DU Union members- your input: "AFL-CIO may reduce support to Democrats"

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/afl-cio-may-reduce-support-to-democrats-1486835.html

WASHINGTON — The nation's largest labor federation is weighing whether to pull political support from congressional Democrats who aren't doing enough to back labor unions.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is expected to issue the warning in a speech Friday at the National Press Club.

In prepared remarks, Trumka said the role of unions is not to build the power of any political party, but to improve the lives of working families. He promised that unions would spend the summer holding leaders in Congress and the states accountable

"It doesn't matter if candidates and parties are controlling the wrecking ball or simply standing aside," Trumka said. "The outcome is the same either way. If leaders aren't blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families' interests, working people will not support them."

The AFL-CIO's executive council is considering a plan that could spend less on congressional races and more on fighting state battles like those in Wisconsin and Ohio, where lawmakers want to weaken collective bargaining rights and reduce union clout.

Last month, the nation's largest firefighters union said it was halting political donations to members of Congress deemed to be not fighting hard enough for union rights. The move has won praise in many corners of the labor movement, where union activists have openly grumbled about House and Senate Democrats being too quiet while unions are getting pummeled in dozens of states.

The AFL-CIO spent more than $50 million to support Democrats in last year's midterm elections, but a growing number of union leaders remain frustrated at what their money has bought. Some activists want to reallocate resources permanently so that more is spent bolstering grass roots support in the states.

The move to shift union donations could hurt some Democrats who have relied on a steady flow of union cash year after year.

Trumka also slams lawmakers in dozens of state legislatures for passing budgets that slash pensions and curb bargaining rights of middle class union members while giving tax cuts to "the powerful and well-connected."

"The final outrage of these budgets is hidden in the fine print," Trumka said. "In state after state, and here in Washington, these so called fiscal hawks are actually doing almost nothing to cut the deficit."

He said these budget deals are sending a message that "sacrifice is for the weak."

[HereSince1628]

1. Threatening works for other lobbyists, why not for unions?

It even works for nations involved in international diplomacy with the US. Usually nations to who we feel closely tied.

[w8liftinglady]

3. My partner is a member of AFT. I'm curious to see his take

he is about as Dem as they come. In Texas, it is a non-issue for union members. The Republicans here are NON- UNION. period.the end.

[Starry Messenger]

2. Works for me.

Wish the teachers unions would do this too.

[w8liftinglady]

7. Actually, American Federation of Teachers is AFL/CIO

Which is why I was curious.
Some Democratic leaders have put us in a tough position.
In Texas,it is really tough.Teachers are being screwed by the republican majority as is.
In the DISD, we are losing our Demm sell-out superintendant,Hinojosa. Hopefully, they will appoint a more teacher-friendly person in his place.

[Starry Messenger]

16. D'oh!

I'm in AFT and didn't think about that. Shouldn't post before caffeine! Well, I haven't heard any noises from our leadership that would follow what the AFL/CIO is saying here yet. Could get interesting if they do. The NEA just endorsed Obama, and my union usually isn't that much different from the NEA from my worm's eye point of view.

[w8liftinglady]

17. that's why I was curious as to other AFL/CIO members' views

I can't see my partner voting anything BUT Democratic,but I can see him redirecting contributions.

[DainBramaged]

4. Serves them right. They want to stand aside, our support should stand aside...

[fredamae]

5. I Agree! Any Dem who Fails to support

Democracy and the Democratic Process must be purged!

Just "being" a Dem is clearly Not enough. Perhaps in the past "they" could schmooze their way out of having to Work for the support they are given...based upon just "being a Dem" and it worked----then, but the game has changed.

[Brickbat]

6. I support this entirely. If Democrats don't help labor, why should labor help Democrats? It goes

beyond "help," IMO. Under Clinton, and ignoring the NAFTA debacle, labor enjoyed benign neglect. I was hoping for the same under Obama. But instead there has been active destruction of labor's interest, and why should we support that for another round?

[DrDan]

8. not a union member - but my wife is a member of theTeacher's Union

Why provide financial support to a candidate (or present member of Congress) who is not providing strong support for union rights?

Makes no sense to me to support them financially.

[PATRICK]

9. Decades of savvy

realism in supporting GOP "moderates" who would be forced to balk at extreme anti-union policies has been in a losing cause, an attrition matched by that of the purposeful loss of union jobs themselves. Most disappointing has always been to reluctant, slow or non-existent progress Democratic platforms seemed to promise. Far from overcoming the forces creating the aforementioned attrition the DLC has turned the corner against them, now resembling more the reluctant GOP moderates of the past with a hypocritical dishonesty that enrages much more. Nothing is more signature of this than the massacre of public education- unions first to the scaffold.

They might as well have tried to annihilate the GOP and seek another party for balance. Sure that may been unrealistic and not succeeded but maybe more satisfying than being slowly forced into the role perpetual suckers and extinction. It is just as arguable now that a flight from the Dem coffers is more a threat than before and that popular movement to labor causes, while growing in reality, is kept disconnected and still relatively powerless. This is also a pattern is dissatisfaction that each party faces when its constituents become disenchanted with the catering to the superclass over ALL public benefit and convictions. If we had a real strong Labor movement we might have some realistic labor party, which as a whole the Democratic party never has been. Every effort has been to disentangle the Dems from their strong labor connection since the Roosevelt years. That continues stronger than ever and unabated even though there are still individual Dem pols to entice Labor to keep up its fight for the "soul" of the party.

Slowing before the battle is won, watching policy incrementalism in reverse during general prosperity(slow progress for working man legislation, bigger chipping away) being top "players" and sophisticated political deal makers while the rank and file goes inert or even insanely right wing is not just a fault of Labor. It is mostly how all wars go, union in the final accountability and fundamental causes.

In the math, does this simply liberate the DINO's who would take the labor money and in the end sell out to their richer corporate donors? Is it just an admission that Big Labor can't afford to double invest like corporations do?

[OHdem10]

10. The Heads of Firefighter Unions and Police Unions announced

earlier they will not be supporting the National Democratic
Party in the upcoming election. They are diverting all
funds to fighting in the states where they are under seige.

This was posted on DU a couple of times and it did not
even draw a yawn.

The Democrats on the Hill have been awkwardly silent during
all the attacks on Unions. It comes as no surprise to me
that the Unions must look out for their own interests.

[w8liftinglady]

11. My hope is that this action will remind Democratic representitives what it means

to be a "DEMOCRAT". if they don't act accordingly,I agree- we should not reward them with funding.

[iwishiwas]

18. I have read about it. Initally in WI, Walker did not include

police and firefighters. Now he has. Its a war.

[vi5]

12. Good for them. They should do this....

I'm sorry but more Democratic interests groups need to show the party that they can't be taken for granted and still assume to have their support.

The reason the Repubs act like they do and get what they want is because they fear their bases and their interest groups. Sure they may get confused and tie themselves in knots at times trying to please all of them, but in the end we're in a place where they are much more successful than we are.

[denverbill]

13. They need to do more. They need to find us other candidates and other parties if necessary.n/t

[w8liftinglady]

15. I'd like to see some Union members run

That is one thing I always liked about Bill White- who ran against Rick Perry in texas. his parents were both school teachers. he was very pro-labor...as pro-labor as you can be in texas.

[Coyote_Bandit]

14. Seems to me that Trumka

understands exactly what role the union is supposed to fill.

Meanwhile the politicians are too fucking stupid to understand that government is supposed to serve the people.

Kind of hard to blame the unions for doing their job.

Easy to think the dumbshit politicians have it coming. If they don't like it then I guess they can change their behavior.

[iwishiwas]

19. "simply "standing aside" during the process is a much more aggressive" yes it is and

I they mean it.


...The labor community -- the AFL-CIO especially -- has been taking steps towards greater independence from the Democratic Party as its disappointments with the Obama administration and congressional Democrats have mounted. The typical response from party insiders has been dismissive assumptions that labor has nowhere else to go.

But 2012 is the first cycle since unions actively campaigned against then-incumbent Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. And clearly Trumka feels emboldened by that experience, despite Lincoln's primary win. The AFL-CIO has traditionally judged lawmakers by their votes on legislation; threatening them for simply "standing aside" during the process is a much more aggressive posture.....................

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Why don't they just control the donations to candidates whosupport their causes?

[Lionessa]

21. Seems to me that Dems are getting exactly what they deserve...

Under primarily Dem control for the last 3 years, I would have to conclude that the numbers of union members is down due to layoffs and legislations, additionally their members' wages/benefits have been either stagnant or declining, and though it used to be on the Repubs shoulders that this has been the trend since the 70s, it's now clearly also on the shoulders of the general Democrat, with very few exceptions. Furthermore, Obama could have but didn't endorse union loving Dems in the last round, instead choosing to support the union-busting BlueDogs.....

Yep they should pull ALL Dem support except on an individual basis for those proven to have earned it and save that money for when the Dem Party (DLC & DNC) pulls it's head out of it's ungrateful ass.

[mountainlion55]

22. Its bad enough

that organized labor has to fight the RW asshats in the country. Its been a slap in the face of labor that for the last twenty yrs we have had the DLC and DNC stabbing labor in the back. Much more action is needed to stop the anti-union policies of the DLC. Unfortunately you will not get that support from Mr. OBama as he is DLC to the max. Keep up the good fight Mr. Trumpka:smoke:

[qb]

23. I'm 100% Pro-Union. Fuck the DINOs.

[Omaha Steve]

24. Unions of the AFL-CIO

http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/unions/

Unions Affiliated with the AFL-CIO

Scroll through the list below to find a union.

Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) | Contact info | Website

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) | Contact info | Website

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) | Contact info | Website

American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) | Contact info | Website

American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) | Contact info | Website

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) | Contact info | Website

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) | Contact info | Website

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) | Contact info | Website

American Postal Workers Union (APWU) | Contact info | Website

American Radio Association (ARA) | Contact info

American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) | Contact info

Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4As) | Contact info
Actors' Equity Association (AEA) | Contact info | Website
American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) | Contact info | Website
American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) | Contact info | Website
Screen Actors Guild (SAG) | Contact info | Website
The Guild of Italian American Actors (GIAA) | Contact info | Website

Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) | Contact info | Website

Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) | Contact info | Website

California School Employees Association (CSEA) | Contact info | Website

Communications Workers of America (CWA) | Contact info | Website
Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) | Contact info | Website

Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) | Contact info | Website

Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union (GMP) | Contact info | Website

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE) | Contact info | Website

International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (Ironworkers) | Contact info | Website

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) | Contact info | Website

International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (AWIU) | Contact info | Website

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) | Contact info | Website

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB) | Contact info | Website

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) | Contact info | Website

International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) | Contact info | Website

International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) | Contact info | Website

International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) | Contact info | Website

International Plate Printers, Die Stampers and Engravers Union of North America | Contact info

International Union of Allied Novelty and Production Workers (Novelty and Production Workers) | Contact info

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) | Contact info | Website

International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) | Contact info | Website

International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) | Contact info | Website

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades of the United States and Canada (IUPAT) | Contact info | Website

International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) | Contact info | Website

Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) | Contact info | Website
National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) | Contact info | Website

Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA) | Contact info | Website
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) | Contact info | Website

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) | Contact info | Website

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) | Contact info | Website

National Nurses United (NNU) | Contact info | Website

Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) | Contact info | Website

Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association of the United States and Canada (OPCMIA) | Contact info | Website

Seafarers International Union of North America (SIU) | Contact info | Website

Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) | Contact info | Website

Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) | Contact info | Website

Transportation Communications International Union/IAM (TCU/IAM) | Contact info | Website

UNITEHERE! (UNITEHERE!) | Contact info | Website

United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) | Contact info | Website

United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union (UAW) | Contact info | Website

United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) | Contact info | Website

United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Service Workers International Union (USW) | Contact info | Website

United Transportation Union (UTU) | Contact info | Website

United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers (Roofers and Waterproofers) | Contact info | Website

Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) | Contact info | Website

Writers Guild of America, East Inc. (WGAE) | Contact info | Website

[mike_c]

25. there was a great deal of anger at my union's last delegate assembly...

...directed almost entirely at California's democrats, including the governor. We KNOW republicans want to shaft us and we don't support them. But we have given a LOT of money to support democratic politicians and we're angry at the lack of support we've received from those dems once they're in office. The mood of the delegates was that we will only support dems in future who prove their worth to us by working for legislation that advances labor issues. I think the days of "automatic" support for dems are over.