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AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Treasurer Danny Thompson speaks last week at a news conference and rally to urge congressional leaders to create jobs for Nevadans.
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- An unintended interest group: The unemployed (9-13-10)
- Union’s attack ad in Dina Titus-Joe Heck race stoops to lies, fearmongering (8-26-10)
- Claims of deep teacher layoffs under Sandoval based on ‘what ifs’ (7-29-10)
- Will firefighters union endorse Brian Sandoval instead of Rory Reid? (6-28-10)
- Tone of card-check support shifts (11-30-08)
- Card check: Democrats can expect fight (11-7-2008)
- ‘Card check’ ads bypassing Nevada (10-21-2008)
- Election could help fulfill union dream, management nightmare (10-19-2008)
Nevada Democrats are distancing themselves from labor unions this election season, signaling a shift in the relationship between the party and its longtime allies.
The reasons are both political — unions have fallen in the eyes of the public during the recession — and economic — labor’s pockets aren’t as deep as they once were, cutting into funding for political activities.
The candidates still see value in union endorsements, and sources say Democrats are hitting them up for campaign contributions. But how they use the political capital of union endorsements has shifted.
Endorsements have been released on campaign websites rather than at splashy news conferences. Members-only e-mail blasts have replaced glossy mailers from candidates. Door-to-door visits supersede radio ads.
Rory Reid, the Democratic nominee for governor, has held campaign events with teachers. But he notably did not invite representatives of the teachers union — a group that has endorsed him over GOP nominee Brian Sandoval — to the unveiling of his education plan.
As he campaigns for re-election, Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera, the Democrat in line to be speaker and a North Las Vegas firefighter, has called for making it easier to fire teachers, an issue that puts him at odds with the union.
Reid, chairman of the Clark County Commission, has vocally challenged the county firefighters union for what he says is a reluctance to scale back labor costs. The union has responded by going door-to-door against him.
Some political observers have suggested the firefighters’ opposition to Reid might be a political boon, casting the candidate in the role of taxpayer-friendly tough negotiator. It’s a sharp contrast to two years ago when police and fire union endorsements were seen as essential gold stars in local government races.
Fred Lokken, professor of political science at Truckee Meadows Community College, said labor has been quieter this campaign than in the past. In particular, there is resentment toward public employees unions, and that has demoralized their membership, he said.
“They feel kicked,” he said. “This is not a glory time for them.”
Union leaders and campaigns are reluctant to publicly acknowledge the shifting relationship. Democratic candidates don’t want to alienate a key constituency — they still need their votes and assistance getting supporters to the polls — and unions don’t want to admit they have an image problem.
And to be sure, candidates have made some low-key appearances with unions. Reid held a round table this summer in Reno with teachers and union leadership. His father, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, held a public event with law enforcement. Several candidates have held informational forums with union members.
Still, polls show the political reasons behind the shifting dynamic, as the public’s view of unions has fallen to the lowest levels in decades. Only 41 percent had a favorable opinion of unions this year, down from 58 percent in 2007, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Six in 10 people said labor unions have too much power.
Contributing to their lower profile, unions lack the resources that supported their political efforts in recent years. Their members are struggling with unemployment — the construction trades have been particularly hard-hit — and money to donate to political campaigns is in short supply.
In the 2008 election cycle unions had the financial resources to hire campaign workers, book large media buys and file lawsuits to try to dictate where people could caucus. Unions this year are keeping their budgets in mind and taking a more subdued approach to campaigning.
“As a function of the economy, union members are somewhat less active this political cycle than they have been in the past,” said Dan Hart, a Democratic political consultant and adviser to the state’s teachers union. He attributed the different role to the economic slump and members “more concerned about putting bread on the table than what’s happening in the political arena.”
They still want to exert their influence, they’re just doing it more quietly, experts said.
The Culinary Union has about 80 people on leave from their jobs to canvass in Nevada. At the height of the Obama campaign in 2008, it had about 100. The state AFL-CIO for months has been conducting phone banks for Reid, sending out mailers and visiting members’ job sites.
“They can probably focus on a few less races,” said Billy Vassiliadis, a Democratic political consultant.
Most recently, the AFL-CIO held an event at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign to underscore Harry Reid’s job-creating efforts. The majority leader did not attend.
“Harry Reid is the top of the ticket,” said Danny Thompson, executive secretary-treasurer of the Nevada AFL-CIO, when asked why other Democrats weren’t highlighted at the event. The group has also endorsed Democratic incumbent Rep. Dina Titus.
Unions say they are focused on ground efforts and educating their ranks about the candidates in the hope of swaying votes Democratic. Working America, the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate, has reached out to unemployed members to encourage the jobless to vote for Democrats.
In 2008, unions helped drive turnout, which far exceeded expectations. Democrats hope they can do the same this year.
How can unions ask their members to support a candidate like Harry Reid who has not listened to them but instead to his boss OBAMA. TAX and SPEND is not going to get you re-elected when your people have no jobs for you to TAX and SPEND.
btw: Sharron Angle has increased her lead in the latest poll reported on the FOX NEWS program Shawn Hannity. The independent poll shows Angle with a new lead of 52% to 46%. I wonder why?
I Dissagree. The " Workers Rights" movement is very much alive and active and in close concert with all candidates that support re-building a middle class.The Democratic Party more often than not does this.The contributions just look small compared to the money spent by millionares,corperations and foreign interests.This all happens under the noses of both the Republican Party and their neglected child the so called "Tea Party".
I've been a member of the electrician's union for almost forty years. Concerning individual character, we're probably no different than non-union. Concerning knowledge,skills, and experience, we outclass the non-union workers--moreso in the past than today. Unions get a bad reputation, because of the bad characters. Unfortunately, earning a decent wage doesn't always make us decent characters.
Hey Thompson,
What do you think the stimulas was. Remember that the unemployment in the country was not to go over 8%. Stupid unions. I'm sorry. GREEDY UNION'S!!!
Unions years ago were there to protect workers from bad employers. Now we need an organization to protect us from them. I do believe that a craftsman should make a decent wage but a floor sweeper just because he's been doing it for 30 years?
And by the way most of the union leadership is corrupt just like government...just sayin
To all of the union bashers:
Where do you think you would be without the unions ? You would be working for pennies,10 or 12 hours a day without overtime compensation,no healthcare,no holidays,etc.
Get rid of the unions and you will be right back to the "sweat shops" of 100 years ago...
Retired UNION and voting for Harry Reid,again !
Definition of Unions;
A collection of selfish, greedy people who don't gave a damn who our elected officials are as long as they get their hand-outs from government.
Educate your neighbors. Give just $1 to keep education going in Las Vegas: Support DonorsChoose projects in our Las Vegas school system to better educate our local population so things like this become less likely: www.donorschoose.org/mrcombs
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I don't think anyone has anything against unions, it just that unions have escalated salaries and benefits for the good of union leaders. Unions are always complain how much CEOs across America make, has anyone looked at what union executives make, it right up there with many CEOs except they are paid by union dues. Unions have destroyed many industries in this nation, just look at the steel, auto and manufactory sector. Unions have been in the pockets of many politicians, mostly democrats. Unions were involved in the legislation of Health Care Reform, and there is a bill that is presently setting on many democrats desk wanting tax payers to guarantee union pensions. Unions are just a strong arm of the political system and use members dues to pay executive leaders. If unions are so strong then why do they need a bill that guarantees their pensions?
The Unions DESTROY every Industry that they touch and now WALK ALONG SIDE COMMUNISTS AND RADICALS. As they steal the Memberships money while backing Candidates that have kept their membership out of work for going on 2 full years with no end in sight. They could care less because they want to go after workers from other countries and could care less about the American worker.
Many of the members are working behind the scenes with the membership to BOOT THE COMMY'S that are destroying these Unions to the Curb. You go to the Union Hall and the Union people are NEVER THERE, and always gone blood sucking the members of their money working or not.
I am Union and I am tired of the Union handing out my name and address for these Candidates to use. Thanks Union for your list of approved Candidates. It will come in handy as I vote AGAINST every Candidate that you SUPPORT, You are ALL A BUNCH OF COMMUNISTS and marching in Washington with Communists that my Family has spilled Blood Fighting against was the LAST STRAW. AFLCIO is nothing but a JOKE.
It is not the Union Members but the ones they Elect lol, into running the Show. Time for the Membership to take back these Unions from the SCUM that have taken them over and turned them into COMMUNIST FRONT ORGANIZATIONS. These people would Vote in Hitler if he gave them an Ear or would help their cause.
I have long believed that it should prohibited for a public employee union to endorse or campaign on behalf of any candidate that can affect their contract negotiations. That is a blatant conflict of interest.
Unions served a purpose in the past, but now they're holding the country back. Lower productivity, more expensive "required" benefits, etc. Our schools are worse, manufacturing is more expensive, salaries are out of control (fire, police, etc.) with no economic justification, and general productivity is worse. Everyone feels that they're entitled to a piece of the pie when things are going well, but they aren't willing to make any sacrifices when things are bad.
I worked in a union environment and I hated it. The work ethic was absolutely terrible.
To top it off, the leaders are as corrupt as they get. They're a huge part of the problem in the government, along with lobbyists for big businesses and other special interest groups. They add to the general dishonesty and corruption that has infected the government and almost every politician. People are realizing this, and that's why incumbents are in trouble. Voters know that they're all whores for one or more of these groups.
The Unions will have their say in elections. Everyone complains about the Union Bosses and the corruption, well isn't like our government only not quite as corrupt. The members control, to some extent, what the Labor groups do and the members are voters. If it wasn't for the Labor Unions the average worker would be getting be nothing more than starvation wages because our employers have been crooked and greedy.
Without Unions their would not be a housing crisis because no one could afford one, so why build them. Their would not be a infrastructure problem because no one could afford a car, so we would not need new roads or bridges or an auto industry. We could reduce our oil dependency because no one could afford gas. The airline industry would disappear because no one could afford to fly.
Look what we achieved with Republicants, their goals is to put us their one way or the other.
Richard, I think that without unions (now), workers would be paid what they're worth. Their wages would go down or up depending on the availability of jobs and qualified candidates to fill those jobs.
I'm not aware of a union for software developers, but they're not being paid "starvation wages" by the "crooked and greedy" employers.
Nothing to do with political party, by the way. All candidates are for sale.
Programmers of the world, UNITE!
What could a union possibly offer to me that is better than what I have? :)
Besides, if programmers ever were to organize they would be replaced immediately by the next group of high school seniors, if not freshmen.
And what political leanings would such a union have? My guess would be Libertarian at best since good programmers are highly independent, egotistical and not entirely sane to begin with.
Questions
Where do Republican candidates get their money? -- Businesses
Where do those businesses get their money their money? Innovation, perseverance hard work and risk
Where do Democrats get their campaign money? -- Unions
Where do Unions get there Money? -- Politicians
Does anyone know what happened to the Mob? I wonder if all their illegal actions became legal through the actions of politicians. (unions) Just wondering?
Ummm, the Democrats seem to be all "bought and paid for" with dirty union money. Democrats take their money by the truck loads and in turn union bosses expect and demand their new "lap dogs" to give them what they want, very similiar to mob bosses.
Unions are the new modern day mobs and they buy Democrats.
And, the blame is----------BUSH! He strikes again, after 4 years of Democrat control of Congress and 2 years of Obama. WOW!------Oh, wait, it's union trouble this time.---nevermind
boftx: What did unionism do to schools?--the auto makers?--public service workers?-- etc? Answer: They took the dues, used it to promote pro-union candidates in DC, which gave kick backs to the unions, which......Get it? The workers got wages and benefits that the corporations couldn't afford, drove the companies to near-bankruptcy or full bankruptcy, the feds bailed them out and we taxpayers got stuck with the bill....Get it? So, then the government borrows a trillion to bail-out their cronies, political contributors, UNIONS, takes-over failing industries and passes the bill along to us the schmucks--er voters--who elected them. Now, comes November 2, 2010..............