Posted on 06/21/2007 6:19:38 AM PDT by Greg F
JESSE J. HOLLAND
AP Labor Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - 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.
. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
The unions are against it, the retired people are against it, the Democrats are split 50-50, the independents hate it, the republicans despise it.
Mexico kind of likes it but it isn’t good enough for them.
Can’t believe it but I’m actually happy there are unions today.
I guess someone didn’t get their kickback....
Peggy Noonan wrote a column where she said that the old Democratic politicians truly loved their base. Urban Catholics, beer drinking union guys and the like. Now the Democratic politicians are just afraid of the modern base of their party, the Daily Kos and Deaniacs, and think they are a little crazy.
[Best imitation of Kermit the Front, flapping my front legs] Yeeeaaaaahhhh!
We’ll see how serious they are about opposing this bill. This may just be an extortion attempt to get some concessions for changing to offer support for the bill. Not an uncommon practice when dealing with lawmakers willing to sell out for votes. Not limited to one political party.
Chambliss and Isakson announced today-my senators- that they have withdrawn their support for the bill and will not vote for cloture-yes!
I think they are serious. At my husband’s job the auto worker union is absolutely against this bill-the rank and file. It is something that everyone management and union agree on-terrible bill.
Hope this house of cards falls down. Hope that we can keep the pressure on them and make this remain an issue . . . it cuts for conservatives, big time.
More mixed metaphors in two sentences than I’ve ever written before.
When the handwriting’s on the wall and the rats are fleeing the sinking ship then you know the house of cards is dying on the vine.
I don't doubt that statement. It's not the rank and file that sells out the workers. The leaders are the ones who are willing to do anything to gain political influence or personal financial gain.
I hope so.
Caesar Chavez would have marched against the AMNESTY Bill
Bill #2 has a new number...S-1639
ping
Just say NO to Illegal Alien Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
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