In Wake of Arizona Law, Labor Unites Behind Immigration Reform

[Omaha Steve]

http://washingtonindependent.com/88356/in-wake-of-arizona-law-labor-unites-behind-immigration-reform

Unions Stand to Gain Strength From Legalization Efforts

By Sahil Kapur 6/28/10 6:00 AM


AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (EPA/ZUMApress.com)


For most of their history, labor unions opposed attempts at loosening immigration laws and often threw their weight behind restrictionist measures. During the most recent overhaul effort in 2007, a schism among unions cracked an otherwise willing liberal coalition and helped defeat the reform bill. But now, in the wake of Arizona’s strict and highly controversial new immigration law, labor has united to support immigration reform with unprecedented vigor.

Richard Trumka, president of the 11.5-million-member AFL-CIO, gave a pivotal speech on June 18 at the City Club of Cleveland that crystallized labor’s shift in outlook. Trumka, the nation’s most powerful labor voice, made a moral and economic case for reform and pledged to “face head-on our own contradictions, hypocrisy and history on immigration.” AFL-CIO has joined forces with the 2.2-million-strong Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union to pour resources into the fight, and the three have written a joint letter to Congress detailing labor’s “unified position and unfailing commitment” to sweeping reform.

Labor leaders have come to view an immigration overhaul as an opportunity rather than a threat to their interests. A large population of unlawful immigrants undercuts both the working class and the influence of unions, while legalized immigrants could be tapped to expand union membership. Likewise, joining forces with the pro-reform and growing Hispanic community can help secure the movement’s future.

Labor unions’ share of the U.S. workforce has declined steadily since the 1950s, when the figure peaked at roughly one-third. Last year it was 12.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Immigrant workers are the growth sector in today’s labor movement, so they’re a big part of its future,” said Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research at Cornell University.

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the restrictionist, “low-immigration” Center for Immigration Studies, put it more bluntly. “Unions obviously see immigration as their only chance at future growth,” he said, “since American workers have pretty much given up on them.”

FULL story at link.

[pinboy3niner]

1. This is an important development

Your sig line graphic says it, Steve: THIS IS A BIG F+++ING DEAL. With labor now coalescing into unified support, comprehensive immigration reform is a real possibility. And the conservative strategy of pushing recent anti-immigrant initiatives has re-heated debate, which seems to be having an unintended effect of INCREASING public support for comprehensive reform--the last thing conservatives want. I think their ill-considered strategy is back-firing on them, BIG TIME.

[Bobbieo]

2. They are going to have to get their asses in gear and support

the AZ Hispanics at election time to fight Pearce and his group at the polls. I wrote Luis Heredia of the Az Demo Party and asked him how they are going to fight the Teabaggers on this front. If SB 1070 stays on the books by then, those bastards will have the law on their side.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Dems don't want to push a federal bill before the elections

The lawsuits may well lead the courts to stay implementation of the AZ law pending adjudication because of the serious constitutional issues raised (and DOJ was reported to be ready to file this week).

One problem is that many Hispanics already are leaving the state--including U.S. citizens (who are mostly Dem VOTERS) who have someone in the family whose lack of legal status places them at risk, or who simply do not want to live in such a hostile environment. So the law already is having adverse consequences, even though it doesn't take effect for another month.

After the elections, dems will be reassessing legislative strategies based on the results. The party will likely retain its majority, and I think they should move aggressively on progressive issues, with immigration reform one of the top priorities--even if it takes the "nuclear option" of modifying the Senate's cloture rules.

Labor's increasing--and increasingly aggressive--support is likely to be a huge factor in making reform a reality. Because of that, and increasing public support, I'm optimistic. The only ones fighting for the status quo are conservatives, and they're boxing themselves into a position that is only becoming more and more untenable and unjustifiable. I could be wrong, but I think we're seeing significant changes that can lead to only one outcome...