Labor warms to Trump on immigration

By SEAN HIGGINS • 3/1/17 1:34 PM

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called President Trump's speech Tuesday "probably one of his finest moments" and indicated that the labor movement was beginning to see common ground with him on immigration.

"I thought the change in tone signaled — I hope it signaled — that he is ready to start doing business and stop playing for the cameras," said Trumka, who leads the nation's largest labor federation, in an appearance on Fox Business Wednesday. He added that he was "particularly surprised" that the president talked about curtailing legal immigration in addition to stopping people from illegally entering the country.

"This was the first time the president has talked about legal immigration being used to drive down [domestic workers'] wages. We've been saying that for a long time," Trumka said.

Organized labor groups have long complained that the government's H1-B and H2-B visa programs allow unscrupulous companies to employ foreign workers at lower wages. Unions have long called for curtailing the programs, and Trump echoed that complaint in his remarks.

"I am going to bring back millions of jobs. Protecting our workers also means reforming our system of legal immigration. The current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers, and puts great pressure on taxpayers," Trump said.

Trumka said Trump's speech was overall a "mixed bag" but praised the president for using his office to cajole companies into staying in the U.S. The effort was worthwhile even if it only saved one job, he said.

"Using the bully pulpit to say, 'This is your country. This is where you owe your allegiance. This is where you should be investing and building' is a good thing Trumka said.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/la...ticle/2616163#!

WOW!!! Could it be that Trump will pick up the endorsement of the AFL-CIO??!!! This would be fantastic for the members of this important union. This would also be great for our country for this bizarre support by unions of illegal aliens to grind to a halt so these unions are supporting 100% the American Worker.

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AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called President Trump's speech Tuesday "probably one of his finest moments" and indicated that the labor movement was beginning to see common ground with him on immigration.

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I certainly hope Trump doesn't find common ground with you on illegal immigrants, Mr. Trumka.

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AFL-CIO: WE HAVE NO HIGHER PRIORITY THAN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS

Posted by Ira Mehlman | May 23, 2013

One might think that given more than 20 million Americans unable to find full-time jobs, and testimony by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke that the American job market remains weak, that organized labor’s highest priority would be getting Americans back to work.

Or, one might think that the highest priority of the labor movement would be representing the interests of union members, negotiating salaries, benefits and working conditions on their behalf.

Or, perhaps, one might think that given that real wages for American workers have stagnated over the past 40 years and declined for lower skilled workers, despite significant productivity increases, that improving the wages of American workers might be the top priority for the labor movement.

But, no, none of objectives tops the list of priorities for the AFL-CIO. The highest priority for the labor movement is amnesty for illegal aliens, according to a statement by Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO. “The labor movement has no higher priority in 2013 than a workable immigration system that will allow 11 million aspiring Americans to become citizens,” Trumka said on May 21.

Given the ALF-CIO’s self-proclaimed priorities, perhaps it is time that they cease calling themselves a labor union and register as an immigration advocacy lobbying organization.

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http://immigrationreform.com/2013/05...llegal-aliens/

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That was an outrageous statement by Trumka. Totally wrong and a complete sell-out to US citizens who belong to his union. Be assured, it's not Trump winning over Trumka, it's Trump winning over the union members who then tell Trumka what his positions should be on their behalf. Americans Workers have been sold out by their government, their employers and their union. The members of AFL-CIO realized that in 2016, or at least enough of them to start taking their union back from the very bosses who sold them out to begin with.