"Knuckling Up" For A Fight Over EFCA
With a key ally in the White House and the government ready to move $787 billion out the door, thousands
of union members turned out on Chicago's West Side last night to congratulate President Obama
on the passage of his economic recovery package and remind Congress
that ...
With a key ally in the White House and the government ready to move $787 billion out the door, thousands of union members turned out on Chicago's West Side last night to congratulate President Obama on the passage of his economic recovery package and remind Congress that the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is a crucial next step towards rebuilding the economy.
The day’s events began earlier with a press conference at the Chicago Federation of Labor’s (CFL) downtown offices. CFL President Dennis Gannon clearly stated that EFCA “is labor’s number one priority with this new president.” He was joined by Rep. Danny Davis, SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff, and Citizen Action/Illinois President William McNary. Watch some excerpts from their remarks:
Later in the day, around 3,000 riled up rank-and-file members filled the Plumbers Hall to hear from national leaders such as Change to Win’s Anna Burger and ALF-CIO President John Sweeney, as well as an array of local labor leaders and elected officials. McNary had this to say to the enthusiastic crowd: “We didn’t start this fight. We didn’t ask for this fight. But if it’s a fight they want, it’s a fight they’ll get. Knuckle up.”
Several of the speakers singled out embattled Sen. Roland Burris for waffling on EFCA. As the sign below shows, supporters of the legislation aren’t happy that he’s been playing coy:
Assuming he is still in office when the bill comes up, Burris’ support will be particularly important, as every Senate vote counts.
Meanwhile, in the face of an aggressive counter campaign from big business, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the labor-backed Americans United for Change launched a new ad yesterday to prop up support for Obama’s stimulus plan, which will give working families a much-needed shot in the arm. Watch it:
Full Disclosure: The SEIU Illinois State Council sponsors this website.
Comments
This will be the most disasterous bill that ever passed. During the campaign, President Obama visited the State of Ohio and blasted NAFTA for the jobs being lost in the State. Of course, the lost jobs didn't go to Mexico or Canada, but to China and India. If this bill passes, we will see more jobs go overseas. The companies will find workers for half the costs.
It's also good to see how members, who have jobs, try to push their ideologies off to everyone in the country. I worked for a non-union elctrical contractor, home builder and excavation company. When these companies were awarded union jobs, the biggest expenses that occurred were vandalism related. They had no desirte to work along with the "non-union scum". It just shows me that if you don't agree with them, you are scum.
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