Is "Grand Bargain" Between Unions And Business Possible? Corrected link

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/5059

Is "Grand Bargain" Between Unions And Business Possible? - 01/15/07

By Doug Cunningham

Will unions and business strike a "grand bargain" where unions drop opposition to free trade agreements in return for business supporting expanded government provided health care, the minimum wage increase and making it easier for workers to join unions? The idea is being advanced by Democratic Congressman Barney Frank. SEIU President Andy Stern says that unions may be willing to do it.


AUDIO story here: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winsheadlines.ram

[katsy]

1. Steve, the DU link doesn't work for me.

Does Barney Frank mean acceptance of free or fair trade?

[MannyGoldstein]

2. "Free" Trade Agreements Are Suicide. Pure Suicide.

There is NO WAY that American workers can compete with workers that make $1 or $2 a day. "Free" trade agreements are destroying, and will continue to destroy, the US Middle Class.

Everything else is a detail.

We must stop this.

[Vincardog]

4. I will second that MannyGoldstein. What good is a union if it supports

Faux "free trade' deals to rip off every worker every where?

[damntexdem]

3. Yes, of course.

And as the resulting monstrosity of "free trade" continues to draw jobs from the U.S., those same unions will find themselves on their death beds.

Unless trade agreements are fair trade agreements, with protections for worker rights in all countries involved, globalization will keep killing worker rights, and unions.

[catnhatnh]

5. Will they-Yes

...even though it will eventually kill them....the sad thing though is the unspoken assumption that workers will HAVE to give something to keep any of their number both working at a living wage and covered by benefits that were universal for all union members 45 years ago-that corporations have the right to keep profits at current levels while ignoring the fact that productivity soared while wages stagnated or shrunk and also accepting the premise that huge executive compensation packages should never be threatened...The only possibility I see of reversing the trend is a pitchforks and torches campaign-sadly the same deal that established unions in the early 20th century-and sadly the police have been re-fascistized enough to again beat gas and kill workers.Oh yeah-this time we'll get tasers too....

On reflection, I almost typed the word "phasers" in where tasers belonged...which means I either am getting old and hate the jackboots having sci-fi weapons or I am prescient...I pray it is just age.