Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2008)
Where Do the Candidates Stand on Trade and Labor Issues? Hillary Clinton John McCain Barack Obama T RADE : Fully supports the North American Free Trade T RADE : Believes that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as having a net positive effect on the U.S. economy. Does not support new provisions in NAFTA that would protect worker’s rights or ensure environmental safeguards. Voted in favor of the Central America Free Trade Agree- ment and other free trade agreements presented to the Sen- ate. L ABOR : McCain is opposed to the Employee Free Choice Act. In 2007 he said, “signing people up in the most willy- nilly fashion is something to be rejected.” McCain voted “yes” in 2007 on raising the minimum wage. McCain comes from a right-to-work state (Arizona) and is an outspoken supporter of these laws. He opposes the repeal of section 14 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act which gives states the right to enact so-called right-to-work laws. Agreement (NAFTA) was oversold to the American people. He would work with Mexico and Canada to fix NAFTA so it works for American workers. Obama would improve Trade Adjustment Assistance for people losing jobs due to for- eign trade. Obama voted against the Central America Free Trade Agreement, and he would end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs off shore. L ABOR : Co-sponsored the Employee Free Choice Act which would strengthen the right of workers to organize without employer interference. Obama supports the indexing of the minimum wage so it automatically keeps pace with inflation. He supports a ban on the replacement of striking work- ers. He supports the repeal of section 14 (b) of the National Labor Relations Act that allows states to enact so-called right-to-work laws. Clinton, Obama offer specifics at national building trades gathering WASHINGTON, D.C. (PAI) — Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the two remain- ing Democratic presidential hopefuls, offered specific lists of pro-worker stands April 15-16 to some 2,400 dele- gates at the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department leg- islative-political conference held here April 14-18, There were 2,405 delegates and 1,000 guests. The back-to-back speeches on April 15 (Obama) and April 16 (Clinton) came as the two jousted for support among workers and their families, es- pecially in primaries in industrial and/or heavily unionized states such as Penn- sylvania, and in Indiana on May 11 and Oregon and Kentucky on May 20. Both took sharp jabs at Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumed GOP nominee, after lambasting incumbent MAY 2, 2008 President George W. Bush. Clinton said Bush turned the Labor Department “into the Department of Anti-Labor.” Obama said Bush converted DOL into “the Department of Management.” Both candidates got loud receptions and frequent ovations from delegates. The two agreed on many issues impor- tant to workers, including: • Backing the right to organize. Obama repeated his line that “It’s time we had a president who didn’t choke on saying the word ‘union’” and reminded the crowd that he walked away from a downtown Chicago corporate law firm to started his career as an organizer among steelworkers at the city’s shut- tered South Side plants. “We need to strengthen our unions by letting them do what they do best— organize. If a majority want a union, they should get a union. And that is why I’ll fight for and intend to sign the Employee Free Choice Act when it lands on my desk at the White House,” he declared. • Preserving Davis-Bacon prevail- ing wage laws. Obama said that when he’s in the White House, construction workers will not have to worry about GOP-inspired repeal efforts. He pledged to restore project labor agree- ments for federally-funded construction work. Clinton made the same pledge, noting that Bush’s father also dumped PLAs and her husband restored them, only to see George W. Bush dump them again. “It takes a Clinton to clean up the mess the Bushes left,” she commented. Clinton added her Labor Depart- ment “will crack down on contractors who violate Davis-Bacon” and prom- ised that “we will give you the tools to enforce Davis-Bacon,” through “mean- ingful access to contractor pay records.” • Independent contractors dodge. NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS T RADE : Originally a supporter the North Ameri- can Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Clinton has modified her position as the primary election sea- son progressed. Currently, her position is to call a “time out” for any further so-called free trade agree- ments. Clinton proposes to fix NAFTA by strength- ening the labor and environmental protection pro- visions. She would tighten NAFTA restrictions on foreign investments in the U.S. and conduct regular reviews of the workings of NAFTA. She supports im- provements in Trade Adjustment Assistance for peo- ple losing jobs due to foreign trade. Clinton voted against the Central America Free Trade Agreement and she would end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs off shore. L ABOR : Clinton is a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act. Clinton supports legislation to expand Occupa- tional Safety and Health protections and to increase penalties for OSHA violations. She supported an increase in the minimum wage and supports the repeal of section 14 (b) of the Na- tional Labor Relations Act, which permits states to enact right-to-work laws. Obama pointed out that, after hearing from construction workers and honest contractors in Illi- nois, he previously introduced legisla- tion to outlaw contractor misclassifica- tion of workers as “independent contractors.” That misclassification, widespread in construction, lets unscrupulous con- tractors avoid paying Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes on behalf of their workforce, and evade workers’ comp. Illinois has outlawed such mis- classification statewide. Clinton agreed, calling misclassifi- cation “wrong ... and un-American. I’ll put an end to it.” • Health care for all. Clinton said she was “the only candidate with a plan for universal health care,” but did not give details. Obama’s universal plan would cover kids, but he said its pro- competition aspects would make insur- ance affordable to all adults by driving premiums down by $2,500 per family per year. “And for those who don’t have health care, we’re going to set up a plan as good as the one I have as a member of Congress,” he stated. Each candidate offered some details that the other did not cover: • Obama promised to support federal funding for the building Trades’ Hel- mets-to-Hardhats program, which of- fers returning war veterans apprentice- ships and training in skilled construction trades, followed by job placement — and union membership. Clinton also praised Helmets-to-Hard- hats, but did not discuss money. • Clinton pushed her “Rebuild America” plan, to sell $3 billion in bonds “as we did in World War II” but for rebuilding infrastructure. She also pledged to “crack down on countries like China that steal defense secrets” and to “keep defense jobs in America.” PAGE 7
