Unions turning to political labor

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20081012_Unions_turning_to_political_labor.html

Posted on Sun, Oct. 12, 2008

Unions turning to political labor
A push is on to elect backers of the Employee Free Choice Act.

By Jane M. Von Bergen

Inquirer Staff Writer
Barry Fields is a union president and watches the financial collapse as closely as the next guy. But he also is one of 250,000 union campaign volunteers, backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in financing, and his concerns don't end with the economy.

Beyond the presidential race, unions are pushing hard for candidates - especially for the U.S. Senate - who have pledged to support the Employee Free Choice Act, federal legislation that would make it easier for unions to represent workers and negotiate contracts.

"As far as political legislation, it's labor's No. 1 issue," said Fields, president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union Local 6 in Philadelphia.

Fields was on hand earlier this month when a converted bus, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO's roving campaign quarters, dropped by the Stroehmann Bakery on Ridge Pike in Norristown to leaflet workers about labor issues, including the Employee Free Choice Act.

Not surprisingly, business interests are mobilizing in opposition.

"I think businesses are very worried about it," said Glenn Spencer, executive director of the Workforce Freedom Initiative, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's well-funded campaign to defeat the bill and other labor efforts.

FULL story at link.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I look forward to unions regaining political power.

We, as a nation, are much better off with strong unions....