2016 Postmortem

portlander23

(2,078 posts) Fri Jun 3, 2016, 03:22 PM Jun 2016

Democrats Should Listen a Lot More to Labor

Democrats Should Listen a Lot More to Labor
John Nichols
The Nation

Concerns about the DNC’s approach arose after Bernie Sanders said while campaigning in California that: “What we heard from the DNC was they did not want representatives of labor unions on the platform drafting committee.” National Nurses United executive director RoseAnn DeMoro, one of the most outspoken members of the AFL-CIO Executive Council and a frequent critic of the DNC leadership, had expected to join the 15-member drafting committee as a Sanders pick. But when the DNC released the drafting committee roster, it featured no leaders of major labor unions; although veteran labor strategist Paul Booth, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, was included at the request of Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Labor will have a voice in the platform process. But this misses the point about what union leaders and union activists bring to the broader debate. At a point when many of the concerns that labor unions have been raising for decades—about income inequality, wage stagnation, failed trade policies, deindustrialization, automation and the fair treatment of all workers—are at the center of the national debate, Democrats should be turning to labor leaders for counsel on a wide range of policy questions. This is smart politics, as it helps to counter the appeals of Republican Donald Trump to working families; but it is also smart policy making, as unions leaders really do know the issues.

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Democrats Should Listen a Lot More to Labor (Original Post) portlander23 Jun 2016 OP

The days when the Democratic Party listened to labor are long over. bjo59 Jun 2016 #1

UAW... brooklynite Jun 2016 #2

Big Business, Inc. has a lot more money than labor, QC Jun 2016 #3

Too bad Unions supported the Vietnam war Buzz cook Jun 2016 #4

They shouldn't taught_me_patience Jun 2016 #5

Yes. They should. Nt NCTraveler Jun 2016 #6

bjo59

(1,166 posts)

1. The days when the Democratic Party listened to labor are long over.

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Fri Jun 3, 2016, 03:29 PM

Jun 2016

brooklynite

(94,571 posts)

2. UAW...

Reply to portlander23 (Original post)

Fri Jun 3, 2016, 03:36 PM

Jun 2016

American Federation of Government Employees
AFSCME
AFT
International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
International Longshoremen's Association
International Union of Operating Engineers
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Laborers' International Union of North America
North America's Building Trades
NEA
National Treasury Employees Union
Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association
Office and Professional Employees International Union
SEIU
Seafarers International Union of North America
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sprinkler Fitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
United Food and Commercial Workers Union
UFW
United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers