Unions begin 14-city push for immigration reform

[February 08, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Union leaders are rolling out a 14-city campaign to mobilize support for President Barack Obama's immigration overhaul plans.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says the labor federation will hold rallies, educate voters and pressure elected officials using the same grass-roots infrastructure that helped re-elect Obama.

The campaign began Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C., and will continue Monday in Las Vegas.

Trumka says labor and business leaders also continue to work out an agreement on revising the nation's guest worker program that allows businesses to hire foreign workers for seasonal employment.

Unions strongly support a path to citizenship for the nation's estimated 11 million illegal immigrants, saying the change will lead to better wages and working conditions. Unions also hope to boost sagging membership ranks from the workers who would become new citizens.

[Associated Press; By SAM HANANEL]

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