|
 AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is expected to issue the warning in
a speech Friday at the National Press Club.
In prepared remarks, Trumka said the role of unions is not to build
the power of any political party, but to improve the lives of
working families. He promised that unions would spend the summer
holding leaders in Congress and the states accountable
"It doesn't matter if candidates and parties are controlling the
wrecking ball or simply standing aside," Trumka said. "The outcome
is the same either way. If leaders aren't blocking the wrecking ball
and advancing working families' interests, working people will not
support them."
The AFL-CIO's executive council is considering a plan that could
spend less on congressional races and more on fighting state battles
like those in Wisconsin and Ohio, where lawmakers want to weaken
collective bargaining rights and reduce union clout.
 Last month, the nation's largest firefighters union said it was
halting political donations to members of Congress deemed to be not
fighting hard enough for union rights. The move has won praise in
many corners of the labor movement, where union activists have
openly grumbled about House and Senate Democrats being too quiet
while unions are getting pummeled in dozens of states.
The AFL-CIO spent more than $50 million to support Democrats in last
year's midterm elections, but a growing number of union leaders
remain frustrated at what their money has bought. Some activists
want to reallocate resources permanently so that more is spent
bolstering grass-roots support in the states.
The move to shift union donations could hurt some Democrats who have
relied on a steady flow of union cash year after year.
[to top of second column] |
 Trumka also slams lawmakers in dozens of state legislatures for
passing budgets that slash pensions and curb bargaining rights of
middle class union members while giving tax cuts to "the powerful
and well-connected." "The final outrage of these budgets is hidden in the fine print,"
Trumka said. "In state after state, and here in Washington, these so
called fiscal hawks are actually doing almost nothing to cut the
deficit."
He said these budget deals are sending a message that "sacrifice is
for the weak."
"Powerful political forces are seeking to silence working people
--
to drive us out of the national conversation," Trumka said.
Trumka and other union leaders have said they expect the moves in
some states to curb union rights will create a backlash that will
help organized labor grow stronger. Unions are already spending
millions to help recall campaigns in Wisconsin and Ohio. They are
hoping the momentum of those recalls can be sustained through the
2012 elections.
[Associated
Press; By SAM HANANEL]
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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