AFL-CIO's Trumka Calls for Labor Movement Separate from Parties: 'I've Had a Snootful of This Shit!'

[Purveyor]

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka sent his strongest signal yet about the labor movement’s frustration with the dysfunctional politics of the moment—where Republicans go to extremes on behalf of big banks and multinational corporations, Democrats compromise and working families are left out of the equation.

Speaking last Tuesday to the National Nurses United conference in Washington, where more than one thousand nurses from across the country rallied to begin the push to replace the politics of setting for less with a unapologetic demands for a new economic agenda, Trumka found a plenty of takers for his agressively progressive message.

“We want an independent labor movement strong enough to return balance to our economy, fairness to our tax system, security to our families and moral and economic standing to our nation,” declared Trumka, who in recent months has been repositioning the AFL-CIO as a force that will hold Republicans and Democrats to what he describes as “a simple standard: “Are they helping or hurting working families?”

“We can’t simply build the power of any political party or any candidate. For too long we’ve been left after the election holding a canceled check and asking someone to pay attention to us. No more! No more!” the federation president, a former United Mineworkers union chief, shouted above the cheers of the nurses.

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http://www.alternet.org/story/151289/afl-cio%27s_trumka_calls_for_labor_movement_separate_from_parties%3A_%27i%27ve_had_a_snootful_of_this_shit!%27?akid=7108.260530.WPMh19&rd=1&t=12

[Autumn]

1. Hard to disagree with what he said.

K/R

[fascisthunter]

2. Good Going Conservative Dems...

you lost what little folks liked about you, and that was standing up for the working class. Your anti-populist agenda is destroying what credibility and hope there was of the political party. Really fucking dumb!

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. IOW, labor will fight the corporatists no matter which party they're in. nt

[Hardrada]

4. Hear! Hear! John L. Lewis used to say "A plague on both their houses!"

[The Northerner]

5. The anger is certainly reasonable, nt

[emilyg]

6. I like him more and more.

[Peacetrain]

7. retired union here.. and we supported Dick Gephardt, in 2004 in caucus

I think if I had been in DU I probably would have had one big battle after another..but I went with my union on this.

We lost, and I then caucused for Kerry.

Unions generally back Democrats, but it is not a good thing to think unions are liberal or conservative.

[alc]

8. when anyone supports party X no matter what

they become irrelevant to that party (and to the other). Why should a party work to help you when they can spend their effort helping an "undecided" group? They should follow through on their promises, and help their supporters, and generally stand for something - but re-election is their top and often only priority so they don't.

It doesn't matter if the group is a union, NAACP, NRA, or the tea party. The party wants to do the least effort to get your vote and won't do anything to hold your "guaranteed" vote if it means losing someone else's vote.

[placton]

9. totally untrue, my friend

the GOP listens to their groups and acts for them - unlke the Dems

[Armstead]

12. The difference is that the Teaparty IS setting the GOP agenda

Some of them may piss and moan about the Republicans selling out (just as we do on the left about Democrats). But if you look at thge messager and actions of GOP politicians, it's obvious that they are doing everything they can to pander to the teabaggers.

[krawhitham]

10. That worked out so well for Canada

[leftyohiolib]

11. im a cwa4340 member and i approve this idea

[Armstead]

13. Good for Trumpka...Many people have had a snootful of this shit

[montanacowboy]

14. Damn Straight

What we need is a new Party altogether

[robcon]

15. Trumka has to go.

Either his egomania is out of control, or he has an 'unusual' view of how legislative action is achieved.

[Ikonoklast]

16. Maybe Trumka needs to heal his own house first.

Not all Labor is enthralled with his leadership.

I'd rather have Andy Stern of the SEIU or Joe Hansen of the UFCW as the person speaking up for Labor.

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. +1. I think Trumka is backing off the party, so the Repukes will back off of him.

The Repubs know if they go after the source of Dem funding, they can try & finish off the Democratic Party, and they've put the fear of God in Trumka. Perhaps he can start his own Worker's Party?

[Armstead]

23. What in gosh name dies that mean?

[Armstead]

24. Unusual? That's the basic nature of politics.

"you support our interests, and we'll support you. Don't support us and we won't support you."

That's basically what everyone who suppirts politicians and parties do.

[KoKo]

18. I don't blame him...after all...how long can labor be used by folks who give shit about them?

:shrug:

[skeewee08]

20. Agree

:toast:

[MadMaddie]

19. Wouldn't the more appropriate thing to do in preparation for

the 2012 elections is push Progressive candidates across the country and get the right represenation to get the things we want done?

[skeewee08]

21. You would think.....

[Armstead]

22. He's not saying that is what they won't do

He is saying that they will back candidates who will actively support the goals of labor.

That translates into suppirting progressive candidates.

[ej510]

25. What he said.