Title: Still Looking for the Union Label #35-09 September 2, 2009

" warden is leaning on making contact and I got a mission personally educate America find unions because Americans have been hot. Over the last couple decades -- unions -- dirty word."

" The last time congress tried to change labor laws making it easier to organize a union the bill lost by one vote. That was in the 1970s. This fall another -- will likely come up from then. And with the current administration and congress. It seems the labor movement we'll have strong allies. But things aren't so cut and drive a contentious debate on Capitol Hill is -- On this addition we hear from a longtime union leader talks about the future of labor unions. And in a special collaboration with public kind magazine. Correspondent -- shared takes a look at the employee free choice act. I'm Tina rubio and desist making contact the program connecting people out of ideas and important information."

" What god but that's about as scared. -- sisters and Brothers yeah on the west coast info."

" This June in New York City. And workers are rallying with demands and yes prayers for a stronger labor movement."

" But of the Univision processors are Brothers but let's not it is brought all the votes throughout America. -- doesn't help pass -- point -- exact but right. But what's in any human right drop but young and the goblet -- and pick -- odd yeah. Well I can't. We'll."

" Gathered outside of ratings annual meeting -- service workers and cookie makers are here to ask that the multinational stop its union busting. They want the company to negotiate a contract with its workers and like others around the country. The workers called on congress to pass a major overhaul of labor -- That would make it easier for workers to create unions and negotiate contracts once they have one. The legislation is called Africa the employee free choice act. Angel Warner is a great aid warehouse worker from California. Says Africa could help."

" Her union click here -- reads like that. Hint -- right now we went and had to wait two years before we even got our vote. We wouldn't plus thousand workers elite -- when we did they did find -- to charge writing little warning I have. The labor violations. -- I'm -- back. Without having everything matters in minus unemployment."

" Angel Warner and her colleagues eventually won the union election despite the harassment. But like other workers they say the rules are set against them that's -- passing the employee free choice act is labor's number one goal. Only 12% of American work. -- are in unions. Down from a third in the fifties. Low penalties mean employers freely used illegal union busting tactics to intimidate workers. And it's legal for them to delay the union election long enough to stop -- organizing all together. Despite urgent need for labor law reform. One by one the business lobby has peeled back crucial support from Democrats. So that senators have bargained away the heart of the bill called card check. It would let workers forming a union if a majority sign cards saying they are not one. This could take away the power of employers to ignore the cards and demand secret ballot elections. Angel Warner."

" When we started out his campaign we have -- Harrison -- sign her card check on it. That begins writing would not recognize and react to go to god give me yeah employee free choice act out. We -- not a bad in the -- you recognize it. And the employee free choice act doesn't take you write music and -- and just put. The employees out of San Antonio and."

" Many government workers currently organize your card check. And rely -- legislature. Just gave this option to farm workers and others in the state who aren't covered by federal labor law. That's -- has another important provision. The bill would push contract talks into binding arbitration after ninety days if talks fail. A professional mediator works with both sides to come up with a contract. This would apply only to first contracts a brand new unions. Currently half of all new unions never get a contract because of employers Stonewall and Angel Warner knows this firsthand. Look."

" It's been over a year now almost going into a year and a half since we won the -- them by the world. And even dragging her. Stepped into and we would've gotten in contact right now."

" Just the threat of going into arbitration can help. So says Josh Goldstein of American rights at work I union supported group in Washington."

" This is an option in the public sector in many states where arbitration is an option. And 80%. Of those negotiations. Come to a first contract without the use of arbitration and just having that as an option. Helps to create bargaining between employers and employees -- there might be -- negotiations."

" Despite how passionate workers are in support of Africa groups such as the US chamber of commerce and others funded by big business are fighting back. They have a long history of putting labor on the defensive with their money and their misinformation campaigns. Here's a TV ad put out by the chamber of commerce in Virginia against Africa and card check."

" We can't let congress do this to Virginia congress wants to strip away the secret ballots depriving -- is so important to our basic fundamental rights movement bureaucrats and dictate to Virginia businesses -- bureaucrat from Washington. Clinton never. Tell any private enterprise how to run their business and this is going to devastate medium sized and small business to tell congress for."

" For business groups also put out the message that union leaders are thugs who will take away americans' freedoms. This ad against Africa put up by the national right to work committee says unions destroy the economy."

" If -- workers will lose their right to secret ballot elections when union organizers -- their workplaces instead union militants will be able to target workers would -- intimidation threats and worse all to get them to -- so called union authorization cards -- union -- control the result millions of workers and small businesses would be forced under big labor control in the blink of an -- these tough economic times that's something we literally can't afford."

" Backed by the clout of the US chamber of commerce these anti labor messages apparently work. Pennsylvania senator Arlen Specter said he could no longer support -- card check provision calling it undemocratic. Now Specter is a key Democrat along with senator Tom Harkin of Iowa. Crafting a compromise with out card check their goal is winning the sixty votes needed to stop a Republican filibuster. Another piece of misinformation was put up by the alliance to save main street jobs a chamber coalition with. Other industry groups. The study said the law would kill 600000. Jobs. That research was easily debunked by the Economic Policy Institute but its message made waves. Jessica Chlumsky from American rights at work."

" You know I think that for the most part these national front groups really are trying to providing ammunition for the opposition trying to provide. Hey. You know quick talking point a 32. -- they can be used over and over again team you know take something that isn't isn't necessarily true and use it to defeat the legislation."

" Even before the latest ad blitz business groups put 200 million dollars into their media campaign against Africa. Key backers are companies like Home Depot. Bank of America and the Coke industries fortune there mega corporations but their messages say they have small business interest close to their hearts. Economist Rick Wolff thinks he knows why."

" Nowadays big businesses are politically vulnerable no one likes them and everyone suspects them. Therefore. If they're gonna have a conflict with the trade union movement with them with the working people of America they'd. Desperately need to find allies and the most important ally that they traditionally curry favor with but even more so now. Is small business."

" But as -- points out. It's not unions that often hurt small business owners it's the very corporations that are putting out the anti Afghan campaign."

" And they will try to keep their alliance alive. By a focus on the presume to negative of these. Of unions for small business it's by the way a very good formula it's worked very well in America for a long time. Small businesses major enemy and all statistics in the economic history shoulders. The greatest enemy of his small business is big business that's who screws them that's who. Exploits them that's what's cool wipes them out when it's convenient because they have the resources to do it. In a competition between small and big business big business wins and small business loses and that's -- danger. Both refutes the claim they unions makes businesses less competitive. It's a kind of a truism. If you're going to. Try to be more competitive as an enterprise that you wanna reduce cost us. But the thing that's wrong with the argument. Really there are several first. To pay workers. Higher wages to give them stronger unions to enable them. To improve their situation. Has a very open ended effect on cost it's it's perfectly it reasonable to presume -- expected there's lots of evidence for it. That they will work more productively not less the second. Criticism that is easy to make and I'm just talk about the easy ones now. Is that there's something hideously inappropriate. In going after workers' wages in order to be more competitive. At the same time that should be doing very little about other costs for example. Salaries to managers. Fees to directors' bonuses to top of people and that's not just a question of what the corporate leaders paid themselves. But also what to corporate leaders are prepared to pay to their financiers. To their stock. Holders. In the way of dividends and so on."

" Post says higher wages boost workers' buying power. Making union jobs even more important when the economy is bad."

" Much of the so called stimulus program enacted by the Obama regime to try to get us out of this disasters crisis -- and is aimed at stimulating demand is stimulating consumption. In a host of different ways. Well if you have a strategy which almost everyone supports. Of stimulating the economy which is in terrible trouble. Then everything you do ought to be geared. Towards helping the mass of people be able to body more since that drives two thirds of the economy."

" Historian Tim Phillips fein says anti union messages are nothing new. She says today's labor -- fight sounds a lot like anti union arguments dating back to the fifties when the national right to work committee first."

" Art. What -- it was sort of knew about it was that really tried to talk about. Played games team's engines and right. It's translating. When it previously being just -- million reactionary dialogue in this something that sounded. Positive and forward looking this group was going to come and it's it's packed. Workers sound neat. Why shouldn't you have a right to decide whether or not you want to be heard -- making it -- that question. Which previously and didn't. That the focus has always been employers stopping people who join easily and turned it around his employer didn't you answer I ever worsening yeah. And joining -- that's what the right to work through it. -- Phillips fine here's the same argument in today's -- And clearly dangle behind and players' moves saying unions -- Exercise his worsening power and they want these cartoons they want to take away your own right he actually eating less and and it's really overlooking the whole framework in which is so difficult for workers to choose to have seen. It's good lesson to us I didn't say no actually that's common is -- unions -- undemocratic. This is the same kind of win win this."

" She also says the weakness of unions today just makes Americans more likely to believe anti union messages. This in turn it serves to further weaken union battles against misinformation."

" It corresponds to something about people's experience and many of steals it -- not -- and he collective organization and enough credit union. They're not. Sure that they can actually challenge the power of their plan. Anyway they do feel isolated individuals and wherever lights -- street they have. Comments from rather than from being part. Other political movement."

" The nation's largest lobby group the chamber of commerce is especially influential with legislators. Its members both large and small businesses make up a large part of local economies. But other groups are challenging now alliance. American rights at work showcases small business leaders who support labor law reform. Then there's jobs with justice a national coalition of community faith and labor groups but. It."

" All of them. It's important -- over the people. I'm outlet. -- people backwards. Florida down -- the corporate news before anybody else."

" That was Thomas Robinson of the Philadelphia security officers union outside a local chamber of commerce meeting. Ricardo valid as a national jobs with justice leads to nationwide effort asking local chambers to challenge the national group's campaign against labor law reform."

" We really want to expose the chamber of commerce and there corporate agenda for what it is. We want highlight there track record of you know opposing that eight hour work day. Opposing equal pay for women opposing child labor allies opposing family Medical Leave Act. You know and I really opposing anything. That is of benefit to the broader community. Nationally we've we've tried to. Get national spokespeople to denounce their actions and allies of the chamber of commerce and local league. You know we have 45 coalitions and in 23 states than what we've been. You know having what local folks have been doing is to you approach there. Local chambers of commerce with local community leaders to say you know to urge them to distance themselves from the national Chamber's campaign of lies. And they had mixed successes some some of held meetings and and had you know fruitful discussions. Others who were. Denied meetings and others who were invited to use to a debate which which was good which is healthy."

" As the fight continues. American workers are in dire need of labor law reform. Today almost a third of companies being organized -- union supporters during the campaign. It's illegal but penalties are minor. Companies drag out the election process so long that 40% and union elections never happened. In this fight Angel Warner says it's time to take on anti union messaging."

" I got a -- personally they educate America find unions because we're too long Americans have been time. Over the last couple decades it unions -- dirty word. Unions are not a dirty word and Americans need to know. If you were not reunions we wouldn't have minimum wage we winning -- overtime today. We wouldn't even have labor laws."

" If -- passes it would put penalties on employer harassment. And a compromise bill could force elections to take place quickly. That would give employers less time to make trouble. For making contact an -- share New York."

" You're listening to making contact a production of the national radio project. If you'd like more information or for a CD copies of this program please call 80529573. Sex. You can also download programs -- get our podcast at stadium project --"

" And."

" Good news."

" Amy dean joins us on the phone from her home in Chicago. Amy is a longtime union leader and author of a new book on reinvigorating organized labor. It's called a new new deal have regional activism will reshape the American labor management. Amy thank you for taking the -- attacked US. You would think the liberal administration and congress the nations' labor unions should be making -- instead of war with one another. Why do you think the labor movement is looking inward instead of outward right now."

" Certainly there are quite well with labor movement in internal battles but I think that's the exception not the rule. The growing number of groups that joined the labor movement today are women immigrants and people of color. It's the immigrant community that this fourteen and creating new membership and rink in the labor movement. Whether it's gender or your health care workers are security charge of the growing service sector. So yes while it's true that there is some internal battles that -- people always like to focus on the negative. But the truth is there's lots -- exciting activity going on entity union. There's lots of organizing going on in the troubling that need to be much more is the labor movement however. Just not put the issue of poverty in America is working poor on the national agenda. -- liberal administration and -- friendly congress will do it for us."

" So based on just what she said how as the economic downturn affected the labor movement."

" I think what the biggest challenges that's taken places that we see the public sector completely imploding on itself. There's been so many years of that collapsed by Republican administrations since nobody deficit for the didn't run out. That this stimulus package that we had hoped would be a boom to the economy in many places are simply just holding state economies up from falling apart. As for the biggest challenges are declining public sector taking place up against very depressed economy. And so in the case where we have what we public sector. -- faltering private sector there's fewer and fewer places for working people to turn. If anything American unions in the one place to work if people can go to and say together we can be stronger. And more effective than a -- working in individually and apart from one another so in spite of the poor economy is cited that the downturn. American unions still remain a viable and important alternative for working people."

" With so many jobs lost and company's bottom lines being slashed in the past year plus. Is this time for pushing the growth of union activity or is it time for measured action."

" Absolutely it's time for people get together and demand more there's all sorts of money being pummeled in the economy. By the government are still huge amounts of giveaways that are taking place every day that the federal state local level. Bailout package that we gave to the financial sector. While we could debate whether that was important or not the one thing's for sure whether it should have been or not -- what should not have been done. The one thing for certain that could've been done is recruited as a station. No bail out certain parts the financial sector in America that we don't want markets fall apart. But we expect to return to community expects social value to some extent. And so the key issue here is that -- ever public investments are made to help support to the private sector from faltering. We as -- public sector Wii is progressive organizations we in the trade union movement have to demand from our president and from our congress. That there'd be measured return. That there -- social value. Connected with our attempts to keep the economy competitive. And so in spite of whether the economy is going what the economy is faltering there's always some room. For progressive organization for people to be organized to say we expect. That we use our public resources to help the private sector. That the private sector returned must do things that help -- working families and the community we only got half the picture right this time we have to insist on the other -- And that will not comment left people together and organize -- unions to me organizations. In the hand that -- elected officials. Let me say one thing about the current political moment. We have a progressive president we have a friendly congress. But in many respects we have to do more political base is built for reforms today than we did under Bill Clinton. In many respects it matters not who the president or the congress -- of the country but more to what extent that we green building the front lines of America's progressive institutions. It's fight and demand more. After they that the current president and the congress are not good people -- don't intend to do well. But we have to is organized labor as progressive as activists as people who wanna move this country back to the center. We have to be able to create the political base of our elected officials. To be able to create more progressive agenda and that doesn't happen just because we elect good people it only happens if we rebuild. Like I said. Strong trade unions strong community based organizations. Strong national networks of we're producing community organizers. We have to once again have a real progressive movement in America -- independent elected officials independent of political parties and really wants to try to make. More things -- for more people."

" So honey proposed revitalizing the labor management and."

" One question is are caddie unions relevant for today's workers. Can conventional trade unionism meet the needs because of the changing workforce. To some extent conventional thinking is it does speak -- certain workers but there -- legions of workers out there that don't have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of trade union. And trade unions in addition to going to the conference is saying. We need things like employee free choice act which makes it easier for workers to organize and restores many lost rights to workers in addition to that. We also need to. That would -- to -- movement to say. We need to change the laws and the rules so that temporary workers and part time workers and contingent workers -- the growing number of non standard workers. Also had the opportunity to join unions and as a collective activities. Department over wages and their working conditions spoke. Wanna answer in rebuilding America's labor movement is not simply to go to the -- they make it easier for. The current workforce that we represented to organize into unions but -- also lets change the laws so that new ways to work workers also can be. Involved could trade unions. The other things that we have to do is create smart organization. We have to have policy and research capacity just like the chambers in the national manufacturing organizations have. We understand public budgets -- Wii development dollars flow. There's still lots of public sector activity that goes on on the ground every single day. Where governments locally invest public dollars and labor and community groups need to be strong and forceful players in economic development. To ensure that resource advocate invested. -- we can build healthy communities for working families. So I would say this I would -- sort of your first question and with everything you -- safaris and look we've got this liberal administration what does that mean. That means the doors open. To demand more the doors open to organize for more of the doors open. To create creative public policy and have an ambitious agenda. But it will not happen just simply because -- we have a new president will happen because the door open for groups to come together. And to really begin to protest and to put on the ground. Smart effective proposals for reforming America. But to put our organizational weight behind it. -- simply having a liberal administration in itself does not create reform we know that from history."

" Amy and -- may be aware recently here in San Francisco. -- employees of the nation's fifth largest commuter rail service threatened to strike. And that strength was averted but barely. It was reported that the ET rejected a contract by Bart officials would have -- health benefits cut down on overtime and frozen salaries. What do you say to critics who say the demands of some unions are too high an unrealistic. When so much of this nation's population is under implying in lacks health care and pensions."

" Who said situation and then. The majority of working families. Look at a group of workers and don't find. Solidarity with them. And this grows -- a -- that problem which is that everybody's. Standard of living has deteriorated so much. Over the last several decades. And so many people work without health care so what -- people were without pensions. So many people were without a living wage thing that at one time in America used to be standard. But because working conditions have been so whittled away. That the little bits that still remains organized by union. Is presented by the rest the world because of how little everybody else and the real question is. How does what the Bart workers. In the Bay Area head. Become the standard for everybody else. Because it used to be that way in this country. America used to look like -- admit that the circuits not like the hourglass economy it is today that it could be a big fat middle. And most people made good wages. They had employer sponsored health care and they retired the pensions. And that was standard in America. There's been thirty years of attacks and working people. Thirty years of attack on working people's organizations. Thirty years of attacks on the public sector and those laws that. Guaranteed or insured workers the right to pardon for these kinds of things. And we find yourself now in the aftermath of thirty years of attacks. And some very isolated sectors of the economy workers have been able to hold. And what we should say is why is that the exception for American workers not we resent what they have. That's wrong."

" He -- math questions and when can we expect your book to hit the shelves of stores across the US."

" The first -- in October you can purchase a new new deal we hope it will contribute some small way two. Helping build a progressive movement in America."

" Amy dean Mon ten million and -- So much time."

" We."

" And that's it for this edition of making contact. The first segment of the show about Africa was a special collaboration between the national radio project an -- share of public -- magazine. My CD copy of this program called the national radio project an 800. 5295736. Well you can get our podcast at radio project dot learn. Thanks for listening to me to contact."