Labor Gives Clinton Room to Maneuver on Trade Talks

[DCBob]

Source: Wall Street Journal

LAS VEGAS—Michael Collins, a nurse and active member of his local union, isn’t happy about free-trade legislation being debated in Congress, believing it would undermine American workers. It won’t, however, change his view of Hillary Clinton, a one-time booster of the pact.

In the 2016 presidential race, “Hillary’s about the only person we’ve got who’s viable,” he said.

Labor unions are fighting hard to defeat legislation that would authorize sped-up consideration of a trade agreement being negotiated with 11 Pacific Rim nations. However, they are giving Mrs. Clinton the kind of breathing room they aren’t affording congressional Democrats or even the president.

Mrs. Clinton as a senator voted in support of several free-trade agreements, and opposed one, with Central American nations. As secretary of state, she supported the Pacific Rim negotiations, and her former boss, President Barack Obama, is leading the effort to approve them.

Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/labor-gives-clinton-room-to-maneuver-on-trade-talks-1431906204

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I found this article interesting in that it appears that some labor union leaders are giving Hillary a pass on the thorny issue of TPP.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Union leaders are human and make mistakes, and some are corrupt.

I'd be pissed if my union got behind a candidate like Clinton this early in the season.

[DCBob]

2. Here's more from the article..

..the nation’s labor leaders say trade is just one issue by which they will judge candidates. Many union leaders have longtime ties to Mrs. Clinton, and as long as she doesn’t campaign for the agreement, they don’t appear eager to bloody the Democrats’ front-runner for the nomination.

“For us, an endorsement process is based on lots of different issues and lots of different variables,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. She has said her union “has a long relationship with Hillary because of her long-standing support for working families.”

The indifference stems in part from the changing nature of the labor movement, which over many years has filled its membership rolls with workers in government, hospitality and service jobs—fields less vulnerable to outsourcing than manufacturing jobs that once accounted for a large share of union membership. The United Auto Workers represented about 1.5 million workers in the late 1970s; today, its membership is about one-third of that. At the same time, membership in unions filled with public-sector workers has remained relatively stable.

“The great old unions of the past—the steelworkers, the auto workers—these unions are seen as shadows of themselves,” said Gary Chaison, professor of industrial relations at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. On trade, “Hillary Clinton really does have much more ground to operate on, because it’s not the issue it once was.”

[misterhighwasted]

3. Good for them. They see Hillary as the only candidate to defeat the RW in 2016.

They are wise to give her leeway on her direction with TPP.
There are certain policy issues they know she is correct on. Those issues are also critical to them.
They are in the business of fair negotiation.
I applaud their decision to wait. Hillary Clinton is more valuable to them than the alternative. That is a GOP stacked deck against their future.

I hope she addresses them in private since that is the only way any concerns can honestly occur. Away from the drueling wagging tongues of the foolish Press.
Kudos to the Labor Unions for their open minded approach.
She will serve them well as President, & they know it.
Bravo!

[INdemo]

4. Labor unions? As in Plural? This was just one labor union.Check and see what the AFl-CIO has

Last edited Tue May 19, 2015, 07:28 AM - Edit history (3)

to say about the TPP and check with the UAW about where they stand on this trade issue.
They really had to search to find an article to give Hillary a smidget of union approval.( I person)

Hillary has not won the Democratic nomination yet

Please read:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2015/03/30/uaw-trade-policy-american-workers/70693748/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141097058

[misterhighwasted]

7. certainly, pardon the typo. Happens with my phone. You know how that is, I'm sure.

Lol. Really, Hillary hasn't won yet?
But, but what's all the talk of her coronation!!
With all I read here, I thought she had already won!
Okie dokie then.

[INdemo]

5. Ok so I am a union member and I agree with Bernie Sanders

on the TPP.So will the WSJ write an article about my support of Bernie Sanders and imply that all of labor supports his position on trade?

[ibewlu606]

6. Rec'd

Sometimes the AFL does really stupid stuff! Like endorsing Obama 6 months early and then getting nothing in return.

[davidpdx]

8. She could tell the labor unions just about whatever she wants and they'll still kiss her feet

[Beauregard]

9. Part of the reason for the decline in union membership is union misleadership.

My union leaders were so much in bed with management that they steadily sold us out year after year. All our institutions, including labor unions, need to be reformed from the bottom up, i.e., by the rank and file.

[INdemo]

12. What we need is term limits for the top

Union execs.

The President of our international union salary is more than the POTUS. He simply has his choice of international VP's and he gets everything he wants.
To change that we need active members attending meeting and nominating and electing those that will work for us.

Union members could make the changes with new local leaders but most members wont will bitch but wont go to the meetings.

[INdemo]

10. Dont think so. Not this time around.

Union members are fed up with a corporatist President that says one thing and does another. With Hillary it would be more of the same only worse because she has Wall St to please first. Those millions in contributions demand a return on their investment.

Hillary does not have the nomination yet

[davidpdx]

11. I hope you are right and wish I could be more of an optimist on this

But I think most people and organizations are going to be told to bow down and kiss her feet. The power of unions has grown weaker due to attacks from the right. That certainly leaves them vulnerable to be played in our own party.