Reply #399: ESSAY "Taking Back Labor Day" (from ALEC & Co) by Amy Dean in Truthout Sept 5 (Labor Day)

[Hector Solon]

Taking Back Labor Day
by Amy Dean, Truthout | Op-Ed
Monday 5 September 2011
http://www.truth-out.org/taking-back-labor-day/1314996120

CLIPS:

Anti-worker and anti-union forces have launched a multi-front war in which working people are collateral damage in their efforts to gain greater power and profits. Corporate control and influence at all levels of government have resulted in the elimination of worker's rights to collectively bargain through legislation like Ohio's Senate Bill 5 and Wisconsin's anti-union legislation. Those same interests are seeking to dismantle any institutions that put limits on their power, including the National Labor Relations Board, the main federal agency charged with enforcing laws to protect workers. It is a nationally coordinated campaign driven by organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that proliferates anti-worker and pro-corporate legislation and are funded by the likes of the Koch Brothers.

In Ohio and Michigan and states across the country, voter anger has sent anti-worker leaders into a partial retreat as the backlash against anti-worker legislation has driven down the polling numbers for Republican governors once thought untouchable in the strength of their popularity. (break) And in hundreds of town halls and events across the country, thousands of working people are giving their Congressional representatives an earful on their failure to make any real progress on the job crisis.

The cumulative effect has started to change the national political debate. The conversation slowly, but surely, is shifting from debts and deficits to jobs and growth.

...working people are rebuilding an independent political force akin to the labor movement that transformed this country in the early 20th century. It is a progressive movement the does not rely on party or individual icons. It is not beholden to any particular institution or individual. It is growing organically in every corner of our country, and national leaders are now quickly moving to follow its lead.

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, echoed the frustration of working people recently when he declared the AFL's plan to build its own political structures and organizations rather than contribute to and depend on the Democratic Party's political operation.

These changes in the AFL-CIO appear to be happening already.

When President Obama addresses the nation this week and presents his vision on jobs, we can only hope that he will also follow the lead of the thousands of working people standing up and demanding bold solutions to the big problems facing American families. Working people's tolerance for Washington's inaction has reached its limit and they no longer are just demanding change; they are making it for themselves.

NOTE: Seems that maybe the POTUS and his staffers might have gotten a ear full on ALEC while visiting in Detroit on Labor Day and hanging out with Trumpka and others with a clue on ALEC (notice some of the content in the Jobs Bill speech last night), and what is necessary to do about it.