Unions want their money’s worth from politicians

Leaders vow tougher push on health care, labor law reform

Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Card check might be yielding to other goals (7-21-2009)
In Labor's heart, Dems didn't deliver (6-9-2009)
Card check might be union war's collateral damage (6-3-2009)

Organized labor has always been one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful and reliable allies, bankrolling candidates and turning out votes — even, at times, at the expense of the union agenda.

But after nearly emptying their treasuries last year in pursuit of the White House and Congress, unions are pushing back, with a growing number of labor leaders threatening strict accountability if health care and labor law reforms fail.

Seeing a lack of progress on those issues, one union has suspended donations to candidates for federal office and urged other unions to follow suit.

“Accountability is a big word in the labor movement today,” said Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “When these politicians come up for reelection, we’re going to look at their records and look at them close.”

He added: “I don’t think our people are willing to wait any longer.”

The most pressing issue is health care legislation, which unions see as key to advancing the labor movement. By taking one of the most contentious and expensive items off the bargaining table, labor leaders argue that employers would be more willing to negotiate first contracts with unions.

Locally, it could boost organizing efforts by dealers at Wynn Las Vegas and Caesars Palace and nurses at MountainView Hospital.

But union officials fear the pursuit of bipartisanship on health care reform by the Obama administration and congressional Democrats will lead to the demise of a key aspect of the legislation: a public plan to compete with private insurers.

McEntee, who heads the political arm of the AFL-CIO, singled out for criticism Sen. Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat who heads the Finance Committee and is leading efforts to develop a compromise health care bill. McEntee said those efforts will lead to a watered-down public plan option, which he dismissed as “gimmicky,” adding, “We hope that leadership and direction can change in that committee.”

Richard Trumka, who will become president of the AFL-CIO next month, told Politico this week that both parties should prepare for a more aggressive brand of labor politics.

Part of labor’s frustration stems from the fact that it has been outmaneuvered by the business community on a key provision of the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would make it easier for workers to organize.

Some unions have hit the breaking point.

Michael Sullivan, president of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association, issued a letter to labor leaders at the AFL-CIO’s executive council meeting last week, announcing that his union had suspended “all future financial or intangible contributions” to federal candidates. He asked the federation’s affiliates to join him, saying a small group of “pro-business” Democrats were reneging on their health care promises after they won office with labor’s support.

“One union will not have much effect,” Sullivan said. “However, working together will send a strong message that will not be ignored.”

Greg Junemann, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, criticized centrist lawmakers for what he called cowardice in the face of Republican opposition. “These coin-flipping Democrats haven’t shown themselves to be strong advocates for anything resembling real, responsible reform,” he said. “Apparently there are a heck of a lot of people in the Democratic Party who seem to have short memories. If we don’t get health care or labor law reform, our members are going to come back to us and ask, ‘What was all that work for?’ ”

As for those Democrats who don’t deliver: “They are not getting anything from us — not a penny, not a phone call, nothing.”

Still, some leaders laid part of the blame at labor’s feet.

Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the California Nurses Association, said the labor movement failed to unify behind a “single payer” health care plan and ceded too much ground to the administration and congressional Democrats.

“You wonder how labor ever negotiates a contract when you look at the health care debate,” she said. “We walked into these discussions with a white flag. Now no one is pushing Obama from the left, he’s getting bombarded from the right and he’s out there by himself. In some ways we put him in that position.”

Labor leaders said Democrats were backsliding in the face of steady opposition, efforts they blamed on Republicans and their allies. As DeMoro put it: “Corporate America is winning this debate.”

For their part, Democrats urged patience.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada noted there is still time in the legislative calendar to complete unfinished business.

“Sen. Reid continues to work closely with labor leaders and meets with them regularly,” spokesman Jon Summers wrote in an e-mail to the Sun. “He’s repeatedly stated his desire to pass health care reform this year, and remains a supporter of the EFCA, and he is the only majority leader to ever bring the bill to the floor.”

Sen. Tom Harkin, the Iowa Democrat leading negotiations on the union organizing bill, said Democrats have delivered a number of victories for the labor movement, including fair pay and credit card legislation, in addition to the economic stimulus package.

As for labor’s big-ticket items, he also insisted it was still early.

“This Congress isn’t even half over yet,” Harkin said. “We’ve got this fall and all of next year.”

Sun reporter Lisa Mascaro contributed reporting from Washington.

Discussion: 20 comments so far…

By formervegas76

8/7/09 at 3:43 a.m.

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i went to my congressmen's meeting at a hospital in our district. quite upset that he called himself a blue dog democrat. oh yeah, and we have to go slow to make sure doctors and hospitals get their fair share. sick and tired of these guys protecting the well heeled [here's another one henderson if your reading]. it really dosen't matter who's in charge, because the big dogs in business are in charge not politicans. these guys wouldn't make a crutial vote that could ruined their office knowing the vote was right thing for all people. we should just conclude that america will always be this way till next revolution.
By dipstick

8/7/09 at 5:39 a.m.

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management must shoulder the same amount of sacrifice as they expect of their employees. asking people to take pay cuts and unpaid time off while the corporate jet is still in the hangar doesnt cut it.
By vegasd8

8/7/09 at 5:59 a.m.

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I would like to see the unions run the country for a while and see how far they get without big business to employ them.
By stevem

8/7/09 at 6:15 a.m.

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american steel, american auto industry, the post office...

yes.

unions are wonderful.
By atdleft

8/7/09 at 6:25 a.m.

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For the most part, the unions are right. Why support "Democrats" that don't get the job done on health care? But then again, Rose Ann DeMoro of CNA also has a point that perhaps too many of us gave up on single-payer too soon. Still, I hope Dems get a good HR 3200 passed this fall so that we can actually get people covered and get more bang for our buck.
By gotjobs

8/7/09 at 6:29 a.m.

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Congress authorizes $500 MILLION for eight more private jets so they can skip around the world without having to deal with the people.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12496040...

Are the unions going to be busing their protesters around trying to catch the lawmakers.
By Future

8/7/09 at 7:26 a.m.

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LOL

Too Big to Fail Senator Harry Reid needs that money to get his $25 million to run in 2010
By SgtRock

8/7/09 at 7:48 a.m.

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Yes, the Democratic Party is ran by special interest like unions.

They do not represent the everyday man and womam.
By goingbust

8/7/09 at 9:21 a.m.

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"The most pressing issue is health care legislation, which unions see as key to advancing the labor movement. By taking one of the most contentious and expensive items off the bargaining table, labor leaders argue that employers would be more willing to negotiate first contracts with unions."

I can see this if it is single-payer. Then labor costs in the USA will more closely mirror Canada, at least, where manufacturers don't directly pay this cost. But single-payer is effectively off the table. So how does the messy, complex, employer-paid system that Obongo is proposing help the unions?
By larry5

8/7/09 at 9:42 a.m.

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This would be great to watch from afar. The unions push for government-run health care, the biggest step toward Socialism. When Socialism is complete, unions will be banned. Morons.
By LarryVegas

8/7/09 at 9:48 a.m.

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This articles name says it all...

"Unions want their money's worth from politicians"
By dave202

8/7/09 at 10:01 a.m.

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Like unions would EVER withhold money from the Dems. This is so ridiculous that it is laughable....
By neiman1

8/7/09 at 10:07 a.m.

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The unions bought and paid for the Congress and they want their ownership rights. How dare a democrat in office use his brain and vote according to his districts needs when the unions have paid for this administration?

This is the most blatant example of what independents and republicans have claimed for years.
By KillerB

8/7/09 at 12:13 p.m.

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The unions call it "accountability." The rest of us just see elected officials bought and paid for.

Titus called it right -- the best Congress money can buy.
By 4041

8/7/09 at 12:20 p.m.

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The corporations in the past bought and paid for the congress and they also wanted their owenership rights. How dare a republican in office use his brain and vote according to his districts needs when the corporations have paid for the past administration?

This is the most blatant example of what the American People have claimed for years and that is why we have change.
By KillerB

8/7/09 at 7:25 p.m.

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4041 -- "in the past"??
By DessertSun

8/8/09 at 1:41 a.m.

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Unions are so corrupt. They look at politicians as "bought and paid for". Harry Reid is a prime example of this. He doesn't give a damn about his constituents - hell I don't even think he remembers us. He's a typical career politician that manipulated by corrupt people and unions. Nevada needs a REAL representative that listens and works for the people of Nevada - Not union officials!
By sgin_NV

8/8/09 at 8:44 a.m.

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Remember this when it comes time for election. The money that the union uses to buy our senator! Vote to get Reid out of office or we will be knowingly allowing the unions to run our goverment!
By scottyurb

8/8/09 at 11:02 a.m.

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Wow, nothing like a bunch of good little right-winger's being there like jonny on the spot's to pile on an issue with their talking-point falsehoods cause the facts don't matter--they just need to do what their told. So the union's happen to back Democratic candidates and expect them to back legislation that helps the common man--it's called serving your better interest my friends. On the other side, you have corporate thugs, who bankroll lobbyist groups, that bus in folks from other districts to town hall meetings for the explicit purpose of disrupting the local politician's efforts to communicate what the Democratic plan is to the people. Labor and the Union's are the only political block that stand up for the common man and his ability to make a living wage. Take a look at the numerous pieces of legislation that the GOP has tried to pass that explicitly tries to eliminate the ability of Union's to donate monies toward political campaign's--it's ridiculous!! The downfall of this country began when Ronald Reagan used his power of office to bust the Air Traffic Controller's union. Since then, America's percentage of unionized worker's has went from 28% down to 7% nationally. And yes, we would all be better off if the wishes of this 7% were to come true!!
By getalife

8/8/09 at 11:16 a.m.

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After you read the article you realize that the political "cannabalism" has begun.

It is ironic that the only way the Republicans can gain power was to let the Democrats have all the power.

Absolute power absolutely corrupts.

Welcome to the new world.