A Labor Secretary Who is Actually Pro-Union

The Obama administration has a real opportunity right now to improve labor standards in this country, but it begins with appointing a pro-active secretary of labor who truly supports the ability of workers to collectively bargain. Bush's former appointee Elaine Chao not only presided over what has been one of the worst periods in our history in terms of unemployment, job growth, and wages; she also does not favor expanding workers rights. Therefore the Senate needs to stop holding up the confirmation of Congresswoman Hilda Solis for secretary of labor.

I knew that Solis had a strong record with supporting labor unions, but it became even clearer to me last week when I had lunch with a close friend of mine who used to work for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). He was involved in a campaign a few years ago to organize the 14,000 employees who work for the large healthcare corporation Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) in California. The workers at CHW were paid less than workers with similar occupations at nearby hospitals. Moreover, they had to pay hundreds of dollars every month for healthcare benefits while employees at other hospital chains in the state like Kaiser Permanente received theirs for free.

As with most organizing campaigns, once the employer begins to realize his/her employees are willing to stand up for better pay, more affordable healthcare, and better working conditions by forming a union, they begin to fight aggressively. For instance, they often retaliate against vocal union supporters and hold mandatory "captive audience" meetings where they blatantly misinform employees and create an atmosphere of fear. They know that keeping the facility "union-free" will allow them to keep wages stagnant, raise healthcare costs on his/her employees, and keep more of the profits funneled towards those in executive positions. Meanwhile, employees are prevented from passing out union literature and union organizers are denied access to public areas like the cafeteria.

During this tense time, politicians are often hesitant to get involved, probably because of how their actions would look to the business community. This was not the case with Solis. My friend described to me that during the heat of the campaign, Solis would go into the hospital to confront the management and openly express her support for the workers. She also joined union members in labor rallies, marches, and protest actions. Because of the efforts of public figures like Solis, the workers in CHW eventually won a landmark contract that led to guaranteed raises and free family healthcare. The standards that were set at this large California chain eventually pushed other hospitals in the Los Angeles area to raise their wages and improve the benefits for their own workers.

We need more people like Obama and Solis in national government who have been on the ground standing up for workplace democracy. But the work needs to start as soon and possible. That begins with Solis' confirmation.

Comments

[musselmanm]

I hope Ms Solis is confirmed. A community with strong union membership is a community with money being spent in these localities. Unions raise the standards of living for not only their members but even non- union employees. Companies must have better working conditions, wages and benefits to keep their employees from joining unions.
I have always felt that unions were a stimulus for the community in almost every instance.
There were always members that did not like being a union member but not a one of them ever quit the union to go for the low wages and lack of employee protections offered in the non union sector.
Obviously there are many fine non union employers! I will support anyone that treats the people that create the profit he or she enjoys from the labor of their employees.
We must insist on employee free choice. We defeated the neocons and we can win the right to unionize. Keep talking to people when you go out in your community. Everywhere, not just at stores. Tell the young, tell the old, see if they will tell you about better times.
Call your elected representatives, email them. Take advantage of the white house sites that are now provided by our President on the internet. Write letters to the editor.
It really does not take much to get people to start talking. of their hopes for a better life and the fact that a union life is a better life.

[Jonah Lalas - Huffpost Blogger]

that's exactly right. unions at one point represented 1/3 of the American population. Right now, the number is around 10%. We need to revitalize the movement. FDR only passed pro-labor legislation because of the tremendous pressure he got from the unions. Obama is going to need that same push.

[StrayCatzX5]

To anyone who questions the merit of unions,please examine the history of life in auto factories pre-1937,what the working conditions in steel mills were like before employees had a serious voice,and on and on. Working conditions were the most prevalent reason for forming a union,as well as decent wage and benefit packages to offset the job's breaking of the body. Even after the formation of unions,most jobs still had a "chew-them­-up-and-sp­it-them-ou­t" aspect to them. Things weren't changed overnight.

[musselmanm]

My body is old and broken from too many years of heavy construction. I gave it up by creating profit for the owners of the companies I worked for. I gladly did my best because these owners negotiated with my union and created a partnership between us and the companies.
I thank my lucky stars for my union, the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters International.
I also give thanks for the members of these companies that saw that qualified willing employees with an honest wage for an honest days wages was good for their bottom line.
To all involved in my union career, thank you!

[brighterlight]

Now we need Solis and e-verify. E-verify will track and prevent things like this:
"U.S. Probes Plot to Destroy Fannie Mae Data'
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123333187833633709.html?mod=loomia&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r2:c0.0307076:b0

[brighterlight]

I am not a union member either, but I support unions. I am a rank-and-file worker who needs other protections that former Bush Labor Secretary (Mitchy McConnell's wifey, Elain Chao) weakened; FMLA, wage, and other protections. Elaine Chao gutted more American jobs by expanding H1B visa programs and allowing off shoring at a rate never-before-seen in American history. She did NOTHING for the American worker.

Now give us SOLIS! Give us SOLIS! Give us SOLIS!

[hey0there]

Solis co-authored the STRIVE Act of 2007 (H.R. 1645)., which was one of the largest H1-B expansion bills ever.

Luckily, it did not get congressional approval. It would have been a disaster for American Tech workers.

[vippy]

Unions have their place in the work environment. Lots of them did get a bad rap due to the wrong
people in charge. But I always saw the necessity of a union, otherwise we would have easily
abused our employees when it came to the end of their shift especially!

[VikingQuest]

Unions have their place in some work places.