California's largest labor association takes position on abortion

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/4019

California's largest labor association takes position on abortion

By Leilani Albano

California’s largest labor union association voted to oppose a November ballot measure requiring teen girls to obtain parental notification before having an abortion.

At a recent convention in Los Angeles, delegates of the California Federation of Labor reversed its “no recommendation” stance to a solid “no” vote on parental notification measure, Proposition 85,

Q1 (3 seconds)
I think it’s a long overdue, very good step forward.
(fade out 2 seconds)

While the California Federation of Labor’s recent NO vote on parental notification will assuredly serve as a boost to the No on 85 campaign, United Farm Worker Co-founder Dolores Huerta says that activists must do more to reach out to labor on the abortion issue.

Q6 (16 seconds)
I don’t think we should take anything for granted. I think it’s up to us in the women’s movement and the progressive movement to get out there and talk to our local labor people and ask to be sure to include this prop 85 message in everything that they do.


Audio story follows CA minimum wage story: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winsheadlines.ram

[Sherman A1]

1. Everyone is entitled to speak out as they deem appropriate

but, I don't see how this is an issue for a labor union. I would imagine just as any organization, there members are of various opinions on this issue which in my opinion really doesn't fall under the topics that organized labor should be focused upon. I would think there would be better use of their time and resources.

[krispos42]

2. I agree.. it's a weird topic for a labor union to have a position on n/t

[Demeter]

3. What Percentage of the Union Is Female?

May not be as weird as you think!

[Omaha Steve]

4. My union AFSCME is 56% female

http://www.afscme.org/issues/77.cfm

We have 1.4 million members nationwide.

Women

AFSCME women are on the frontlines building a stronger union and fighting for their rights. At 56 percent of the union, women are critical to AFSCME’s power and growth. The Women’s Rights Department promotes the economic security of women and ensures that our women members are prepared to lead the union in the 21st Century. Through gender-specific research, materials, advocacy, and skills-building programs, the Women’s Right Department is a vital resource for our women members.

[krispos42]

11. Well, that's true of most organizations

Unless you're in some same-sex-only group, things are gender-mixed. But a trade union exists to protect and regulate a particular profession. If these ladies want to keep the right to abortion, then they should join NOW or something amd march on Washington

[Gman]

5. As I've said before... how does this further the cause of bettering

wages, benefits and working conditions?

All this will do is piss off a significant part of the membership. Reproductive rights is not labor's fight, this is not what labor does. That's why there's pro-choice groups. The pro-choice groups do nothing to better wages, benefits and working conditions. In fact I wonder just how many people in the pro-choice groups are even aware of labor issues like wages, benefits and working conditions.

And, why am I not surprised to find Dolores Huerta in the middle of this.

---on edit after the coffee starts kicking in---

I would expect something like this to happen once Democrats control everything. This type of shooting ourselves in the foot stuff is usually reserved for after we have been doing something right for a change.

So how then will labor be able to rally the membership to vote for something in its own interest when a significant part of the membership is still pissed by the abortion endorsement? Since pro-choice first became an issue, (i.e. pre-Roe v. Wade) labor has wisely made a choice to stay out of this fight. Now, somewhat less than wise minds have lost focus. And as far as Dolores is concerned, I don't think Cesar Chavez would agree with this either. He was always able to keep the UFW focused on the correct issues.

The more I think about this, the more I think its a bad idea. What union member with an good family, no abuse or anything, wouldn't want to be notified if their teen daughter was going to have an abortion. I know I'd be hugely pissed if my 15 year old daughter had an abortion and no one told me. (And yes, spare me the issues of abuse, etc; I'm well aware of all the reasons for not requiring notification. But the membership doesn't care and that's why this is a huge mistake by labor.)

[fasttense]

6. Well I can see how having a choice affects workers rights.

Wasn't it in Saipan where Tom Delay and Abramoff had ensured unfair labor practices for their rich friends? Wasn't it in Saipan where they were forcing women to have abortions to keep their jobs and keep working? I think having a choice is what it comes down to. Imagine having a job that required you not to get pregnant so you could keep working? Employers already screen for cigarettes and drug use. Is it such a leap for employers to decide you have to remain childless to work for them?

[xchrom]

7. woo-hoo! this is great!

very little affects labour issues -- and reproductive rights most assuredly affects --lol-- half of the work force.

[MrPrax]

8. Good for Them...!!!

It's good to see the union movement become a little more relevent by taking a stand on issues both on and off the shop floor...

The field is wide open for union to return to a leadership role -- few others are willing to step up.

In Solidarity!!!

[Fierce]

9. I'd be a lot happier if I saw other groups doing for labor

...what labor does for other groups. It's like the blue-green coalitions. It's always been a lot more green than blue, and the blue is invariably a group of 22-year-old "honorary" "Steelworkers." In my experience.

Edit for spelling.

[noonwitch]

10. I support some parental consent provisions, but not all

There needs to be a responsible adult with the young lady when she has an abortion. For that person to be anyone but a parent, there has to be a legal proceeding. My only problem comes in jurisdictions where all the judges are anti-abortion, like Kent or Ottawa Counties, in Michigan. In Wayne County, the judges who hear those cases are generally pro-choice, but make their rulings based on whether telling the parents will put the child at risk of abuse or neglect.

It isn't right that a 16 year old can get an abortion without her parent's permission, but can't get her ears pierced without it.

[fasttense]

13. Girls who are to afraid to tell their parents

they are pregnant and need an abortion probably have a reason for not telling. The fugitive girl act in congress will take care that she doesn't get a safe abortion and suffers the consequences of a dysfunctional family for the rest of her life.

If I had gotten pregnant as a minor, my parents would have beaten the living day lights out of me. I would never have told them. I would have gotten an illegal abortion. When family dynamics are so bad that a young girl in trouble can't tell her parents then there has to be a reason.

[Judi Lynn]

12. How many children have been molested by a parent, only to have the

OTHER parent deny it, as well? What young woman whose father has gotten far, far too personal with her could bear having his repulsive, suffocating, crude hulk anywhere around her when she was so jeoparized, helpless, and overwhelmed? Getting his permission? Good lord. Discussing it with her mother? There really aren't that many women who could handle this information without nearly destroying the daughter in the process.

There are far too many cases of young women ending up completely isolated, and pregnant, with NO ONE to turn to, and an event approaching they cannot, and should not be forced to accept.

It doesn't matter what anyone says to deprive them of what little remains of their sanity and well-being. They deserve to seek help, and get it.

No child is prepared to raise a child, even in "blissful" circumstances living with her parents.

Any one who hopes to butt into their lives with a lot of hot air and preachments needs to find a suitable hobby, and leave the important choices to people with intelligence, and some level of self-respect, and respect for others.

It's great to see a group of adults give the matter some serious thought, and reject the infantile emotionalism and blind self-interest we see from right-wing psychopaths.

[AtomicKitten]

14. here's my position ---- MYOB

No person or organization has the right to comment on a personal matter.