In this week's (June 21) The Economist magazine there is a story about America's labor unions and what they expect out of the 2008 elections. Here is the checklist:
- universal health care and decent pensions
- protection against "callous" managers and foreign competition
- end to secret ballot elections in union organizing campaigns
The magazine reports the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has linked up with MoveOn.org on an anti-McCain TV spot, The message is "John McCain, when you say you would stay in Iraq for 100 years, were you counting of Alex? Because if you were, you can't have him!" The point is they are deviating from the traditional labor issues and going for the election win. The Economist points out labor unions see a rare opportunity for Democrats to capture the White House and both houses of Congress.
Unions are sending people you trust to your door to get you to vote for Democrats. The AFL-CIO is spending $53 million and expect to reach 13 million voters. In Washington it is called their "Labor-Neighbor" program and it is designed to get people who support their candidates and issues to vote.
Unions are concentrating on 24 states and giving top priority to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota--the must win states for Barack Obama.
Finally, unions are catching up with business group spending. According to the magazine, in 2000 firms and their workers outspent unions, 3 to 1. In 2006, it was 2 to 1 and they are going all out.
All this activity is cascading down to the state level as well. This is going to be a year where those who provide jobs need to be active and involved. Here is the link: www.economist.com.
