Posted on 06/21/2007 6:15:33 AM PDT by seanmerc
The revival of the Senate's immigration legislation also resurrected a rare split inside organized labor.
The AFL-CIO formally came out against the bill Wednesday, reflecting the distaste among manufacturing unions and others whose members have been displaced by overseas competition and would have to compete with an influx of cheaper workers who don't have labor rights.
Embracing the bill are a couple of unions that cater to workers in the fast-growing service sector of the economy and also split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. They've seen their membership rosters swell with immigrants taking jobs in hotels and restaurants and as janitors.
The Senate legislation would legalize some 12 million unlawful immigrants and create a new temporary guest worker program wanted by employers in virtually all sectors of the economy. That's where the unions' interests diverge.
Earlier this month, the AFL-CIO and its allies succeeded in getting the Senate to limit the temporary worker program to only five years. The bill's proponents vowed to try and make it permanent again in later negotiations with the House if the bill makes it that far.
That victory, however, didn't placate labor leaders still opposed to the bill.
``This bill is far from the kind of comprehensive immigration reform that would improve the status quo for either U.S.-born or immigrant workers or their families and, in fact, it is likely to make matters much worse,'' said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard L. Trumka.
Several unions see a real threat to American workers under the Senate bill because temporary foreign workers would for the first time be able to hold non-seasonal jobs.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Good message to use when calling Dem senators.
I posted this also (dupe). We can win this thing. I think it’s important to e-mail/call friends and family that are not as politically involved and get them calling as well. That’s where the real payoff in this is for conservatives . . . getting uninvolved people paying attention and involved.
3% approval in poll on Congress’ handling of immigration.
14% approval of Congress.
AFL-CIO opposes Kennedy’s immigration bill.
Immigration is the 2nd most important issue to the public next to the war in Iraq.
I’ve never, ever seen numbers like these in any poll on any issue. I think you’d get more support for pedophiles in some polls than Congress is getting on immigration.
It could dwarf the Reagan coalition. And send the corporatist elements in both parties packing.
Ta ra ra boom di ay!
I agree. Maybe on this issue the people will finally understand it well enough to ignore the main stream media when it tries to tar and feather, ignore, or marginalize this type of populist politician. We managed to ignore the main stream media once with Ronald Reagan . . . maybe the country will do it again.
Well, that settles it. The legislation is DOA! No self-respecting Dem would go against the AFL-CIO.
If certain Republicans would pull their heads out of their asses long enough to see which way the wind is blowing, we could win back both houses of Congress next election on this issue alone.
Illegals take jobs away from union members and depress wages of other union members! DUH!
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
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