to be completely powerless to rectify the situation, even though the arbitration is supposed to be binding.

The union's solution? File a grievance. Well, we did, and won it, but management now refuses to acknowledge that.

If anyone has a solution, I'm all ears.

[pnorman]

4. "...if management refuses to abide by the provisions of the contract"

Ultimately, this can only be resolved by a labor movement too strong to be marginalize or ignore altogether. And one founded on the principle of: AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!. Sadly, all too many unions prefer raiding each other to "Organizing The Unorganized"

[corpseratemedia]

3. well here is a big difference between a rep and dem presidency

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_Free_Choice_Act

some good news...we needed this..

[freshwest]

5. Thanks for the story

I'm feeling a bit better about the administration about hearing so much Obama bashing. Still a long road.