A Much More Pro-Labor Administration
In many ways, it is remarkable how much more pro-labor the Obama administration is compared to the Clinton administration, at least in its rhetoric. Obama himself has often talked about the importance of the right to organize for unions, something Clinton almost never did.
Compare the incoming cabinet members. Back in 1993, the Clinton cabinet's support for unions was at best lukewarm:
"The jury is still out on whether the traditional union is necessary for the new workplace," Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich said in an interview.And then you have Obama's nominees."Unions are O.K. where they are," said Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown. "And where they are not, it is not clear yet what sort of organization should represent workers."
Now Hilda Solis, the new Secretary of Labor, is one of the strongest proponents of labor in Congress, while Bill Richardson now at Commerce argued during the campaign:
"I believe having union membership is good for the American worker, good for higher wages and good for heath care. Unions are so important, that as president I would name a union member as secretary of labor, and I would replace the entire National Labor Relations Board."We'll have to see how rhetoric translates into policy, but it is actually an achievement politically that this administration is committed to the idea that increasing unionization is a core part of what is needed to restore the middle class, while the Clinton administration considered it of questionable importance.
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At one time almost four out of ten workers were members of a union. Now it is closer to one out of ten. There were great abuses of power by union leaders during the hey day of organized laborers.
Those abuses pale in comparison to the abuses of management and the consequences of unrestrained corporate power.
The problems I have is that we do not have any alternative to labor unions as far as protecting the worker.
A very fine review of the relationship between labor and management can be found at SleepinJeezus' blog.
More than just the institution of minimum wages must be accomplished over the next four years.
December 28, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Right. These days unionistas are the new corrupt and privileged.
* Rigged elections without secrecy,
* Wage and employment guarantees,
* Premium benefit packages,
* Bought and paid for politicians.
I especially like the reports of union golf courses. My prediction is that tales of cities going bankrupt because of union contracts will become more commonplace. Like this one.
December 28, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your connection to reality is growing ever more tenuous.
Let me clue you to something: Even other people who represent the beliefs you advocate are embarrassed by you.
December 28, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Musta been a 'unionista' who installed that link there! Works like a cahrm, it does.
"Shooter242 Syndrome" may be found in the literature of social pathology as early as The Road to Wigan Pier. Unfortunately Dr. Orwell only described the disease without assigning a name.
Naturally one thinks of the word ‘envy’ right off, but a moment's reflection reveals that that is not quite right: one does not exactly ENVY persons worse off than oneself.
Merry days.
December 28, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmm. Let's see if that code works here, and just in case it doesn't...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080609-9999-1n9vallejo.html
December 28, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I'm thinking the term pro-labor would more correctly be expressed as pro-American. The workers of this country have suffered serious losses in the last two or three decades and we are just now seeing the effects of those losses. You can't have 80% or 90% of our workforce sustaining real wage losses for such an extended period without consequences. Trickle down economics has turned out to be crap because all indicators clearly show trickle up is what has happened. Mostly all of the downside for this country started with Reagan. I can't stand to hear repugs still praising him. It is just so dumb and contrary to the facts. I can't help but get in their face in a serious way when I encounter that.
December 29, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink