Thread: Labor takes on immigration

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ ... 407882.htm

Labor takes on immigration
Opposition from union may complicate Bush's guest worker proposal
DAVE MONTGOMERY
Jan 8, 2007
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - President Bush's hopes of securing a comprehensive immigration overhaul have brightened considerably in the new Democratic-controlled Congress, but resistance from organized labor -- one of the Democratic Party's most loyal constituencies -- could complicate those efforts.

The AFL-CIO, which represents 53 unions with more than 9 million members, is ratcheting up opposition to a temporary guest worker program, a key element of Bush's immigration plan. At the same time, two powerful unions in a breakaway labor coalition, Change to Win, have tended to support the provision.

The divisions within labor were evident during the contentious debate over immigration in the previous Republican-controlled Congress. But they take on heightened significance as Democrats assume control of the 110th Congress and begin shaping the legislative agenda.

Labor political action committees contributed 86 percent of their donations to Democratic candidates, a total of $42 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Labor also aggressively waged get-out-the-vote efforts and other activities to help end 12 years of Republican control of Congress.

With its bolstered political clout, the AFL-CIO is better positioned to confront a powerful coalition of business groups that is pressing for a temporary worker program to bring in thousands of foreign workers each year.

"The industry will oppose a bill that doesn't have a good temporary worker program in it," said Randel Johnson, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

But Johnson acknowledged that the AFL-CIO's heightened political stature in the aftermath of the elections raises the challenge for his side.

"In view of the election, it's very significant," he said. "Certainly, the AFL-CIO has a bigger seat at the table than they did before."

Business leaders say the guest worker program is needed to bring in foreign workers to fill unskilled and low-skilled jobs Americans don't want. AFL-CIO officials say the program is designed to give business a steady source of cheap labor and would take jobs from U.S. citizens.

"We don't believe our elected representatives are ready to adopt legislation that creates paths for corporations to import workers (and) reduce working standards in the United States," said Ana Avendando, associate general counsel for the AFL-CIO. "That's exactly what guest worker programs are."

Bush has made immigration one of his top domestic priorities since the outset of his presidency. But he was rebuffed by members of his own party when conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives effectively bottled up a Senate-passed bill. The legislation, which had bipartisan support, included a guest worker program and a legalization plan to put millions of undocumented workers on a path to U.S. citizenship.

The industry will oppose a bill that doesn't have a good temporary worker program in it," said Randel Johnson, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

What a laugh...we the people who are dumb as a box of rocks (in the words of your CEO)...don't want any NEW temp worker program...
Hell...for that matter...you at the chamber of Commerace can go back home with these invaders...Adios