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AFL-CIO General [Folder 2]
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Records of the Office of the Chief of Staff (Clinton Administration)
Harold Ickes, Jr.'s Files
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FOIA Number: 2013-0306-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Chief of Staff
Series/Staff Member:
Harold Ickes
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
9162
FolderID:
Folder Title:
AFL-CIO General [Folder 2]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
S
22
4
2
2
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. memo
re: Non-selection to National Labor Relations Board (1 page)
12/14/1994
b(6)
002. profile
DOB (Partial); POB (Partial) (1 page)
11/22/1995
b(6)
003. profile
DOB (Partial); POB (Partial) (1 page)
11/15/1995
b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Chief of Staff
Harold Ickes
OA/Box Number: 9162
FOLDER TITLE:
AFL-CIO General [Folder 2]
2013-0306-F
jml 191
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
PI National Security Classified Information |(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRAJ
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate 8 Federal statute |(b)(3) of the FOIA|
financial information |(a)(4) of the PRAJ
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information |(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors |a)(5) of the PRA|
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells |(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
THE WASHINGTON POST
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1995
FINAL
Unions Win Senate Approval of Retraining
called the Workforce Development
Act, also has drawn fire for turning
over to the states the operation of
the Job Corps, a live-in program for
52-45 Vote Preserves Benefits of Workers Who Lose Jobs Because of Trade Agreements
"at-risk" young people. Kassebaum,
who conducted hearings that Te-
vealed outbreaks of violence and
survives
By Judith Havemann
they are unemployed, can find
sistance was "crucial in obtaining
and will be putting those people
crime at some centers, would re-
Washington Post Staff Writer
help."
the necessary agreements" that led
"first and foremost."
quire the worst 25 centers to
States would be required to set
to the passage of the North Ameri-
Bill Cunningham, a lobbyist for
close.
Organized labor won a hard-
up one-stop centers to offer work-
can Free Trade Agreement (NAF-
the AFL-CIO, said it would have
The House passed similar job-
fought and rare victory in the Sen-
ers counseling, placement and re-
TA) and the General Agreement
been "criminal" for the Senate to
training legislation-without the
ate yesterday, preserving benefits
ferral to academic or occupational
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
"renege" on its long-term commit-
Job Corps provision-in Septem-
for U.S. workers who are thrown
training services. A quarter of the
"Strip Trade Adjustment Assis-
ment to workers displaced by
ber.
out of work when their jobs move
tance from the trade laws and you
GATT and NAFTA.
$5.9 billion block grant would be
The House voted 345 to 79 to
overseas because of international
earmarked for "employment" activ-
will never see a trade agreement
The trade adjustment assistance
consolidate- nearly 100 education
trade agreements.
ities to be largely carried out at the
again," said Moynihan. It would be
comes in two forms: job training
and job-training programs into
The 52 to 45 vote to save work-
one-stop centers, and another
a "commitment broken."
and extended benefits for up to two
three block grants to states for
ers' entitlements to special retrain-
quarter set aside for vocational and
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-
years for workers who lose their
jobs. Only job training, a roughly
adults, youths, and family educa-
assistance came as the Senate
adult education.
Mass.) the ranking minority mem-
$250 million annual program, was
tion and literacy.
began voting to revamp the na-
When the key elements of the
ber of the labor committee, said
affected by the Senate vote, but
The Senate work force act, once
tion's job-training programs by
bill take effect in 1998, dozens of
the Trade Adjustment Assistance
part of the welfare reform legisla-
turning them over to the states
familiar programs would be wiped
program had been "a matter of na-
Cunningham said related action in
tional policy for Republicans and
the House Ways and Means Com-
tion, was separated from welfare
with a block grant, or lump-sum
out, including the Job Training
mittee yesterday made it likely the
after Democrats objected that
Democrats alike." Some of the
payment.
Partnership Act, one of former
More than 80 separate job train-
commitments, Kennedy said, are
entire program would emerge in-
states would devote too large a
vice president Dan Quayle's princi-
tact in this session of Congress.
share of their job-training funds to
only two to three years old.
mg; vocational and adult education
pal legislative achievements when
If so, it would make trade adjust-
training recipients for jobs so they
"These workers have worked
programs would be repealed, funds
he was in the Senate.
ment assistance to workers one of
could meet mandatory work re-
generally for a lifetime, have suf-
reduced about 15 percent-ac-
The broad consolidation of pro-
the few entitlements for the non-
quirements in the welfare legisla-
fered by an act of Congress, and
cording to the Democrats-and
assis tance
grams is expected to pass today
elderly likely to survive the Repub-
tion.
we should do no less than meet this
states required to set up new,
with bipartisan support, but the ef-
lican revolution. Republican lead-
responsibility," he said.
ers in both the Senate and House
streamlined systems to help people
fort to toss the Trade Adjustment
Kassebaum said, "It makes no
FOR MORE INFORMATION
are attempting to wipe out the en-
find jobs.
Assistance program into the single
sense to maintain a separate and
titlement to welfare and Medicaid
To stay updated throughout the day
Labor and Human Resources
job-training pot ran into strong op-
distinct program for workers laid
health insurance, and the House
on the progress of legislation before
Committee Chairman Nancy Lan-
position from organized labor and
off" because of trade agreements.
has voted to eliminate the enţitle-
Congress, see Digital Ink, The
don Kassebaum (R-Kan.) said the
others.
"I believe governors and local
ment to foster care and adoption
Post's on-line service. To learn
bill will establish a single system
Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
elected officials will be responsive
assistance, as well.
about Digital Ink, call
"where anyone, regardless of why
(D-N.Y.) said trade adjustment as-
to those laid off" for this reason,
The Kassebaum job-training bill,
1-800-510-5104, Ext. 9000.
THE WASHINGTON POST
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1995
Uranium Enrichment Sale Reviewed
Two Nuclear Fronts
ment could earn a return on USEC $1
By Daniel Southerland
Washington Post Staff Writer
lion or more higher than the amount est
mated by the corporation's financial adva
With little fanfare, Congress and the
ers. Or, the report indicates, to
Clinton administration are moving to sell
government could earn more by not prive
off a giant government corporation valued
tizing USEC.
at about $1.5 billion-the first major fed-
"The numbers used by GAO are all
eral privatization action in nearly a decade.
liminary data," said Hal Shelton, chief
The new company, with headquarters
nancial officer for USEC. "Until we have
near Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, is
specific method for privatization, we wor
called the United States Enrichment Corp.
know what the final numbers are."
Its business is little known, but it is a prof-
Shelton said the GAO used misleadin
itable one: enriching uranium for nuclear
discount rates in calculating estimated VA
power utilities.
ue of USEC.
The plan to privatize USEC has gained
And he said, the agency overlooked
wide support in Congress and the adminis-
costs that would have been involved in
tration, and President Clinton is likely to
keeping USEC inside the government,
approve it, congressional sources say.
such as anticipated increases in electricity
Committees in the House and Senate have
rates and costs for refurbishing USEC's
adopted similar versions of a bill governing
two gaseous diffusion plants that supply
USEC's privatization, and the issue is now
enriched uranium.
expected to be dealt with in conference.
USEC and the Treasury Department are
But a General Accounting Office report
soon to select an investment banker to
prepared last month questions whether
conduct the transactions involved in selling
taxpayers will get full value for the deal.
the corporation.
The GAO contends the analysis done by
The privatization could go one of two
USEC's financial adviser, J.P. Morgan Se-
ways, USEC said-an initial public offering
curities Inc., to arrive at a value for the
of common stock, or a merger or acquisi-
corporation should be revised, allowing for
tion by a large corporation.
a much greater return to the government
"The Treasury Department is playing an
for the corporation's sale.
active, dominant role," Shelton said.
The GAO also said the Treasury Depart-
Bill Magavern, energy director with
ment, not the corporation, should handle
Public Citizen, a citizens advocacy group
Clinton Administration Moves Along
the privatization process in order to safe-
founded by Ralph Nader, said "strict con-
guard taxpayers' interests.
flict of interest rules are necessary to pre-
In letters to the GAO, the Treasury De-
vent USEC officers and executives from
partment and William H. Timbers Jr., pres-
enriching themselves at taxpayer ex-
ident and chief executive of USEC, strong-
pense."
ly criticized the GAO report. Timbers
"A hasty privatization deal could end up
called the report "seriously flawed" and as-
costing taxpayers far more than any tax
serted Treasury already was playing a
cut contribution from the asset sale would
leading role in the privatization process.
save them," said Magavern, who added
USEC's privatization plan forecasts the
that Public Citizen favors the privatization
corporation's stock could be sold for $1.5
of USEC if it is properly executed.
billion to $1.8 billion, minus about $100
"Safeguards will need to be considered
million in estimated transaction fees.
to ensure that the taxpayers' interests are
After future taxes and the cash USEC
protected if, because of the complexity of
expects to take with it from the Treasury
the privatization effort, the corporation is
are factored in, the total return to the
undervalued when sold," the GAO said.
Treasury from privatizing USEC could be
According to the GAO, the USEC case is
$1.7 billion to $2.2 billion, the GAO said.
important, partly because it may lay the
But the GAO said its analysis showed the
groundwork for future federal privatiza-
corporation could be worth much more. It
tions.
calculated the "net present value of the
Despite several proposals and much dis-
cash flows" for USEC as a government cor-
cussion of privatization in Congress, no ma-
poration, on which its sales price is partly
jor privatization has occurred since 1987,
based, might range from $2.8 billion to
when Consolidated Rail Corp. was sold to
$3.5 billion. In other words, the govern-
investors for $1.65 billion.
AFL-CIO, From C1
84-union AFL-CIO to spend at least
that means business is unlikely to
Unions Have Become "Irrelevant,
a third of its $60 million annual oper-
off money on Democrats."
speech to spell out of some of the
ating budget on organizing, particu-
Sweeney also said the labor mov
changes Kirkland's opponents want:
larly multi-union, industrywide cam-
ment's leadership should better I)
More spending on organizing;
paigns. Kirkland's critics argue that
H
Warns Leader of Kirkland Foes
flect the changing demographics
Financial support for Democrats
the federation spends too much
the workplace if it hopes to grow.
to be conditioned on their support
money on foreign operations and not
for labor's interests.
The SEIU, the AFL-CIO's third-
enough on organizing at home.
Greater visibility and power within
largest union, is one of the most di-
By Frank Swoboda
Sweeney, 60, leads a coalition of 11 major
Sweeney also called on the
the AFL-CIO for women and minori-
verse and fastest-growing unions in
AFL-CIO to focus more of its politi-
Washington Post Staff Writer
unions seeking to block Kirkland's reelection
ties.
the nation.
to a ninth, two-year term at the AFL-CIO
cal efforts at the grass-roots level
Sweeney insisted that the effort
"More than half of working Amer-
The leader of the coalition trying to oust
convention in October. The leaders of the
and to adopt a "new attitude toward
to force Kirkland to retire was not
icans are women, and our own polls
AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland warned
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1995
THE WASHINGTON POST
unions argue that Kirkland, 73, must be re-
part of a battle over personalities.
tell us they are the most likely pros-
yesterday that unions had become "irrele-
placed if the labor federation is to deal with
"It's about the future of the labor
pects for union membership," Swee-
vant" to the lives of most American workers.
the challenges facing organized labor today.
movement," he said.
The SEIU president
ney said.
"The problem with the American labor
Last week, five more unions joined the anti-
Sweeney said the coalition still
movement, the problem with unions, is that
"The new work force, the growing
Kirkland coalition, and Sweeney said yester-
hoped that Kirkland would step
suspects unions are
we are irrelevant to the vast majority of un-
service sector work force, is increas-
day that another four would join this week,
down and allow AFL-CIO Secretary-
organized workers in our country," John J.
giving Kirkland's opponents nearly 60 per-
Treasurer Thomas J. Donahue to be
becoming irrelevant
ingly younger, and filled with more
Sweeney, president of the 1.1 million-mem-
people of color," he said, "and our
ber Service Employees International Union,
cent of the votes in October.
drafted for the presidency. Donahue,
66, is a favorite of the union insur-
to many current
polls tell us they too are prime pros-
told delegates to an SEIU legislative confer-
In his first public statement since the fight
pects to join our movement."
gents as well as other union leaders
ence. He said he had "deep suspicions" that
over Kirkland's leadership spilled out into
supporting Kirkland, but he has re-
union members.
But when these people look at
unions also were becoming irrelevant to
the open earlier this year, Sweeney used his
fused to oppose Kirkland for the
union and AFL-CIO leaders and
many union members as well.
See AFL-CIO, C4, Col. 2
AFL-CIO's top job. Donahue has an-
union staffs, he said, they do not see
nounced that he will retire in Octo-
rewarding our friends and punishing
people like them.
ber.
our enemies." He warned that labor
Should Kirkland refuse to step
may be many congressional Demo-
down, however, Sweeney said Kirk-
crats' best hope for future campaign
land's opponents were prepared to
money.
take him on at the convention and
"While labor's clout is seen as be-
beat him. "That's not a threat, that's
ing diminished, we may be the only
a promise, and John Sweeney never
money game in town for many Dem-
breaks a promise," said Sweeney,
ocratic members of the House and
who is a likely candidate to oppose
Senate," he said. Since Democrats
Kirkland.
are in the minority in Congress and
At the top of Sweeney's list of
no longer have "all those big com-
needed changes was a call for the
mittee chairmanships any more
5/16/98
LABOR: A HOUSE DIVIDED
Supporters and opponents of AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland
Pro
Union
Douglas Dority
United Food and Commercial Workers
Morton Bahr
Communications workers of America
Lenore Miller
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers
William Bywater
International Union of Electrical Workers
John Barry
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Albert Shanker
American Federation of Teachers
Frank Hurt
Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers
Jay Mazur
International Ladies Garment Workers Union
John Sturdivant
American Federation of Government Employees
James Norton
Graphic Communications International
Jack
Sheinkman
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers
Michael Sacco
Seafarers International Union
Glass, Molders, Pottery Plastics and Allied
James Hatfield
Workers
Moe Biller
American Postal Workers
Vincent
Sombrotto
National Association of Letter Carriers
John T. Joyce
Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen
Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Journeymen and
Marvin J. Boede
Apprentices
Gene Upshaw
Federation of Professional Athletes
Edward Hanley
Hotel and Restaurant Employees
Gloria Johnson
AFL-CIO Executive Council member
Robert A.
AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trade
Georgine
Department
Con
Gerald W.
American Federation of State, County
McEntee
and Municipal Employees
George Becker
United Steelworkers of America
Owen Bieber
United Auto Workers
Arthur Coia
Laborers International Union
Ron Carey
Teamsters
Wayne Glenn
United Paperworkers International
Frank Hanley
International Union of Operating Engineers
George
Kourpias
Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Sigurd
Lucassen
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
John J.
Sweeney
Service Employees International
Richard L.
Trumka
United Mine Workers of America
The Washington Times
5/16/98
LABOR: A HOUSE DIVIDED
Supporters and opponents of AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland
Pro
Union
Douglas Dority
United Food and Commercial Workers
Morion Bahr
Coinmunications Workers OFAmenca
Lenore Miller
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers
William Bywater
International Union of Electrical Workers
John Barry
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Albert Shanker
American Federation of Teachers
Frank Hurt
Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers
Jay Mazur
International Ladies Garment Workers Union
John Sturdivant
American Federation of Government Employees
James Norton
Graphic Communications International
Jack
Sheinkman
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers
Michael Sacco
Seafarers International Union
Glass, Molders, Pottery Plastics and Allied
James Hatfield
Workers
Moe Biller
American Postal Workers
Vincent
Sombrotto
National Association of Letter Carriers
John T. Joyce
Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen
Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Journeymen and
Marvin J. Boede
Apprentices
Gene Upshaw
Federation of Professional Athletes
Edward Hanley
Hotel and Restaurant Employees
Gloria Johnson
AFL-CIO Executive Council member
Robert A.
AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trade
Georgine
Department
Con
Gerald W.
American Federation of State, County
McEntee
and Municipal Employees
George Becker
United Steelworkers of America
Owen Bieber
United Auto Workers
Arthur Coia
Laborers International Union
Ron Carey
Teamsters
Wayne Glenn
United Paperworkers International
Frank Hanley
International Union of Operating Engineers
George
Kourpias
Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Sigurd
Lucassen
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
John J.
Sweeney
Service Employees International
Richard L.
Trumka
United Mine Workers, of America
The Washington Times
5/16/98
LABOR: A HOUSE DIVIDED
Supporters and opponents of AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland
Pro
Union
Douglas Dority
United Food and Commercial Workers
Morton Bahr
Communications workers UI America
Lenore Miller
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers
William Bywater
International Union of Electrical Workers
John Barry
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Albert Shanker
American Federation of Teachers
Frank Hurt
Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers
Jay Mazur
International Ladies Garment Workers Union
John Sturdivant
American Federation of Government Employees
James Norton
Graphic Communications International
Jack
Sheinkman
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers
Michael Sacco
Seafarers International Union
Glass, Molders, Pottery Plastics and Allied
James Hatfield
Workers
Moe Biller
American Postal Workers
Vincent
Sombrotto
National Association of Letter Carriers
John T. Joyce
Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen
Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Journeymen and
Marvin J. Boede
Apprentices
Gene Upshaw
Federation of Professional Athletes
Edward Hanley
Hotel and Restaurant Employees
Gloria Johnson
AFL-CIO Executive Council member
Robert A.
AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trade
Georgine
Department
Con
Gerald W.
American Federation of State, County
McEntee
and Municipal Employees
George Becker
United Steelworkers of America
Owen Bieber
United Auto Workers
Arthur Coia
Laborers International Union
Ron Carey
Teamsters
Wayne Glenn
United Paperworkers International
Frank Hanley
International Union of Operating Engineers
George
Kourpias
Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Sigurd
Lucassen
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
John J.
Sweeney
Service Employees International
Richard L.
Trumka
United Mine Workers of America
The Washington Times
December 14, 1994
Memorandum to Leon Panetta
From: Joan Baggett
Subject: Union Issues
I. Clinton Administration set-backs/problems for organized labor:
A) NAFTA and Trade Issues The Administration's continued priority on
expanding free trade has raised serious concerns within the labor movement.
Opposition to NAFTA is still deeply felt among the rank-and-file. National union
eadership signaled a willingness to move beyond NAFTA but are deeply
troubled by actions since the NAFTA fight. Of particular concern was the
President's decision to de-link trade and human rights In deciding to continue
MFN status for China. They object to our handling of GSP cases involving
Malaysia and Indonesia & have serious concerns about the APEC agreement.
The admission of China to the WTO is also looming as an issue.
The Miami Summit again raised questions about how serious the Administration
is in addressing labor's very real concerns on labor standards & worker rights.
Fast track authority for Chile accession to NAFTA is already shaping up as a
fight over labor & environmental standards. How we decide these issues and
manage this debate will be watched very closely.
Finally, at the same time we are expanding free trade, we are also reforming
job training programs. These refor as would eliminate trade adjustment
assistance (TAA) as a separate program. The Kennedy Administration (Pat
Moynihan) secured organized labor's commitment to the first GATT round by
proposing the TAA program. Labor opposes elimination of TAA.
B) Striker Replacement -- not only was the bill to ban the hiring of permanent
replacement workers in a strike defeated in the senate, but an overwhelming
majority of rank-and-file union activists believe that the Administration did little
to support this bill.
INOTE: Opposing NAFTA and passing striker replacement were at the top of
labor's agenda. This double defeat, with the perception among many that the
President pulled out every stop for NAFTA and barely lifted a finger for the
striker replacement bill are a big part of the problem the President has with this
constituency. No other issues cut as deeply with union activists as NAFTA and
striker replacement. There is an overall perception among rank-and-file union
activists that the Administration has been too pro-business and not pro-labor.
202 219 7971
DOL OSEC
002
C) Health Care Reform -- the AFL-CIO was perhaps the President's strongest
supporter in the push for reform of our health care system. In the next round,
there are a number of issues unions will be concerned with. First and foremost
will be the implications for workers if, in the absence of comprehensive reform,
Medicare and Medicaid program spending is cut to raise money for either deficit
reduction and/or expansion of coverage (comprehensive reform).
Their concern stems from the fact that cuts in public health spending mean
cost-shifting to private sector providers who in turn shift higher prices to private
payors with insurance. Even if we can lessen the cost-shifting associated with
the spending cuts by targeting expanded coverage for some new groups such
35 kids or the unemployed, it still does not ease the burden for those workers
with insurance who are facing increased efforts by employers to cut benefits at
the bargaining table.
Labor also will be concerned that insurance market reform (e.g. portable
coverage and eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions) in the absence of
comprehensive cost controls will drive costs up and provide incentives for
employers to drop coverage in a voluntary environment. Additionally, they will
ba adamant about no taxation of benefits and lukewarm to medical savings
accounts as another mechanism for employers to shift costs. We have not
been supportive of taxation and somewhat leery of savings accounts but it is
premature to give assurances.
State flexibility most likely still splits the movement with the multiemployer plans
seeking to retain ERISA federal preemption and the public health care unions
desiring more state flexibility as a way for the state to financially assess large
employer plans to pay for uncompensated care--dollars that support health
care workers' jobs. The Administration is discussing this issue and taking a
hard look at what degree of flexibility is politically feasible. This requires a
better read of the Republican Governors and Congressional members.
Lastly, the unions will raise the threat to job security that health care workers
are experiencing as the industry reorganizes and downsizes in the face of
managed care generally and Medicaid walvers. Secretaries Reich and Shalala
met with AFSCME President McEntee and SEIU President Sweeney to address
this issue and HHS offered up a number of initiatives in the Medicaid waiver
process. The DOL is ettempting to work through the National Commission for
Employment Policy to establish a designated task force on health care issues
as well as convene meetings of Industry and labor leaders to discuss these
issues.
D) Campaign Finance Reform -- The Administration's proposal from last year
barred "soft money" in federal elections, but opened up a channel for hard
money (including PAC money) to state parties, to be used for grass-roots
activity.
DOL OSEC
003
taken several positions in court cases that unions opposed -- most notably one
which sided against the United Mine Workers; (4) USTR and workers' rights.
These kinds of issues usually affect one or two international unions, but taken
together, could add up to big trouble for the Administration with labor.
HI Dunlop Commission report - This commission appointed by Secretaries
Reich and Brown has been looking into workplace issues, concentrating
primarily on worker/management relations. The commission issued its findings
n October and is due to release its recommendations in January. A number of
unions have gotten drafts of the commission's recommendations. The unions
believe that one part of the report, involving changes in section 8 (a) (2) of the
National Labor Relations Act (the section that prevents employers from
establishing "sham" unions) would be devastating for them if it stands as
currently written.
II.
Clinton Administration accomplishments regarding organized labor:
A) created 5 million new jobs, most paying at or above the national
average;
B) appointed a National Labor Relations Board that is fair to workers
and their unions for a change. The appointments of Chairman Bill
Gould, member Peggy Browning and General Counsel Fred Feinstein
are recognized by the labor movement as perhaps the most significant
made by the administration;
C) passed Hatch Act reform:
D) rescinded three anti-labor Reagan/Bush executive orders -- one on
the hiring of Patco workers
E) passed Family and Medical Leave Act;
F) played an activist role in helping to resolve tough collective
bargaining disputes (American Airlines. Long Island Rail Road, UPS,
Teamster national trucking contract, Mineworkers and Bituminous Coal
Operators Association, baseball)
G) created National Partnership Council for federal gov't unions and
DOL Task Force on Excellence in State and Local Government through
Labor Management Cooperation for other public workers;
H) November AFL-CIO legislative newsletter reported that 32 bills
supported by organized labor were signed into law by the President;
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. memo
re: Non-selection to National Labor Relations Board (1 page)
12/14/1994
b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Chief of Staff
Harold Ickes
OA/Box Number: 9162
FOLDER TITLE:
AFL-CIO General [Folder 2]
2013-0306-F
jm1191
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information |(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
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financial information |(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRAJ
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy |(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA
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purposes ((b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions |(b)(8) of the FOIA)
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
202 219 7971
DOL OSEC
GUUG
1) Revitalized enforcement at DOL (OSHA, Federal Contract Compliance,
Mine Safety and Health, Wage and Hour) and increased DOL budget --
more front line workers.
(NOTE: From the standpoint of most union leaders, the problems listed above far
outweigh the accomplishments.)
III.
What we can do for organized labor we need to prove that "we are on their
side."
A) NLRB Appointments the President currently has the opportunity to make
another Democratic appointment to the Board. Labor's and the Administration's
choice for this position is Sarah Fox, a staffer for Senator Kennedy. Another
Republican seat on the board becomes open in August. Negotiations are
underway to package the Fox appointment with the Republicans' choice. Labor
supports this strategy.
While these negotiations are taking place (it may take several months to
finalize) the Administration must make a recess appointment to ensure that
for
the
recess
(b)(6)
[001]
(b)(6)
critical that we make a recess appear tment to ensure that the board is not
immobilized with two Democrats and two Republicans.
El) Support an increase in the minimum wage Organized labor has long
advocated increases in the minimum wage. This is a good "on your side" issue
for the Administration. Whether we win or lose, this would go a long way in
sending an important signal to working Americans.
C) Defend important union programs the Republicans are likely to attack a
number of federal government programs important to organized labor, like,
Davis-Bacon, OSHA, NLRB, Fair Labor Standards Act. The Administration
must be seen actively fighting to protect these programs.
D) Budget -- An increase in the budgets of the NLRB, OSHA and additional
funding for job training would be important to unions. Budgetary issues of
immediate concern are: funding for the NLRB; funding for AMTRAK; Mass
Transit Operating Assistance; Davis-Bacon: cargo preference; shipbuilding --
Target 11 Loan Guarantees; operating differential subsidy program for the
maritime industry; federal workers retirement; privatizing of prisons; agency
restructuring; Department of Energy cleanup; infrastructure funding; Mine Safety
and Health Administration; and Wage and Hour division of DOL.
E) Executive Orders there are two that would send strong signals of support
to organized labor:
DOL USEC
1) Prevent the federal government from entering into contracts with
employers who have permanently replaced striking workers. While likely
to be opposed by the NPR, this order would resonate with union leaders
and rank-and-file activists better than anything else the President could
do. Short of that. DOL and the NLRB could produce a list of the 100
worst labor law offenders and the President could send that out to every
agency in the federal government urging that these employers not be
considered in the awarding of federal contracts.
2) Issue an order that prevents federal government contractors from
using federal dollars to promote or oppose union organizing. Labor was
successful in securing language like this in the Head Start bill as a way
of preventing employers from using federal money to oppose them in
organizing campaigns. This order would send a strong "on your side"
message to labor.
F) Grants -- we should do a better job of making sure that unions are being
considered in the awarding of OSHA, Employment and Training, HUD, HHS
and other federal government grants.
IV. Administration coordination with the labor movement - For the White House, our
current method of dealing with labor is much too scattered. Bob Rubin and George
Stephanopoulos meet with top AFL-CIO officials regularly and the WH Political office
deals with the day-to-day, nuts and bolts troubleshooting. With Rubin leaving,
Stephanopoulos having so many other important responsibilities, and the pending
changes in the WH political operation, we must establish one point person, high up in
the organization to deal with labor's concerns across the administration. This must be
someone who understands the issues and the politics and who can get things done.
There must be staff below this person to deal with the day-to-day problems, concerns
and hand holding.
V. Auclience when communicating with organized labor we must recognize that
there are four primary audiences who often have different priorities and are reached in
very different ways. (1) International union presidents and top officers and staff ; (2)
State and local union leadership and staff; (3) rank-and-file activists; and (4) union
members. The following section focuses primarily on the first three audiences. The
fourth, union members will be reached, by and large, with the same message as the
general public as a whole.
VI. Communications
A) Union conventions and conferences the President should be scheduled to
speak at several union events over the next several months - some in person
and some via satellite.
B) Walk a picket line -- when candidate Clinton walked on the picket line with
striking Caterpillar workers that sent a signal throughout the labor community
that he understood their concerns and was "on their side." We should pick one
particularly egregious strike situation and schedule the President to join in a
rally. Other Administration officials should be encouraged to join a picket line.
C) Produce a video for union audiences - the President should speak directly
to union members and be introduced by each international union president.
This will further buy the presidents in. The video would be shown at union
conventions, conferences and local union meetings.
D) Regional AFL-CIO conferences - the DOL is proposing that seven regional
conferences of state-level union representatives be organized. This would be
an opportunity for all of our labor-related agencies (DOL, NLRB, Federal
Mediation and Conciliation Service, National Mediation Board) to spotlight the
things they are doing. The President should attend a conference and speak to
some of the others via satellite.
E) Newsletter column -- we should produce a quarterly column from the
President to be sent to union publications.
F) Town Hall Meetings -- When traveling. the President should meet with
workers in different industries to talk about the problems they face on the job.
This could include airlines, telecommunications, supermarkets, auto, office,
construction, health care, garment, manufacturing, public safety, rail, service,
retail, etc. Another series of meetings could be conducted with a cross section
of workers who face different work-related problems. This could include:
workers injured or survivors of workers killed on the job, people who work full-
time with no health care coverage, people looking for work, unemployed Black
teens, migrant workers. workers with no benefits, people in part-time jobs who
would like to be working full-time, single parents who work outside the home.
The unions could help us identify groups of workers in any community. This
effort would go far in reaching mid-level union leaders and proving that we are
on their side.
G) Telephone call from President to next AFL-CIO Executive Council Meeting -
Top level Administration officials should attend the AFL-CIO Executive Council
meeting in February and the President should call in to the meeting and speak
to the group.
H) Send a signal across the Administration -- the Chiefs of Staff should be
instructed that the Administration needs to work better with organized labor and
be sensitive to their interests. This must come from the top down.
0202 150 2653
WH PRESS OFFICE
Remarks
as prepared for
Vice President Al Gore
to
United Auto Workers Convention
Washington, DC
February 7, 1995
There's an old labor song, "Which Side Are You On?"
Well, you know, sometimes pictures say much more than words.
During the '92 campaign, so many people saw the pictures of Bill Clinton in Pecria
with Owen Bieber, carrying a sign, and joining people on the picket line outside Caterpillar.
People saw that picture and they knew which side Bill Clinton was on!
I know that negotiations have resumed between Caterpillar and this Union The
President and I hope that both parties appear at the bargaining table without preconditions and
make every effort to resolve this dispute. It's gone on too long!
Meanwhile, Tm proud to be with you today as we continue the fight for working;
people in Peoria and all over America.
It'll be a tough fight Because, let's not fool ourselves. Those who have championed
the rights and values of working people in America are under attack.
And on November 8, we took a hit. A big hic
Nobody knows this better than you. The people in this room were the ones outside the
polling booths, running phone banks, driving people to the polls on that bleak Tuesday
There are those who say that election marked the end of the Democratic party.
They're the same people who've been saying unions are dead in America.
I say: Not so fast.
The U.A. W. knows how to fight You knew how to fight in the Thirties against those
who believed labor disputes should be decided by chubs and baseball bats and shotgund.
You know how to fight now.
And you know how to fight back
We're going to fight back together.
Because while we invite Republicans to join hands with us, we remember wha: they
did to working people when they got the chance.
And make no mistake about it: we will not work with them when they are breaking
the backs of working men and women
We remember what Republicans did to OSHA and the NLRB. We remember now
they fought the minimum wage increase fought the plant closing law fought the ar ti-scab
bill fought unemployment benefits.
When we campaigned in 1992, we had a different idea
We promised to put people first.
There were those who said his economic policy wouldn't do that. Here are the facts.
Almost 6 million new jobs. The lowest unemployment in over four years! The lowes
unemployment for African Americans in two decades!
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00:
$700 billion less deficit - $10,000 for every American family!
Tax curs for fifteen million American families.
That's putting people first!
Remember the people who said Democrats were too divided to work together?
Think of all the good ideas that last administration vetoed and remember how many
the now law.
Like motor voter. It's now law. Because of this Administration.
Family and Medical Leave. It's law. Because of this Administration
The assault weapons ban It's law. Because of this Administration
Last fall's AFL-CIO newsletter listed all the bills supported by organized labor signed
into law by the President There were 32 of them
That's putting people first!
And think about the accomplishments of this Administration that speak directly to the
passionate concerns of organized labor.
We put Bill Gould and Peggy Browning and Fred Feinstein on the NLRB and now we
have a Board that believes in collective bargaining.
And incidentally, we'll be making another appointment to that board soon. I guarantee
this: it'll be another step towards a Board that for a change - is fair to workers!
We passed Hatch Act reform because we believe you don't lose the basic rights of
citizenship because you work for the federal government!
We rescinded those anti-union executive orders of the Reagan Bush years - including
the one on Patcol
We played an active role helping resolve tough collective bargaining disputes, whether
American Airlines, or the Long Island Railroad, UPS, the Teamsters national contract, the
Bituminous Coal Operators Association.
This Administration doesn't duck the tough fights. We help settle them.
Secretary Bob Reich has put teeth into enforcement at the Department of Labor
whether OSHA or Federal Contract Compliance Mine Safety and Health
And let me mention one thing that was possible only because the UAW has acted as a
full partner.
The Clean Car Initiative.
Everybody knows the need to produce a generation of vehicles for the 21st Certury -
one that goes beyond anything the auto companies or government could do alone.
Now we'll do it. And it's because of an unprecedented willingness by labor, business
and government to work together.
For that, I thank the UAW.
We made a great start.
Are we going to be able to finish the job? Are Republicans going to be able to
dismantle what we have worked SO hard to build?
Because they're trying
The other day, Dick Armey tried to answer the question: "If you want to balance the
budget why not tell us where you'd cut?"
Here's what he said
And I quote.
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003
"The fact of the matter is that once members of Congress know exactly, chapter and
verse. the pain that the government must live with their knees will buckle."
What's he mean? Are we afraid to trust the intellect of the American people?
Democrats believe that as citizens and taxpayers Americans have the right to know. They
have a right to know if Republicans plan to CUI social security. They have a right to know if
Republicans plan to cut Medicare.
And that's why Democrats are working so hard on Capitol Hill to have a "Right to
Know" provision added to the balanced budget
You know, Americans don't want to kill government. They want to fix governm ent
When we see Republicans insisting on measures that mean draconian cuts in Medicare
and Medicaid - we draw the line.
When we see capital gains plans that give tax breaks to the wealthy - we draw the
line.
When we see the Republicans urging modification of Section 8(a)(2) of the National
Labor Relations Act we draw the line. We oppose tampering with the prohibition against
company dominated unions!
Unfunded mandates? Gotta reduce em
But not in a way that undermines the safety of drinking water. Not in a way that guts
OSHA
There we draw the line!
That's what we're against. Let me tell you what we're for.
And let me start with one area that may surprise you
Health care.
We fought together on health care, last year. And we lost.
But nobody knows better than people in this union how great the need is for health
care reform. Owen, I know you talked about this in your speech Sunday night.
We still have a crisis in health care.
The President pointed this out in the State of the Union. Over a million people lost
health insurance last year. For those who still have it, the copays are getting steeper.
Rising health care costs mean less for wages. We won't get it all next year. But we're
still committed to universal coverage. We are still committed to a system of health care that's
always there!
Here's a second area
The President's Middle Class Bill of Rights.
There are those who say this Administration didn't mention the middle class III til the
election results were in
What nonsense. We've been working for the middle class since Day One, whether by
creating jobs, cutting taxes, passing student loan reform or passing bills like Family and
Medical Leave.
But it's time to finish the job we've started. And what better way than to return
money to the pockets of working Americans and help them realize their dreams.
To send their children to college.
To own a home.
To afford medical care.
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00.
To put something away for retirement.
When it comes to these deeply felt aspirations, government shouldn't block the road.
It should pave the way. And that's what Bill Clinton's Middle Class Bill of Rights is all
about.
And there's one other issue.
Majority Leader Armey has said he wants to repeal the minimum wage.
We want to raise the minimum wage.
It's at its second lowest level since 1955.
There are those who think minimum wage workers are all teenagers. They're not..
Only a third are. Almost half are over the age of 25.
There are those who think the minimum wage costs jobs. We've looked at the data It
doesn't
Are we to tell Americans we believe in the value of work, then make it impossible for
working Americans to rise above the poverty level?
Let Republicans be the mean-spirited party carrying that message. Ler's work together
10 make sure that the message we send Americans is that Democrats believe you can get
ahead if you work hard.
Let our message be: if you work hard, government will work hard for you
I come from a family that has always fought for working people. I remember my
father who supported this union and was supported by this union Some of you with long
memories will remember the year he first ran for the Senate against Kenneth McKellar. not
one of the great champions of labor in our history.
His slogan was "The thinking fellar votes for McKellar."
My mother came up with ours: "Think some more, vote for Gore."
My mother and father trusted the good sense of the voters in Tennessee. And I trust
the good sense of the American people.
We've worked too hard to build this country up to see protections for working people
tom down
And nobody has worked harder to build this country than the UAW.
When most people think of this union they think of the auto industry. And it's rue
that the cars that came off the assembly lines revolutionized America. We see that in every
facet of our lives, from Burger King drive-ins to the vast network of highways linking every
community in America.
But you did more. When America sent men and women into space they were sent
there in spacecraft built by UAW workers. When America sent troops into combat, from
Korea to Haiti, they rode in tanks and planes built by UAW workers.
And when it was time to look beyond America's borders to fight the menace of
totalitarianism, the UAW was there.
Thirty three years ago, when President John F. Kennedy spoke to the UAW he pointed
out how much this union has done to build "strong, free trade unions around the world"
I wish President Kennedy could be here today to see the fruits of those efforts. The
Cold War is over. Democracy has won.
4
"S FRESS OFFICE
001
It has even won where no one expected democracy to win Owen, Sunday night you
quoted Nelson Mandela I was privileged to be there in South Africa when Nelson Mandela
took the oath of office. And looking around, 1 could see UAW representatives. That was
fitting. Over the years the UAW worked so hard to end apartheid.
And as dramatic as it was, that victory, last year, was one of many. No organization
did more to keep America strong at home, and to win our battles abroad than the United
Auto Workers.
Let's work together in the next two years, to preserve what we have won
Abroad, that means peace, and democracy.
At home, it means jobs, growth, and fairness.
The Administration of Bill Clinton wants to be your partners, whether taking up 3 sign
on a picket line in Peoria, or signing a bill to help working Americans.
We stick to the values of our past. But we work for the future.
That's how we realize the American Dream.
That's how we make sure that the best days for this country and this union are yet to
be.
5
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
815 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
LANE KIRKLAND PRESIDENT
THOMAS R. DONAHUE SECRETARY-TREASURER
Washington, D.C. 20006
Albert Shanker
Edward T. Hanley
Wayne E. Glenn
(202) 637-5000
John J. Sweeney
James E. Hatfield
Vincent R. Sombrotto
Gerald W. McEntee
William H. Bywater
Marvin J. Boede
AFL
Owen Bleber
John T. Joyce
Morton Bahr
CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL
Robert A. Georgine
Gene Upshaw
Jay Mazur
Lenore Miller
Jack Sheinkman
John J. Barry
Sigurd Lucassen
Moe Biller
George J. Kourplas
John N. Sturdivant
Richard L. Trumka
Frank Hanley
James J. Norton
Michael Sacco
Ron Carey
Arthur A. Cola
Frank Hurt
Linda Chavez-Thompson
Gloria T. Johnson
Douglas H. Dority
George F. Becker
March 8, 1995
To:
Presidents of National and International Unions
Principal Officers of AFL-CIO State Federations
Principal Officers of AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils
Dear Trade Unionist:
Today, President Clinton signed an historic Executive Order declaring it to be the policy of the
federal government not to contract with employers that permanently replace lawfully striking employees.
A copy of the Order is enclosed.
Under the Executive Order, the Secretary of Labor is authorized to investigate any complaint
submitted to the Department by employees of a federal contractor with a federal contract worth more than
$100,000. If the Secretary determines that "organizational units" of the contractor have permanently
replaced lawfully striking employees, the Secretary may proceed to debar those organizational units from
receiving any future federal contracts until the labor dispute has been resolved.
In addition, under the Executive Order, if the Secretary finds that a federal contractor has hired
permanent replacements after today, March 8, 1995, the Secretary may proceed to terminate existing
contracts with the employer (although such termination can be overridden by the head of the contracting
department or agency).
This Executive Order could not be more welcome. It places the moral authority and market
power of the federal government against employers who resort to the discredited practice of permanently
replacing workers with scabs. We have expressed to the President our appreciation for this bold initiative.
The Republicans and a few Democrats in Congress already have begun an effort to attach to
appropriations legislation a rider to prevent the Executive Order from being implemented. The AFL-CIO
is leading the fight to defeat these Republican attempts and calls upon all trade unionists to join in this
effort.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Kisled
President
Enclosure
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 8, 1995
EXECUTIVE ORDER
ENSURING THE ECONOMICAL AND EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION AND
COMPLETION OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Efficient economic performance and productivity are
directly related to the existence of cooperative working
relationships between employers and employees. When Federal
contractors become involved in prolonged labor disputes with
their employees, the Federal Government's economy, efficiency,
and cost of operations are adversely affected. In order to
operate as effectively as possible, by receiving timely goods
and quality services, the Federal Government must assist the
entities with which it has contractual relations to develop
stable relationships with their employees.
An important aspect of. a stable collective bargaining
relationship is the balance between allowing businesses to
operate during a strike and preserving worker rights. This
balance is disrupted when permanent replacement employees are
hired. It has been found that strikes involving permanent
replacement workers are longer in duration than other strikes.
In addition, the use of permanent replacements can change a
limited dispute into a broader, more contentious struggle,
thereby exacerbating the problems that initially led to the
strike. By permanently replacing its workers, an employer
loses the accumulated knowledge, experience, skill, and
expertise of its incumbent employees. These circumstances
then adversely affect the businesses and entities, such as
the Federal Government, which rely on that employer to provide
high quality and reliable goods or services.
NOW, THEREFORE, to ensure the economical and efficient
administration and completion of Federal Government contracts,
and by the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of America,
including 40 U.S.C. 486 (a) and 3 U.S.C. 301, it is hereby
ordered as follows:
Section 1. It is the policy of the executive branch
in procuring goods and services that, to ensure the economical
and efficient administration and completion of Federal
Government contracts, contracting agencies shall not contract
with employers that permanently replace lawfully striking
employees. All discretion under this Executive order shall
be exercised consistent with this policy.
Sec. 2. (a) The Secretary of Labor ("Secretary") may
investigate an organizational unit of a Federal contractor to
determine whether the unit has permanently replaced lawfully
striking workers. Such investigation shall be conducted in
accordance with procedures established by the Secretary.
2
(b) The Secretary shall receive and may investigate
complaints by employees of any entity covered under section 2 (a)
of this order where such complaints allege lawfully striking
employees have been permanently replaced.
(c) The Secretary may hold such hearings, public or
private, as he or she deems advisable, to determine whether
an entity covered under section 2 (a) has permanently replaced
lawfully striking employees.
Sec. 3. (a) When the Secretary determines that a
contractor has permanently replaced lawfully striking employees,
the Secretary may make a finding that it is appropriate to
terminate the contract for convenience. The Secretary shall
transmit that finding to the head of any department or agency
that contracts with the contractor.
(b) The head of the contracting department or agency
may object to the termination for convenience of a contract
or contracts of a contractor determined to have permanently
replaced legally striking employees. If the head of the agency
90 objects, he or she shall set forth the reasons for not
terminating the contract or contracts in a response in writing
to the Secretary. In such case, the termination for convenience
shall not be issued. The head of the contracting agency
or department shall report to the Secretary those contracts
that have been terminated for convenience under this section.
Sec. 4. (a) When the Secretary determines that a
contractor has permanently replaced lawfully striking employees,
the Secretary may debar the contractor, thereby making the
contractor ineligible to receive government contracts. The
Secretary shall notify the Administrator of the General Services
Administration of the debarment, and the Administrator shall
include the contractor on the consolidated list of debarred
contractors. Departments and agencies shall not solicit offers
from, award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts with these
contractors unless the head of the agency or his or her designee
determines, in writing, that there is a compelling reason for
such action, in accordance with the Federal Acquisition
Regulation.
(b) The scope of the debarment normally will be limited
to those organizational units of a Federal contractor that the
Secretary finds to have permanently replaced lawfully striking
workers.
(c) The period of the debarment may not extend beyond
the date when the labor dispute precipitating the permanent
replacement of lawfully striking workers has been resolved,
de determined by the Secretary.
Sec. 5. The Secretary shall publish or cause to be
published, in the Federal Register, the names of contractors
that have, in the judgement of the Secretary, permanently
replaced lawfully striking employees and have been the subject
of debarment.
Sec. 6. The Secretary shall be responsible for the
administration and enforcement of this order. The Secretary,
after consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the
Administrator of the General Services, the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the
Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, may
adopt such rules and regulations and issue such orders as may be
deemed necessary and appropriate to achieve the purposes of this
order.
more
Sec. 7. Each contracting department and agency shall
cooperate with the Secretary and provide such information and
assistance as the Secretary may require in the performance of
the Secretary's functions under this order.
Sec. 8. The Secretary may delegate any function or duty of
the Secretary under this order to any officer in the Department
of Labor or to any other officer in the executive branch of the
Government, with the consent of the head of the department or
agency in which that officer serves.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of
the General Services, and the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, after consultation with
the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy,
shall take whatever action is appropriate to implement the
provisions of this order and of any related rules, regulations,
or orders of the Secretary issued pursuant to this order.
Sec. 10. This order is not intended, and should not
be construed, to create any right or benefit, substantive
or procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the
United States, its agencies, its officers, or its employees.
This order is not intended, however, to preclude judicial review
of final agency decisions in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 701 et seq.
Sec. 11. The meaning of the term "organizational unit of
a Federal contractor" as used in this order shall be defined in
regulations that shall be issued by the Secretary of Labor, in
consultation with affected agencies. This order shall apply
only to contracts in excess of the Simplified Acquisition
Threshold.
Sec. 12. (a) The provisions of section 3 of this order
shall only apply to situations in which contractors have
permanently replaced lawfully striking employees after the
effective date of this order.
(b) This order is effective immediately.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 8, 1995.
# # #
MICAN PEDERATION OF LA
AFL-CIO &
NEWS UNES
CIO
OF INDUSTRIAL OBGA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: James B. Parks
March 8, 1995
or Candice Johnson
of the AFL-CIO
at 202/637-5010
EXECUTIVE ORDER A STEP TOWARDS JUSTICE
AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland had the following comment on President Clinton's
executive order banning the use of permanent replacements in federal contracts:
President Clinton's action today was a welcome step towards justice in the
workplace. It sets a strong moral tone for labor-management cooperation and for dignity
for those who work.
The President has used the executive order as a vehicle to help America's workers
in contrast to his predecessor who used it as a weapon against the interests of working
people.
The order sends a message to all Americans that quality products cannot be
turned out by employers who make war on their employees. Employers are rewarded with
higher productivity and efficiency when they treat their workers with respect.
The President's action was a move in the right direction and we stand ready to
fight every one of the initiatives to overturn it.
###
AFI-CIO
Labor Federation Expresses Its Vulnerability in Hostile Times
By LOUIS UCHITELLE
But Kirkland supporters also
pushed for change. Among them was
C.I.O. is, in fact, already changing. A
Special to The New York Times
BAL HARBOUR, Fla. Feb. 23 -
William Bywater, president of the
Strategic Approaches Committee,
International Union of -Electronic,
for example, has been sending
This was the week of the A.F.L.
C.I.O. leadership's self-proclaimec
Electrical and Machine Workers,
A.F.L.-C.I.O. representatives into the
great awakening, aptly expressed by
whose members once included as-
field to help in strikes, mainly by
Thomas R. Donahue, the federa-
sembly-line workers making televi-
enlisting other unions in support.
sion sets which are now virtually
The budget is being doubled, to near-
tion's secretary-treasurer: "My
all made in Mexico and other low-
ly $3 million, to expand an institute
God, we have to do more ourselves.'
wage countries.
that trains union organizers. And the
The A.F.L.-C.I.O. executive coun-
cil, dropping its trademark bland-
am a strong believer in demon-
federation is scrambling to set up a
ness at its winter meeting here, en-
strations," said Mr. Bywater, a bit-
communications network to com-
gaged in a rare display of self-ex-
ter opponent of the North American
pete with Rush Limbaugh and other
amination. Battered by defeats from
Free Trade agreement, who blames
conservatives now on radio and tele-
vision.
the Administration and Congress,
the Democrats for, failing the labor
movement by supporting the pact. "I
think you are going to see a lot
the council recognized more publicly!
would have the A.F.L.-C.I.O. picket
more visibility from the A.F.L.-
than ever before that the federation
is suffering from the same sort of
the White House and Congress," he
said. He and one or two others also
powerlessness that afflicts millions
C.I.O.," Mr. Donahue said.
of workers.
favor the formation of a Labor Party
Perhaps. But because it is a feder-
The federation had stayed aloof
to field candidates in national elec-
ation of independent unions, the
tions.
from the setbacks in collective bar-
A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s efforts at change con-
gaining and organizing that have
Then, there is the example of Ce-
stantly run into obstacles. Union or-
damaged and shrunk so many
sar Chavez, the late farm workers
ganizing and collective bargaining
unions. It had instead acted primari-
leader who led a grape boycott in the
are considered- the exclusive pre-
ly as a spokesman and lobbyist for
1970's. Several executive council
serves of each union, and so is col-
its 83 affiliated unions. But the Re-
members argued that the A.F.L.-
lecting money to finance strike bene-
publican takeover of Congress in No-
C.I.O. should mobilize the public
fits. Just this week, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.
vember, coming after the A.F.L.-
against companies in conflict with
rejected a proposal to set up a na-
C.I.O.'s failure to get its way with the
unions. In. this spirit, one or two
tional "solidarity bank" that would
Clinton Administration, finally
suggested moving the venue of their
kick in benefits for strikers whose
forced the federation to grope for a
annual February meeting from this
union had run short of money. The
more active role beyond Washington
expensive seashore resort to places
unions cannot agree on how to fi-
politics.
like Decatur, III., where members of
nance such a fund.
"We had hoped to change the labor
three unions have been on strike or
laws to make it easier for people at
locked out for months. That would
Whatever the obstacles, the Clin-
work," said Mr. Donahue, who is
focus attention on the struggle, they
said.
ton Administration has played a
favored by many on the executive
huge role in propelling the A.F.L.-
council as the next federation presi-
The main charge against Mr.
Kirkland, 72, is that he is not suffi-
C.I.O. toward change. Through most
dent. "That hope is gone now, and we
of Mr. Kirkland's tenure, the Repub-
have to say, 'My God, we have to do
ciently outspoken and cantankerous.
licans held the White House, and Mr.
more ourselves.' That is the shifting
and willing to sell labor's case on
Kirkland held out the hope that when
of gears that took place here this
talk shows and other public forums.
the Democrats took power, labor's
week."
"I am supporting Lane Kirkland, but
agenda would go forward. That did
The council is composed of 33
my advice to him is, when it is called
not happen. Over the objections of
leaders, most men over 60,
for, get in their face more," said
labor, the Clinton Administration
who traditionally meet behind closed
Kenneth L. Coss, president of the
pushed Congress to approve the
doors and say little to reporters. But
United Rubber Workers.
by the end of the meeting, many
Mr. Kirkland, defending himself at
North American Free Trade Agree-
were openly listing what they would
the closed door meeting, asked the
ment and a new world trade agree-
union leaders who had more cha-
ment, and then failed to win passage
do to make the A.F.L.-C.I.O. more
powerful, or were expressing their
risma - or a better program.- than
a bill that would prohibit compa-
anguish and uncertainty about the
he did.
federation's future.
"It is nice to have a debate abot-
Their debate took the form of chal-
an idealized version of a perfec
nies from hiring permanent replace-
THE NEW_YORK TIMES SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1995
ments for strikers.
lenging the leadership of Lane Kirk-
leader, but there is no perfect leac
er," Mr. Donahue said.
"The two senators from Clinton's
land, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. president
He pointed out that the A:F.L.
own Arkansas did not support us on
since 1979. They were in effect focus-
striker replacement," Mr. Coss of
ing on Mr. Kirkland their frustration
the Rubber Workers said. "And that
for the Republican victory and the
is viewed as an indication the Presi-
perception of some that the Demo-
dent would not do all he could for
crats, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s traditional
labor."
ally, had cut them loose. During an
The Administration tried to repair
unusual five-hour meeting, with Mr.
the damage, particularly the im-
Kirkland presiding, each union lead-
pression that the party took labor
er made a case for why the president
support for granted. "There are ele-
should stay in office or leave. But the
ments in the party that say, 'Labor
debate went beyond Mr: Kirkland
has nowhere else to go but us,' said
Jack Sheinkman, president of the
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile
The A.F.L.-C.I.O. is
Workers Union.
Vice President Al Gore announced
groping for ways to
here that the President would issue
exert itself.
an executive order whose goal would
be to hold back Federal contracts
from companies that hire replace-
toward a consensus that, with or
ment workers for strikers. Labor
without him, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. would
Secretary Robert B. Reich spent
have to act more forcefully.
more than a day here meeting with
"The discussion of Lane Kirk-
union leaders, and Democratic lead-
land's future has really turned into a
ers in Congress promised that or-
discussion of how we address all our
ganized labor henceforth could rely
difficulties," said John J. Sweeney,
on the Democrats for pro-labor poli-
president of the Service Employees
cles.
International Union. His members
They did not undo the damage,
are government workers in danger
many union leaders said, re-
of losing their jobs in the current
mains to be seen how effective they
campaign to shrink government. Mr.
are," said Mr. Coss, whose Rubber
Sweeney is a leader of the movement
Workers are involved in the Decatur
against Mr. Kirkland, who said he
strike. "I support Clinton; he's the
would decide "in', the fullness of
best we have. But we have to see the
time" whether to run for re-election
results, not the intent. The intent
as president.
does not mean much anymore."
THE NEW YORK TIMES. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1995
Campaign
In Chicago
Barely Stirs
A Breeze
By DIRK JOHNSON
Specialio The New York Times
CHICAGO, Feb. 25 - This is a
place once famous for its punch-in-
the-nose politics, where a prudent
alderman donned a bulletproof vest
at a raucous City Hall meeting in the
1080's and a skittish mayor-elect
took his oath of office in the protec-
tive shadow of armed guards.
But the current Democratic may-
oral primary is as bland as dry toast.
If they can stay awake, voters here
will go to the polls on Tuesday and
almost surely award the nomination
to Mayor Richard M. Daley, who
leads Joseph Gardner, a commis-
sioner on the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District, by more than
40 percentage points, polls show.
This contest is so dull it could be
Todd Buchanan for The New York Times
called the Sominex Hour," said Mel-
Mayor Richard M. Daley is expected to easily win
Mr. Daley, left, accepted the endorsement of the
vin Holli, a professor at the Universi-
the Democratic nomination for re-election in a pri-
ty of Illinois-Chicago and the author
Coalition of Latin American Ministers at Iglesia De
of The Mayors: The Chicago Politi-
mary contest that has been noted for its dullness.
Dios, a church in the Humboldt Park area.
cal Tradition."
Even the issue of race relations,
the usual third rail in Chicago poli-
(Michael A. Bilandic, a Croatian-
prominent blacks, including Senator
Mr. Gardner, 49, is regarded as
tics, has been remarkably absent
American, served between 1976 and
Carol Moseley-Braun and 100 black
thoughtful and affable, qualities that
from the campaign between Mr. Da-
1979; Harold Washington, an Afri-
ministers. In fact, as a measure of
his supporters say are missing in the
ley, who is white, and Mr. Gardner,
can-American, was mayor from 1983
the odds facing Mr. Gardner, the
Mayor, who often comes across as
who is black. Indeed, surveys show
until his death in 1987, and Eugene
challenger's own pastor, the Rev.
thin-skinned and inflexible. But be-
that Mr. Daley might garner more
Sawyer. the African-American al-
Clay Evans, is backing Mr. Daley.
sides the famous Chicago name, Mr.
than a quarter of the black vote,
derman who was sworn in under
"Daley has successfully avoided
Daley has something that Mr. Gard-
while rolling up huge majorities
armed guard, served from 1987 to
doing anything that would antago-
ner does not: money. The Mayor's
among whites.
1989.)
nize black voters," Mr. Holli said,
war chest is estimated to be more
Chicago, the nation's third largest
Mr. Daley, 52, a relatively conser-
noting that the Mayor has been a
than $4 million; compared with Mr.
city with just under three million
vative, law-and-order politician who
strong supporter of affirmative ac-
Gardner's $170,000.
people, is about 38 percent black, 37
is popular among Republicans, is not
tion and set-aside programs for mi-
As a politician, Mr. Daley differs
percent white, 20 percent Hispanic
known as an eloquent speaker and
nority contractors. "And some of his
in important ways from his father.
and 5 percent Asian.
scarcely exudes the charisma of,
support among blacks, no doubt,
The elder Daley was a New Deal
Mr. Daley, the son of Richard J.
say, the late Mayor Washington. But
stems from the fact that he's so far
Democrat, a politician who believed
Daley, the former Mayor who pre-
Mr. Daley's low-key style and atten-
ahead. It's always nice to be allied
in the ability of government pro-
sided over the fabled Democratic
tion to the concerns of workaday
with the winner.
grams to improve the lives of every-
machine from 1955 until his death in
Chicagoans - fixing the potholes,
Political experts here also note
day people, although critics charged
1976. is seeking a third term. An
keeping the alleys clean, talking
that voter turnout has been falling
that he shortchanged black neigh-
independent candidate, Roland Bur-
tough on crime - apparently satisfy
steadily in Chicago, a trend that usu-
borhoods.
ris, a former Illinois comptroller,
the majority of voters here.
ally benefits incumbents with strong
By contrast, the younger Daley
who is black, plans to run in the
The Mayor has failed to deliver on
organizations. The rate of turnout
has brought more members of mi-
general election. On Tuesday the Re-
several proposals, like bringing casi-
among registered voters in Chicago
nority groups into the inner circle at
publicans also will nominate a candi-
no gambling to Chicago and building
mayoral elections has fallen from a
City Hall. But in many other ways,
date, who will have scant name rec-
an aisport on the South Side near
peak of 80 percent in 1983, when Mr.
he is more conservative than his
ognition, little money and even less
Lake Calumet. But his administra-
Washington's candidacy fired so
father, at times breaking with organ-
chance of winning in the general
tion has been relatively free of scan-
much excitement among blacks, to
ized labor.
election in April.
dal, and downtown Chicago is gleam-
about 40 percent today.
Indeed, Mayor Daley has spoken
In the 1991 elections more than
ing with new residential high-rises
Mr. Holli said he and others be-
glowingly about some of the changes
675,000 people voted in the Demo-
and office towers.
lieved that voters "simply became
planned by the new Republican Con-
cratic primary and only about 14,000
When he won election in 1989, Mr.
worn out by city politics" during the
gress. He met recently with Speaker
in the Republican race.
Daley got less than 10 percent of the
turmoil of the 1980's, when a bloc of
Newt Gingrich, and afterward the
Since 1933 the Chicago mayor's
vote-among blacks, many of whom
white aldermen fought Mr. Washing-
Republican told reporters with a
post has been held by an Irish-Amer-
loathed his father. In this campaign,
ton in battles so pitched that they
smile, "Mayor Daley and I think a
ican for all but a handful of years.
he has won endorsements from some
were dubbed The Council Wars."
lot alike on a lot of issues.'
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MEMBERS OF THE AFL-CIO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Morty Bahr - President, Communications Workers of America, 550,000 members. Lost
100,000 members at AT&T alone after the 1984 divestiture of telephone system and
thousands more at the regional Bell companies. Nonetheless, the union has been able to
maintain its membership numbers. Bahr is an innovative and pragmatic bargainer who
accepts and adapts to technological change. Section 8(a)(2)/labor law reform, education and
job training, health and safety, and health care will be his top issues. He also has a keen
interest in the effect of the expanding information superhighway on jobs for his members.
CWA is in intense negotiations this year for 400,000 members who work at AT&T and
regional Bell operating companies (largest round of negotiations in '95). CWA reached what
he considers to be a "model" agreement with NYNEX last year.
Jack Barry President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 800,000 members.
The IBEW has approximately one-third of its membership in construction and two-thirds in
manufacturing. It has experienced a slow membership decline which it is attempting to
counter with tough, confrontational organizing techniques. Davis-Bacon will be an important
issue, as will construction safety/OSHA. Apprenticeship and training issues are also
important to him. He is also negotiating with AT&T and regional Bell companies, although
on a much smaller scale than CWA. IBEW reached an agreement last week with Bell
Atlantic.
George Becker - President, United Steelworkers of America. Becker replaced Lynn
Williams last year and, although he is a more traditional trade unionist, he is an ally of
Williams. The Steelworkers' membership has declined 500,000 from one million. Becker
followed Williams in instilling an organizing culture in his union and attempting innovative
bargaining strategies. Most of his new members are not in basic steel. He was very
concerned about striker replacement and will likely show even greater interest in Section
8(a)(2). The United Rubber Workers (approximately 80,000 members) recently voted to
merge with the USWA.
Owen Bieber - President, United Auto Workers, 750,000 members. UAW membership has
declined from 1.2 million in 1981. Bieber's main concern is the loss of auto jobs. He was
very active in opposing NAFTA and supporting voluntary import restraints and striker
replacement. He has been skillful at balancing the union's role in improving auto
productivity while fending off militants within the union who want to take a hard line against
auto companies. The loss of the auto parts business to Mexico is a big issue. The defense
of OSHA will be important as will Section 8(a)(2). He is both detailed and descriptive in his
questions and comments. When Bieber retires in June. Steve Yokich will likely replace him.
Moe Biller - President, American Postal Workers Union, 250,000 members. Federal
employee issues are important to the APWU. Biller doesn't typically participate at the
Council meetings.
Exec. Council . 1
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Marvin Boede -- President, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, 300,000
members. Nearly all of Boede's members are in construction. Apprenticeship and training
are key interests (he chairs the Council's subcommittee on apprenticeship and training), but
he rarely speaks out at these meetings. Again, Davis-Bacon would be his top concern.
Bill Bywater -- President, International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine
and Furniture Workers, 175,000 members. Bywater is vocal and unequivocal. Striker
replacement and trade are his issues. He was the most vocal labor opponent on NAFTA.
GE and Westinghouse are the major employers with workers represented by the IUE.
Ron Carey - President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 1.4 million members
(the AFL-CIO's largest affiliate). Carey was elected in the Teamsters' first-ever direct
election of its officers four years ago. The election was ordered by the federal courts as part
of the government's receivership of the Teamsters. Carey is up for re-election in 1996. He
spent his career as a union official fighting corruption in the union and is trying to clean out
the bad players. The old-school Teamsters wage constant war against him. Jimmy Hoffa,
Jr. has already begun to campaign for Carey's job. Carey is interested in labor law
reform/Section 8(a)(2), organizing, OSHA defense, and striker replacement. NAFTA was a
huge issue with Teamster members. Carey has been among the most frustrated and
outspoken union leaders regarding the Administration's failure to support the labor
movement. He broke with the longstanding Teamster tradition of endorsing Republicans for
President to endorse you in 1992.
Linda Chavez-Thompson - Vice-President of the American Federation of State County and
Municipal Employees. Chavez-Thompson was elected to the Council only two years ago.
Arthur Cola - Laborers' International Union, 450,000 members. Coia replaced Angelo
Fusco a little more than two years ago, and is working hard to change the union's image and
reputation. The Laborers' membership is in construction and public sector employment.
This union has been the subject of numerous rumors of a Justice Department/Labor
Department investigation because of the union's history of ties to organized crime. They
recently reached a settlement with the Justice Department in an effort to clean up the union.
Coia has generally managed to stay above the fray. Coia's top issues would be Davis-Bacon,
the "helper" regulation, and construction safety.
Doug Dority -- President, United Food and Commercial Workers. UFCW is a good
organizing union, very sophisticated and practical in dealings with employers both when they
are cooperative and when they are ruthless (in the union's view.) Hostile takeovers and
leveraged buyouts have hurt the UFCW over the past decade. Dority, who replaced Bill
Wynn two years ago, is very interested in labor law reform/Section 8(a)(2). The UFCW
represents major food chains, meat packers. They have nearly one million members. OSHA
and the minimum wage will also be important to Dority.
Exec. Council - 2
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Bob Georgine -- President, Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.
The possible repeal of Davis-Bacon is unquestionably his top concern, as it is with all of the
building trades unions. Construction safety/OSHA is also important to him.
Wayne Glenn - President, Paperworkers International Union, 200,000 members. Striker
replacement was his big issue. The bitter International Paper strike led him to pressure for
prohibitions on the use of permanent replacements. The Paperworkers' membership is
declining at much the same rate as all manufacturing unions. The union is headquartered in
Tennessee.
Frank Hanley - President, International Union of Operating Engineers, 300,000 members.
Operating Engineers are usually construction employees. He has also suffered a membership
decline. Construction safety/OSHA, Davis-Bacon, and double-breasting employers
(unionized employers that establish non-union subsidiaries and shift their work) are likely
subjects of interest to him. He wrote a letter to you last year urging that you stand up for
traditional Democratic values and principles. The letter was out of character for him and
suggests how frustrated he was with some of the Administration's actions.
Jim Hattfield -- President, International Union of Glass Molders, Pottery. Plastics and Allied
Workers, 100,000 members. Striker replacement was his highest priority. This union has
suffered a major membership decline.
Frank Hurt -- President, Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers Union, 100,000
members. BCTWIU primarily represents food processing and tobacco workers. Its
membership has been fairly stable. Hurt was formerly in charge of the union's organizing.
Health care is a big issue.
Gloria Johnson Vice President, IUE (Bywater's union), and president of the Coalition of
Labor Union Women. Johnson was elected to the Council two years ago. She is an
outspoken advocate on issues affecting women in the workplace.
Jack Joyce - President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen, 85,000
members. Joyce's membership is down from approximately 145,000 in the mid-70s. Joyce
is a smart, articulate, and respected leader. Davis-Bacon, training, international affairs, and
other building trades issues would top his list.
George Kourpias President, International Association of Machinists, 600,000 members
down from one million. The IAM represents airline mechanics, manufacturing workers, and
some retail and truck mechanics. NAFTA and striker replacement were important issues to
him. His union and seven others are involved in a long lasting strike against NASSCO, a
San Diego shipbuilding company which President Clinton visited during the 1992 campaign
and to which the federal government has provided $22 million in loan guarantees.
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Sig Lucassen -- President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, 450,000 members. While the
Carpenters are still primarily found in construction, more than one-third of the membership
now works in manufacturing. His presidential election will be rerun under Labor
Department supervision. Davis-Bacon will be his top concern along with ERISA preemption
(i.e., ERISA has been held to preempt state apprenticeship laws) and section 8(a)(2).
Jay Mazur - President, International Ladies' Garment Workers Union, 140,000 members
almost all in the garment industry. The ILGWU has suffered a steep decline in membership
largely due to imports. Accordingly, Mazur is focused on trade issues and "industrial
homework" which is syphoning off his membership. In June, ILGWU will merge with the
Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union forming a new 300,000 member union
called UNITE (Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees).
Gerry McEntee -- President, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees,
1.2 million members. After rapid growth, AFSCME's membership declined in 1992 for the
first time in many years. McEntee is extremely close to the Administration and was an early
Clinton supporter. Health care reform, labor law reform (something to help state and local
employees), OSHA coverage for public workers, the effects of health care reform on health
industry workers, welfare reform, the balanced budget amendment, and the Service Contract
Act are all important issues. This is another smart, aggressive, innovative, politically active
union. McEntee will speak his mind.
Lenore Miller - President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which merged
about a year ago with United Food and Commercial Workers. RWDSU had 80,000
members. Miller is concerned about basic trade union issues such as Section 8(a)(2). She
was an early Clinton supporter.
Jim Norton - President, Graphic Communications International Union, 125,000 members.
GCIU's members are in the newspaper industry . typesetters, mail room etc. Its
membership has held fairly stable. Norton is comparatively new to the Council. Striker
replacement and Section 8(a)(2) will be big issues.
Mike Sacco -- President, Seafarers International Union, 80,000 members. Sacco is also
president of the AFL-CIO's Maritime Trade Department. His principal interests are enacting
maritime reform, protecting the Jones Act, making Alaska North Slope oil available for
export, and preserving cargo preference and the Service Contract Act.
Jack Sheinkman -- President, Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, 180,000
members. The Amalgamated suffered a major decline in the 1980s but has leveled off
recently, primarily due to aggressive and effective organizing strategies. Sheinkman is a
major player on trade issues. He is a former attorney and, therefore, likely to talk about
labor law reform (Section 8(a)(2)) as well as OSHA, trade assistance, perhaps industrial
policy, and health care. ACTWU represents workers at Xerox in Rochester, NY which is
recognized by some as a model of healthy cooperative labor-management relations.
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Sheinkman will retire in June to become the new chair of Americans for Democratic Action.
As noted above, ACTWU will merge with the ILGWU to form UNITE.
Al Shanker - President, American Federation of Teachers, 800,000 members. Shanker has
broad interests, but focuses principally on elevating standards for teachers. His union has
grown dramatically and steadily. He is the longest serving Council member. His interests
include labor law reform/section 8(a)(2), education and job training, and international affairs.
He was an early Clinton supporter.
Vincent Sombrotto -- President, National Association of Letter Carriers, 210,000 members.
Like Sturdivant (below), he will be concerned with federal employee issues. Sombrotto is
quite outspoken.
John Sturdivant -- President, American Federation of Government Employees, 150,000
members. He has taken a leadership role on the National Partnership Council and in
promoting the work of the Vice President's National Performance Review. Unsurprisingly,
he will show a keen interest in the balanced budget amendment and the Republicans'
treatment of the President's FY 1996 budget. He also has major problems with the proposed
Civil Service Reform Bill.
John Sweeney -- President, Service Employees International Union, 1 million members.
SEIU has experienced major growth in the public sector (currently about one-half of his
members) while also achieving great success in private sector organizing. SEIU is a smart,
aggressive, progressive union with a lot of young and innovative staff. Sweeney chairs the
AFL-CIO's Organizing and Health Care Reform committees. The preservation of the
Service Contract Act, labor law reform, welfare reform, and health care are leading issues
with him.
Rich Trumka -- President, United Mine Workers of America, 80,000 members. Trumka is a
young (45 or so), articulate lawyer. He served on the Kerrey/Danforth Commission on
entitlements. Retiree health insurance, health care, and mine safety and health, as well as
labor law reform/Section 8(a)(2) and the federal budget are among his interests. Secretary
Reich helped settle a nasty strike between the UMWA and the Bituminous Coal Operators
Association (BCOA) by bringing in former Secretary of Labor Bill Usery as special
mediator. This was very important to the UMWA.
Gene Upshaw - President, Federation of Professional Athletes. He does not attend many of
the Council's meetings. Upshaw represents professional football players.
Exec. Council - 5
AFL-CIO
- waking
THE WASHINGTON POST
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1995
IN THE LOOP
Passing the Buck
"You stress [in an earlier cable] that your goal in
By Al Kamen
Washington Post Staff Writer
the planned exit is to 'emphasize the achievements of
the country and the program. There is no coherent
W
hite House press secretary Michael
way that can be done," Stokes said.
McCurry decreed last week that his
Ambassador Walter C. Carrington in Lagos cabled
troops must start being nicer to the press.
that, "Pulling the Peace Corps out of Nigeria, no
He ordered a dozen aides who deal most directly with
matter in what terms such an event is explained, will
the press corps to go out of their way to do
be seen by Nigerians, whether pro-democracy or
something nice each day for a reporter and then
pro-military, as a political decision. It will be
write McCurry a note saying what they had done.
interpreted as just another sanction imposed by the
Those who don't have anything to write about
U.S. government."
were to pony up $1 to the office pizza kitty.
Peace Corps officials say they have no choice,
But old ways die hard.
though volunteers may return to Nigeria, whose
The first day, the only aide who had done
military rulers have been promising democracy for a
something nice [helping a Canadian broadcaster get a
decade, when the political situation there improves.
better camera shot at Andrews Air Force Base] was
The other programs were due for phaseout anyway,
deputy secretary Mary Ellen Glynn, a recent arrival
officials say. The per capita income in the Seychelles,
from the State Department who apparently hasn't
$6,300 a year, is many times above the average in
learned the ropes.
most countries the agency serves.
So McCurry got mad and the notes started
coming. Some were rejected out of hand, like the one
Talbott Speaks on the Issues
from an aide who took credit for returning a
reporter's phone call the same day. Sounds pretty
Are we talking wonks or what? "Several of us in
remarkable for the Clinton White House but
Foggy Bottom
read every word in every issue of
Arms Control Today." So said Deputy Secretary of
McCurry ruled that returning phone calls was part of
State Strobe Talbott in a speech to the Arms Control
the job.
Association. Sounds like some folks at the State
Another aide wanted credit for purchasing Girl
Department need to get a hobby.
Scout cookies from a daughter of a member of the
White House press corps. A third wanted credit for
agreeing to go to the White House correspondents
Court Calls and Tyson Answers
dinner with someone who was not a first choice.
Just because newly installed National Economic
McCurry rejected those notes as well.
Council director Laura D'Andrea Tyson is a major
Word is McCurry, as part of this era of good
player doesn't mean she can give up her
feeling, allegedly moved the scheduled time of
constitutional obligation-with or without a balanced
Clinton's news conference Friday to accommodate a
budget amendment-to serve on jury duty.
network correspondent who had to go out of town.
Tyson yesterday was not to be found at the White
So is the kitty flush with cash? No. "Tve got nine
House. She was down at D.C. Superior Court, sitting
dollars and a bunch of IOUs," McCurry said. "But I
around waiting to see if she would be called to be on
want the scraps of paper, not the money. I'm
a jury. She wasn't picked, which means she won't be
determined that we're gonna get this operation in
called for two more years.
the business of serving reporters as well as serving
the president," he said.
One Commission Seat, Two Names
"And besides, I like pepperoni."
There has been some talk at Justice that outgoing
Golden Child Enters Dark Days
assistant attorney general for legislation Sheila
Anthony is a possibility for a seat on the International
The Peace Corps, golden child of another budget
Trade Commission, but Sen. Daniel Patrick
era, is closing some long-standing overseas
Moynihan (D-N.Y.) ranking minority member on the
operations to make ends meet. This is not one the
Finance Committee, which confirms commission
libs can blame on Gingrich and Co. President
members, is said to be backing Steven Beckman, an
Clinton's budget for the agency, $234 million, is
economist specializing in internation matters for the
effectively a freeze, and with inflation and all,
United Auto Workers, which opposed NAFTA and
"something had to go," as one official put it.
GATT.
What's going, among some domestic cuts, are two
There are rumblings that Republicans may not be
small programs-in the Seychelles and in the Cook
excited about putting a laborite on the commission,
Islands-and another in Nigeria, which in the 1960s
but the White House almost certainly will oblige
was one of the biggest agency operations with
Moynihan.
hundreds of volunteers.
Meanwhile, Kent Markus, former chief of staff to
The move is not going down well with the
former Democratic National Committee chairman
ambassadors in those countries.
David Wilhelm, who was brought to the department
Carl B. Stokes, ambassador to the Seychelles, sent
by principal deputy associate attorney general Nancy
a confidential memo to the agency saying that pulling
McFadden to work on the Brady bill and then the
out the 14 volunteers "will cause a political shock
crime bill, is to be acting head of the legislative shop
wave that will obliterate those [21] years of good will
until designee Andy Fois is confirmed, then Markus
and achievements here that the PC has compiled."
becomes deputy to Fois.
AFL- CIO
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
19-Dec-1994 08:52pm
TO:
John O. Sutton
FROM:
Peter J. Shakow
Office of Political Affairs
CC:
Ann C. Castagnetti
SUBJECT: Lane Kirkland Letter
* In consultation with OMB (Chris Edley), Joe suggests the following language be
used to reply to Lane Kirkland's December 13th letter:
>
POJUS'
Dear Lane:
Thank you for your letter regarding funding for mass transit operating
assistance, Amtrack and the U.S. maritime industry. I appreciate learning of
your views.
At this point in the budget deliberations, I do not anticipate that my
Administration will propose the elimination of mass transit operating
assistance, or sharp reductions in assistance to Amtrack or the U.S. maritime
industry.
As you know, many difficult choices must be made among competing
priorities in order to formulate a budget that meets the statuatory spending
caps. Your views are being taken into consideration during this process.
Thanks for your continued support.
Sincerely,
I assume that you will handle the letter from here on out. If this is not the
case, let me know. I am happy to make edits and walk it through correspondence
if y'all so desire.
Thanks.
Breen Feducts 5
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
815 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
LANE KIRKLAND PRESIDENT
THOMAS R. DONAHUE SECRETARY-TREASURER
Washington, D.C. 20006
Albert Shanker
Edward T. Hanley
Wayne E. Glenn
(202) 637-5000
John J Sweeney
James E. Hatfield
Vincent R. Sombrotto
Gerald W. McEntee
William H. Bywater
Marvin J. Boede
Owen Bieber
John T. Joyce
Morton Bahr
CONGRESS AFL OF INDUSTRIAL
Robert A. Georgine
Gene Upshaw
Jay Mazur
Lenore Miller
Jack Sheinkman
John J. Barry
Sigurd Lucassen
Moe Biller
George J. Kourpias
John N. Sturdivant
Richard L. Trumka
Frank Hanley
James J. Norton
Michael Sacco
Ron Carey
Arthur A. Coia
Frank Hurt
Linda Chavez-Thompson
Gloria T. Johnson
Douglas H. Dority
George F. Becker
December 13, 1994
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I I write to express labor's profound
concern over reports that your administration is considering the
elimination of a number of federal programs -- affecting various sectors
of the economy -- that are of critical importance to working people, their
families and the country at large.
In the area of rail and public transit, you should be aware that any
proposal to zero-out or sharply reduce federal funding for Amtrak, if
adopted by Congress, would threaten the very existence of the nation's
inter-city passenger rail system and with it the jobs of some 25,000
Amtrak workers. Meanwhile, the elimination of funding for local mass
transit operating assistance would have a devastating impact on a large
number of the 250,000 people who work for transit systems in cities
throughout the country.
These ideas were proposed time and again during the Reagan
and Bush administrations, only to be restored by Congress after careful
consideration of how devastating their impact would be on travelers and
commuters who depend on these services and working people whose
jobs are on the line.
Further, we are counting on you to stick by your recent
commitment to continue the administration's support for programs that
will help maintain and revitalize the U.S. maritime industry. As I have
previously expressed to you, severe cutbacks in these programs would
result in the reflagging of nearly all remaining U.S.-flag vessels and the
rapid loss of tens of thousands of American jobs. Without a strong
merchant marine, America cannot fully secure its future as a military and
trading power.
The President
December 13, 1994
Page 2
Over the course of your administration, we have been proud to
support your bold efforts to redirect the nation's economic policies. In
light of the realignment of Congress, we urge you to strongly defend
those programs which are critical to the future of this country and its
working people.
Sincerely,
fame Kill
President
2
0
0
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
815 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
CONGRESS AFL OF INDUSTRIAL -CIO
Mr. George Stephanopoulos
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
AFL AFI-CIO -
-
washy
310,
GREER. MARGOLIS
MITCHELL BURNS
9/31/90
GMMB&A
AFL-CIO
&ASSOCIATESINC
TV :30
March 30, 1995
AFL95-102
"Cuts"
-- FINAL RECORDED VERSION -
VIDEO:
AUDIO:
Move in on family on porch.
AMERICA'S WORKING FAMILIES ARE UNDER
ATTACK.
Move in on men meeting at the
THE NEW CONGRESS IS CUTTING JOBS
top of stairs.
Man and woman at working at
WAGES
table.
Patient being taken out of
HEALTH AND SAFETY
ambulance.
Elderly woman with glasses.
HOUSING FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
School children in cafeteria.
EVEN SCHOOL LUNCHES.
Family sitting around table
THEY'RE CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT HELP
eating.
WORKING FAMILIES MAKE ENDS MEET -
Two limos pull away from curb.
so THEY CAN GIVE TAX BREAKS TO BIG
BUSINESS AND THE RICH.
Quick cut of workers walking in
IT'S TIME TO STAND UP FOR
a factory.
Family going out front door of
AMERICA'S WORKING FAMILIES
house.
Man with hardhat.
FOR GOOD JOBS, GOOD WAGES
Doctor with family.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Welder with sparks flying.
AND A REAL VOICE ON THE JOB.
Pan right-to-left of workers
STAND WITH US
standing together
Working people walking across
WE'RE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AFL-
bridge toward camera
CIO.
Add CG: Stand with us. 1-800-
LEADING THE FIGHT FOR AMERICA'S
458:7852. Disclaimer.
WORKING FAMILIES.
1010 Masconsin Avenue, VII
Suite
800
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 338-8700
FAX (202) 338-2334
2110 Main Street
Suite 203:
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 314-4800
FAX (310) 314-4803
NFL- CIO
4/1198
every
AFL-
CIO
NEW CONGRESS / OLD POLITICS
Big business and the rich win.
Working families lose.
The he new Congress has launched an all-out assault on
That's not what America voted for in 1994. It's just
America's working families.
more trickle-down economics, and it's hurting working
They voted to slash education and job training. They're
families. Big business and the rich get richer, and the
rest of us get stuck with the tab.
gutting worker health and safety protections that save
thousands of lives every year, and they oppose increasing
It's time to fight back - to stand up for America's working
the minimum wage, protecting Davis-Bacon and raising
families. For good jobs and good wages. For health and
middle-class incomes. They cut school lunches, housing for
safety. And for a real voice on the job.
the elderly and veterans and college loans for middle-
We're the men and women of the AFL-CIO, and we're
income families. And instead of investing in better jobs and
wages here in America, they want to hand out tax breaks for
leading the fight for America's working families.
the rich and for big corporations that move jobs overseas.
Stand with us, America.
If you want to help
Call 1-800-458-7852 Today
Stand UP
It's the Fight of Our Lives
For America's Working Families
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AFL-CIO LEADING THE AGHT FOR AMERICA'S WORKING FAMILIES
06/12/95
16:06
202 219 7971
DOL OSEC
PRL-CIO
002
- wol
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
MARICAN REDERATION +
815 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
LANE KIRKLAND PRESIDENT
THOMAS M. DONAHUR SECRETARY-TREASURER
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 837.5000
Albert
Edward T HERIBY
wayne &. Giann
John : Sweeney
James & Hetfield
Vindent R. Bombrame
Gerale W McEniee
William n. Byward
Marvin J Boads
Own Bieber
John T. Joyce
Marten Bahr
COMPANY AFL OF INDUSTRIAL
Robert a, Georgine
Gane Ugahaw
JAY Mazur
Lenon Mitter
Jack Snainkman
John ; Barry
Sigure EMERGEN
VOI Biller
George J. Kourpias
John N Student
Richard 6. Trumsa
Frank Hanley
Jamas J Norton
Michael Sacco
Ron Carey
Afthur A Coie
Frans Hun
Linds Chaves-Thompaon
anile T. Jahnson
Douglas * Derify
George F. Becker
June 12, 1995
To: Members, of the Exacutive Council
Presidents of National and International Unions
Dear :
I have determined to become a candidate to succeed Lane
Kirkland as AFL-CIO President. It is my hope and desire to pull
together the broadest and most diverse support within the labor
movement. The purpose of this letter is to begin in earnest the
process of generating that support.
Lane advised me at the beginning of last week that he had
decided to step down as AFL-CIO President. The reports of his
decision have appeared in the press and it is his intent to make a
public announcement to that effect today. Given Lane's decision I
have had telephone conversations with over 65 general presidents of
our 80 affiliated unions to advise them that I was considering my
candidacy. Those conversations convinced me there is an over-
whelming sentiment for unity in the Federation.
By any measure, the era that Lane's retirement will bring to
a close has been immensely productive: it encompasses the
unification of the labor movement through the reaffiliation of the
United Automobile Workers, the Mine Workers, the Teamsters, and the
Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union; the creation of the
Organizing Responsibilities Procedure, the Labor Institute for
Public Affairs, the organizing Institute, the Strategic Approaches
Committee, the Union Privilege Benefit Program, the grassroots
Legislative Action Committee structure, the comprehensive
communications program adopted last year, and more.
I am proud to have had an active role in this record of
accomplishment. And, I am particularly proud to have been part of
a process that opened up the Federation to all of its constituents;
a process that has stimulated the best thinking of our affiliates
and has mobilized their talents and energies. These initiatives
were not the product of a distant leadership or any narrow group
but of the labor movement as a whole.
06/12/95
16:07
202 219 7971
DOL OSEC
003
June 12, 1995
Page two
In a world that is rapidly changing, we've done our best to
meet the new conditions of work and workers. By any measure, more
needs to be done. The unifying theme I see -- in what no doubt
appears to the public to be simply internal political disagreement
-- is an intensified commitment to progressive change in all our
institutions in order to better represent all union members.
That certainly is welcome; it, indeed, comes none too soon.
We race the most formidable challenges as we strive to find the
means to fulfill the labor movement's historical role as the
authoritative voice of America's working people.
My first priority at the Federation has been to mobilize a
consensus for creative innovation. I am confident that all of you
who joined with me in our project on the changing nature of work
and its consequences and in the extensive committee work that made
all our new programs operational realities, would second that
assessment. Each one of these efforts has been hard going because
the problems that must be overcome are hard problems that do not
yield easy answers. But it is my conviction that we have now
reached the point of agreement to go forward in our task of
creating an ever more dynamic, more diverse and more self
sufficient labor movement. While most of the work must be the
prime responsibility of individual unions, the Federation must play
a catalytic role.
The one sure means of squandering this possibility is to fall
into factionalism. I see no disagreements on principle that divide
us. The working men and women who depend on this movement and the
millions more who ssek a genuine voice on the job require that we
make a common cause.
I believe I can be a significant factor in that process. I
therefore seek your support.
Thank you and with every good wish,
Fraternally,
Secretary-Treasurer
A.F.L.-C.I.O. Candidates Prod Each Other to Move Unions Toward Change
By LOUIS UCHITELLE
no turning back."
A.F.L.-C.I.O. would become the driv=
Suddenly the A.F.L.-C.I.O., awak-
But there is great risk in the un-
ing force in recruiting workers into
he said, acknowledging that Mr.
trend that has produced so many
ening to danger, is trying to train
dertaking. If the unions, through a
unions, a task now left to the individ-
Sweeney has enough delegate votes
corporate mergers. But neither the
and ship out hundreds of new union
new activism, fail to win enough
ual unions. But what other way is
Some giant
pledged to him now to win the ballot-
union leadership nor corporate
organizers. Never mind the cost.
public support to reverse their de-
there to organize a company like
ing at the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s October
America view the union mergers as
And the two men vying to lead the
clining membership, then the at-
Wal-Mart, with employees spread
undertakings for
convention in New York. "But don't
sufficient by themselves to chal-
federation show up at
tempt at revival might instead con-
across stores in every state, or the
exclude the possibility that my per-
lenge the hegemony that manage-
every sore spot for
vince Americans that the traditional
ubiquitous parts makers that supply
labor.
formance as interim president can
ment now exercises over labor.
News
workers, hoping to
unions have indeed become Irrele-
the big auto manufacturers.
change a lot of minds."
"Corporate America has become
Analysis
awaken in ordinary non-
vant in their struggle to deal with
"The key is the scale," said Rich-
Maybe. But no matter who wins,
comfortable dealing with the unions
union Americans a new
wage stagnation, layoffs and cuts in
ard Bensinger, executive director of
converting the A.F.L.-C.I.O. into the
that represent its workers," said
feeling that unions can help them.
Sweeney as co-chairmen, to draw up
benefits.
the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s Organizing Insti-
flagship of an aggressive union
William Lucy, secretary-treasurer
Nearly two months into their elec-
No group has a bigger stake in the
tute. "The task has gotten beyond
by early fall a proposal to revamp
movement goes beyond organizing,
of the American Federation of State,
tion campaign, the candidates,
A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s revival effort than
what any individual union can do."
the federation's governing executive
or revamping the executive council.
County and Municipal Employees.
Thomas R. Donahue and John J.
Beyond organizing, Mr. Donahue
council. The idea is to include more
Corporate America, and that makes
Somehow the federation must per-
"But it has not had to face a chal-
Sweeney, keep upping the ante, turn-
obtained from the executive council,
women, as well as black and Hispan-
suade Americans that unions are an
lenge from a national union move-
the nation's executives a gauge for
ing initially vague platforms into
measuring progress. So far they are.
for the first time, the authority for
Ic union leaders. Women and minor-
answer to their concerns. By nearly
ment to corporate sway over public
ever more specific promises and
the A.F.L.-C.I.O. to make no-interest
ities are close to edging out white
not showing any worry. "I don't see
every union leader's reckoning, that
opinion."
even some action. Prodding each
loans totaling $1 million to unions on
males as a majority of all union
anything that is going on yet that is
requires the sort of authoritative,
other, they are making a huge com-
of major concern," said Robert Cor-
strike and running out of money to
members. But the council is still
charismatic voice that made Samuel
mitment: That organized labor will
pay their strikers. He also appropri-
dominated by white male union pres-
lett, vice president of human re-
Gompers such a national figure ear-
Idents.
become a social movement, engaged
sources for the Lockheed Martin
ated money to train 500 local union
ly in the century and Walter Reuther
In raising the living standards of all
In all this flurry of activity, Mr.
Corporation, the big aerospace com-
people to be political advocates -
in mid-century.
Donahue comes across as the incum-
American workers, as it was in the
pany. "And I think other employers
recognizing, in effect, the federa-
In pursuit of such a voice, Mr.
1930's, and not a collection of unions
bent, still identified with the 16-year
tion's failure as a lobbyist in Wash-
Donahue and Mr. Sweeney, and their
share that view."
Kirkland era, during which union
concerned mainly with trying to pre-
The revival movement is still in a
ington, where it has been unable to
running-mates, have been criss-
serve the jobs and wages of those
membership went into steep decline.
win legislation that would prohibit
crossing the country in recent
very early stage. Mr. Donahue and
who are already members.
The insurgents pushing hardest for
the use of replacement workers in
weeks, speaking to strikers on picket
Mr. Sweeney have only just crossed
change have gravitated to Mr.
Not since the 1960's, when unions
the line from campaign promises to
strikes or pass bills that would make
lines, at rallies to protest all sorts of
recruited Federal Government em-
Sweeney, whose just updated plat-
issues and at demonstrations
action. They did so last week during
organizing easier.
ployees for the first time, enlisting
form incorporated most of the pro-
the summer meeting of the A.F.I.-
The focus is now to shift to the
against members of Congress with
tens of thousands, has there been so
posals put forth a few days later by
cities and states. The hope is that
anti-labor voting records.
C.I.O.'s executive council in Chicago:
Mr. Donahue.
much innovation in the union move-
local union members, now largely
But the constant public appear-
Lane Kirkland, long an advocate of
ment and talk of change. Making
Above all, the Sweeney support-
passive in election campaigns, can
ances have drawn very little nation-
the status quo, formally retired as
money available, as the organization
ers, in talking up their candidate,
president, forced out by the pressure
be turned into lively agitators for or
al attention. Union mergers have
did last week, to send 1,500 union
point to his achievement as presi-
for change. Mr. Donahue, his secre-
against members of Congress. They
gotten more publicity, particularly
dent of the Service Employees Inter-
organizers Into the field over the
would become, in Mr. Donahue's
the announcement late last month
tary-treasurer, became the interim
national Union since 1980. Early on,
next 18 months is a huge undertak-
president, until the October presi-
words, "the most powerful foot sol-
that agreement had been reached to
ing for an organization that did not
he threw resources into organizing,
diers of the entire electoral pro-
create a giant union by combining
dential election, and took four steps
and membership in his union grew,
train any organizers five years ago
the Auto Workers, the Steelworkers
toward change.
cess.
bucking the national trend.
and now puts only 200 a year through
and the Machinists.
The first involved the organizers.
Finally, Mr. Donahue set. up
a
Such arguments keep Mr. Dona-
THE NEW YORK TIMES, MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 1995
Its three-month course.
He committed the A.F.L.-C.I.O. to
committee, with himself and Mr.
Mr. Donahue and Mr. Sweeney
hue hopping. "People say that
"There has to be meaningful
publicly favor union mergers as a
eventually spend $20 million a year
Sweeney has the election locked up,"
change," Mr. Sweeney said, a view
means of strengthening unions,
on organizing, up from $3 million
he shares with Mr. Donahue. "We
mainly by eliminating duplicate bu-
today. That is an eye-catching shift
have started a dialogue and there is
reaucracies and freeing money for
in resources for an organization with
organizing. A dozen mergers have
a $60 million budget. If it works, the
been announced or completed in the
past 18 months as unions join the
THE WASHINGTON POST
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1995
FINAL
Leaders of 3 Large U.S. Labor
Unions Agree to Merger
By Frank Swoboda
AI
sent a large group of fleet service
Washington Post Staff Writer
workers.
Leaders of three of the nation's
Sources said the unions decided it
largest unions have agreed to a "uni-
was counterproductive to fight among
fication" that will create a 2 million-
themselves, a belief that led to the
member union by the year 2000.
merger talks. In the case of the three
The United Auto Workers, the In-
unions involved in this merger, money
ternational Association of Machinists
was not a major issue. All three
largest union, with 1.6 million mem-
and the United Steelworkers unions
unions are well-heeled.
bers, and the National Education As-
will announce the merger today. The
The merger also reflects an evolu-
sociation has more than 2 million
boards of directors of the three
tion of the U.S. labor movement to-
members, but not all are covered by
unions, meeting at the Omni Shore-
ward a structure similar to the one
collective bargaining agreements.
ham Hotel, approved the alliance in a
Western European unions have de-
The NEA is the only major union out-
vote last night.
See UNIONS, A4, Col. 1
side the AFL-CIO.
The steelworkers, the machinists
The new union would have 1.95
UNIONS, From A1
and the auto workers unions at one
million members, making it the larg-
point all had more than 1 million
est union in the nation.
veloped in the post-World War II era,
members, but shrinking employment
The merger comes at a time when
in which labor federations represent
in the nation's basic manufacturing in-
more and more unions, facing global
workers across industry lines.
dustries has taken its toll on all three
economic shifts as well as dwindling
In the merger of these three
unions, cutting their membership al-
membership and political power, are
unions, the two major aerospace in-
most in half.
banding together in an effort to in-
dustry unions-the machinists and
Other unions have been merging to
crease their strength at the bargain-
the UAW-would join forces. It
cope with the forces eroding their
ing table.
would combine the union whose mem-
power. The International Ladies Gar-
Turmoil within the labor move-
bers manufacture steel with the union
ment Workers Union and the Amal-
ment has spurred not only a raft of
whose workers build automobiles.
gamated Clothing and Textile Work-
mergers, but also an unprecedented
Over the last 20 years, both the ma-
ers Union merged to become the
challenge by a number of unions, in-
chinists and the steelworkers unions
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and
cluding the auto workers, steelwork-
have become conglomerates, often
Textile Employees (UNITE) on July
taking in units outside their basic ju-
1. The 94,000-member United Rub-
ers and machinists, to AFL-CIO
risdictions.
ber Workers International merged
Ironically, the presidents of all
with the steelworkers' union on the
President Lane Kirkland's leader-
three unions-Stephen Yokich of the
same day.
ship. Kirkland decided to resign,
UAW, George Becker of the United
In addition, the NEA and the
sparking a battle over who will run
Steelworkers and George Kourpias of
American Federation of Teachers
the AFL-CIO this fall. As recently as
the International Association of Ma-
have been talking about joining
the 1970s there were 129 unions in
chinists-all will be retired by the
forces, and the Newspaper Guild's
the AFL-CIO: with this merger
time the merger is completed in
convention recently approved a merg-
there would be fewer than 80.
2000. All three unions have mandato
er with the 600,000-member Com-
Sources said yesterday that the
ry-retirement ages.
munications Workers of America.
merger talks grew out of a bitter or-
The International Brotherhood of
Guild members are to vote on the
ganizational fight between the ma-
Teamsters is currently the nation's
merger in September.
chinists' and steelworkers' unions
last year at Arlington-based USAir
Group Inc. over who would repre-
AFL-CIO
into retirement, charging that he
work force - the layoffs and wage
Labor Group
had done far too little in his 16-year
stagnation so characteristic of the
tenure to reverse the national de-
last 20 years will continue.
cline in union membership or win
In addition, union leaders say that
Chooses Aide
legislation favorable to labor.
without more members, organized
During those years, Mr. Donahue,
labor will not be able to muster
who is 67, was Mr. Kirkland's second
enough influence to keep a Republi-
To Kirkland
in command as secretary-treasurer.
can-controlled Congress from weak-
The Sweeney forces maintain that
ening labor laws that protect union
that Mr. Donahue, however good his
activities. In its heyday, the A.F.L.-
intentions, is too identified with the
C.I.O. wielded its influence to elect
Donahue Is Named
Kirkland regime to bring change
Presidents and successfully lobby
rapidly enough to save the labor
Congress. But now, both Mr. Dona-
As Interim President
movement. Mr. Donahue tried to
hue and Mr. Sweeney argue that
deal with that issue on his first full
union political activity must shift to
day as president, filling out the time
cities and regions where union influ-
between Mr. Kirkland's departure
ence is still sufficient to swing elec-
ByLOUIS UCHITELLE
and the regular presidential election
tions.
CHICAGO, Aug. 1 - Thomas R.
at the A.F.L.-C.I.O. convention in
Mr. Donahue became the interim
Donahue became the interim presi-
New York City in October.
president at the summer meeting of
dent of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. today, but
Mr Donahue insisted that he had
the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s executive council.
whether he can keep the job depends
been a catalyst for change during
The 32 council members, most of
on how rapidly and radically he can
the Kirkland tenure, and now is step-
them union presidents, gave Mr.
bring change to the shrinking feder-
ping up the pace. While avoiding
Donahue the interim by a
ation before the election of a perma
criticism of Mr. Kirkland, he prom-
vote of 21 to 11. But Mr. Sweeney
nent president in October.
ised to "sharply increase" the $3
says that in October he will have
Recognizing this Mr. Donahue
million a year or so that the federa
delegates voting for him who repre-
promised in a speech to immediately
tion had allocated to organizing, and
sent nearly 60 percent of the 13.3
begin pouring millions of dollars into
to quickly train "1,500 new organ-
million members in the 81 unions
helping unions enroll new members.
izers for our unions."
affiliated with the A.F.L.-C.I.O.
And he promised to begin training
He also said he would tap the
Donahue supporters do not dispute
500 people active in the labor move-
federation's $58 million reserve fund
this, but at a briefing this morning
ment to spearhead local and region-
to support "multi-union organizing
they said some of those delegates
al election campaigns for candidates
programs aimed particularly at low-
might be induced into voting for Mr.
favored by the federation: He was so
wage industries and at those which
Donahue, particularly women
emphatic on these points that his
have long been union-resistant
pleased to see Barbara Easterling
opponent for the presidency, John J.
The Sweeney camp promises to
on the ticket with Mr. Donahue. Ms.
Sweeney, accused Mr. Donahue of
raise the organizing budget to $10
Easterling, executive vice president
lifting the Sweeney platform.
million a year from the present $3
of the Communications Workers of
"It sounded like I wrote the
million. And his supporters hold up
America, was elected today as Mr.
speech," Mr. Sweeney said, only half
Mr. Sweeney, who is 61, as a leader
Donahue's secretary-treasurer.
in jest. "The issue is not how we
who has doubled the membership of
The Sweeney camp is also fielding
differ - our goals are not so differ
the Service Employees International
a
female candidate, Linda Chavez-
THE NEW YORK TIMES, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2,
ent - the issue is how quickly and
Union, which he heads. The union
Thompson, a vice president of the
comprehensively change will come
has 1:1 million members.
American Federation of State, Coun-
in these two key areas: organizing
So far, corporate America has
ty and Municipal Employees. But
and political activity."
publicly ignored-the struggle over
she is the candidate for executive
The struggle for the presidency of
the federation's leadership. But no
vice president of the federation.
the American Federation of Labor
issue raises more opposition to
and Congress of Industrial Organiza-
unións among executives than union
tions, the first in its 40-year history,
efforts to sign up workers. The
is really a strùggle to revive the
unions, on the other hand, say that
federation. Mr. Sweeney heads a
without more members - the 16
group of insurgents who forced the
million unionists today represent
previous president, Lane Kirkland,
less than 13 percent of the nation's
Study Cites Adult Males for Most Teen-Age Births
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER
that found similar patterns on state
In Chicago, the An Ounce of Pre-
levels. For example, a California
vention Program, a social-services
At least half of the babies born to
survey of 47,000 births to teen-age
agency, found that 61 percent of 445
teen-age girls are fathered by adults,
mothers in 1993 found that two-
young mothers interviewed in 1986
according to a new national study by
thirds of the babies were fathered by
said they had been sexually abused,
the Alan Guttmacher Institute.
men who were of post-high-school
beginning at an average age of 11.
The study, which many research-
age. With high school girls, fathers
Similarly, the Washington Alli-
ers said is the most comprehensive
tended to be an average of 4.2 years
ance Concerned With School Age
of its kind, implies that a startling
older than their partners, and with
Parents, a pregnancy-prevention
number of teen-age girls are having
mothers in junior high school, they
program based in Seattle, found in a
sex with men who are breaking state
were on average 6.7 years older.
statewide survey of 535 mothers
laws on statutory rape.
In most states, including New
ages 12 to 17 that the average age of
Some family-planning experts
York, rarely applied laws of consent
the father was 24 and that 68 percent
said the study also demonstrated
of those girls said they had been
that pregnancy-prevention pro-
Raising questions
sexually abused at one point.
grams, many in schools, failed to
reach many of those responsible for
"The whole political debate is
unplanned pregnancies.
about prevention
based on the notion that teen-age
Drawing from a survey of nearly
pregnancies result from planned, ra-
10,000 mothers between the ages of
15 and 49 who were interviewed from
and statutory rape.
tional behavior, that it can just be
educated or condom-ed away," Mr.
1989 to 1991, researchers found that
Males said.
half of the fathers of babies born to
Partly in response to Mr. Males's
mothers between ages 15 and 17
prohibit people 18 or older from hav-
research, Gov. Pete Wilson of Cali-
were 20 or older, and that 20 percent
ing sex with those under 16, and
fornia has proposed a $12 million
of the fathers were six or more years
punishment is generally greater
teen-age pregnancy-prevention ini-
older. In general, the survey found,
with the breadth of age difference.
tiative, $2.4 million of which would
the younger a mother was; the great-
"One begins to see the fact that
be designated for prosecution of men
er the age difference between her
this is sexual abuse among many of
who have sex with girls under 18.
and her partner.
these teen-agers," said Mike Males,
Recent surveys have led research-
"To most people, these numbers
a graduate student at the University
ers to question whether punitive
are counterintuitive," said David J.
of California at Irvine and a CO-
measures against teen-age mothers
Landry, a co-author of the study and
author of the California survey with
designed to stymie the rates of preg-
a senior research associate at the
his adviser, Kenneth S. Y. Chew.
nancy work, including measures like
institute, based in New York. "This
Indeed, their study found that
proposed reductions in Welfare
research highlights that teen-age
among California mothers ages 11 to
benefits.
pregnancy is not just limited to teen-
15, only 9 percent of their partners
Understanding the vast age differ-
agers, but that in fact adult males
were other junior high school boys.
ences between girls and their part-
bear a lot of the responsibility."
Forty percent of the fathers were
ners is essential in developing pre-
The sample base for the study, to
high school boys, and 51 percent
vention programs, the experts said.
be published on Thursday in Family
were adults, it found.
"When an adult male gets a girl
Planning Perspectives, a publication
Other experts in family planning
pregnant, it's like an immaculate
of the institute, came from a survey
and sex abuse contend that in many
conception," said Charlie Langdon,
by the National Center for Health
cases of teen-age pregnancy, the girl
the executive director of the Wash-
Statistics, which interviewed moth-
had been sexually assaulted either
ington organization. "We have to
ers between 1989 and 1991.
by the father of her child or by
look at what can be done to bring
The research supports recent data
someone else previously.
consequences for the dads."
AFL-CIO
THE WASHINGTON POST
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1995
eval
Lane Kirkland and the Tides of Time
AFL-CIO Chief Retires as Labor Movement Struggles to Remake Itself
By Frank Swoboda
control of Congress and actively
ceeded Kirkland in that post, was
Washington Post Staff Writer
pushing a pro-business agenda, the
elected president yesterday at a
leaders of 11 major unions concluded
Lane Kirkland retired as president
meeting of the AFL-CIO Executive
early this year that Kirkland had to
Council in Chicago. Donahue's elec-
of the AFL-CIO yesterday, a good
go. Labor, they insisted, needed a
tion was not in doubt because he had
man who, even his friends said,
bolder leadership to win the affec-
the support of a majority of the mem-
stayed too long.
tions of a younger, more diverse
bers of a council where each member
For more than a quarter-century,
work force that has come to view
has one vote.
first as secretary-trea-
unions as irrelevant.
NEWS
But Donahue faces an uphill battle
ANALYSIS
surer and then as pres-
Kirkland, his critics argued, had
to keep the AFL-CIO presidency in
ident of the 13 million-
lost touch with the times. A man of
October at the AFL-CIO convention,
member labor federation, Kirkland
many words in an age of sound bites,
where each union has as many votes
fought the bosses, communism, can-
Kirkland had become an artifact of a
as it has dues-paying members.
cer and Republicans. In the end, it
time when manufacturing industries
There he will be opposed by John J.
was the Republicans who helped
and their unions drove the economy,
Sweeney, president of the Service
force him out.
most women stayed home and the
Employees International Union-the
Kirkland, 73, retired under pres-
threat of communism dominated
same union where Donahue served as
sure. He didn't want to leave right
U.S. foreign policy.
vice president.
now. If opposition hadn't emerged,
Throughout his 16 years as
It is perhaps ironic that some of the
he might have resigned some time
AFL-CIO president, Kirkland stead-
unions Kirkland brought back into the
next year after being reelected to a
fastly maintained the focus on for:
AFL-CIO-including the United Auto
ninth two-year term as the head of
eign policy, a focus that often result-
Workers, the International Brother-
the world's largest labor organiza-
ed in organized labor siding with the
hood of Teamsters and the United
tion.
Reagan and Bush administrations.
When the number of unions од
defense matters while castigating
Mineworkers of America-helped
posing him numbered more than 20
them on domestic policies. Kirkland
lead the fight against him and are now
and the AFL-CIO almost singlehand-
backing Sweeney.
representing 53 percent of the
AFL-CIO membership, Kirkland an-
edly kept Poland's Solidarity move-
It is even more ironic that if Kirk-
npunced he would retire. He could
ment alive in the 1980s, smuggling:
land had decided to step down earlier,
still count and it was clear he risked
money and equipment into that coun-
when he first came under attack,
Donahue would have been the unani-
an embarrassing defeat if he decided
See KIRKLAND, F3, Col. 1
mous choice to succeed him. But
to run for another term at the Octo-
KIRKLAND, From F1
when Kirkland initially refused to re-
ber convention.
sign, Donahue, out of personal loyal-
But Kirkland's real opponent was
try when even the U.S. government
ty, declined the insurgents' invitation
time. Faced with a dwindling mem-
backed away.
to run as their candidate.
But now, with the Cold War over
The real race for labor is not be-
bership and Republicans suddenly in
and communism on the run almost
tween Donahue and Sweeney-it's
everywhere you look, Kirkland's crit-
against time. Can organized labor
ics argue it's time for labor to come
come together and agree on new
home: time for the AFL-CIO to turn
leaders, a new agenda and new tactics
for organizing the millions of non-
A man of many
union workers, particularly in the ser-
vice sector of the economy? Or will it
words in an age of
split apart as it did in the 1930s, when
the CIO was formed, as it searches
sound bites,
for new membership base?
Kirkland had
become an artifact
of a time when
manufacturing
droue the economy.
its attention to the domestic problems
facing unions in America today; time
to concentrate on organizing new
members for a steadily shrinking la-
bor movement.
Kirkland's resignation has trig-
gered a two-man race for the
AFL-CIO presidency, pitting two old
allies against each other who each
pledge to take the labor movement in
the same direction. AFL-CIO Trea-
surer Thomas R. Donahue, who suc-
SEC to Propose New Stock Trading Rules
wut
Changes Could Save Investors Millions on Nasdaq Transactions
rules are written for the benefit of pro-
and make it easier for brokers to get a
By Jerry Knight
fessional traders.
better price for their customers," said
Washington Post Staff Writer
Responding to its critics, the NASD
Robert Colby, deputy director of the
The Securities and Exchange Com-
board last week endorsed a proposal by
SEC's division of market regulation.
mission will propose a package of new
an outside committee headed by for-
The trading rule proposals the SEC
stock trading rules tomorrow that could
mer senator Warren Rudman to give
will release tomorrow apply to all stock
TUESDAY, 26, 1995
THE WASHINGTON POST
save Nasdaq stock market investors
the public a greater voice in the way
markets, but would have the most im'-
millions of dollars a year by helping
the Nasdaq market is run. Rudman's
pact on Nasdaq because it works differt
them get better prices when they buy
panel said powerful Nasdaq traders
ently than the New York and American
and sell stocks.
have repeatedly blocked or delayed
stock exchanges. The exchanges con-
The SEC proposals would force Nas-
previous efforts to modernize trading
duct what amount to day-long auctions
daq to change the way it handles orders
practices.
of securities, but on Nasdaq, shares are
from small investors and would for the
Traders also are likely to resist some
bought and sold from a network of deal-
first time give the general public access
of the upcoming proposals from the
ers, connected by computers.
to Nasdaq computer systems that Wall
SEC, industry sources said, because
The Nasdaq dealers have separate
Street firms use to trade stocks among
huge amounts of their profits are at
computer networks for trading among
themselves.
stake. For example, Nasdaq traders
themselves, and sometimes stocks can
The board of the National Associa-
now add a small markup to the price of,
be bought at better prices on those sys-
tion of Securities Dealers last week is-
every share of stock they sell. But un-
tems. The SEC would require Nasdaq
sued its own plan for revamping the
der the SEC plan, some buyers would
to let all investors see prices on those
handling of small orders that NASD
be able to purchase stock directly from
computers and would require that small
President Joseph R. Hardiman called "a
other investors and the traders would
investors get the same prices available
major step forward
for individual in-
make no money on the deal.
on the dealers' system.
vestors."
Another part of the SEC plan intends
Managers of some big mutual funds
But the NASD plan does not go as
to make it possible for investors to buy
have been trying for years to get ac-
far as the proposed SEC rules, and
Nasdaq stocks for one-eighth or one-
cess to the dealers' computer net-
some of the NASD's suggestions are a
quarter of a point less than the quoted
works, but the Nasdaq traders repeat-
rehash of earlier ideas that already
price. That savings-of 12½ or 25
edly have refused to open their system
have been rejected by the SEC, securi-
cents a share-also would come out of
to the general public.
ties industry sources said.
traders' profits. Some researchers esti-
Release of the SEC proposals tomor-
Nasdaq is the target of separate in-
mate the changes could save investors
row will start a rulemaking process that
vestigations by the SEC and the anti-
hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
could take many months. The SEC will
trust division of the Department of Jus-
The rules are intended to encourage
give Wall Street and the public until:
tice, which are probing allegations that
Nasdaq traders to "do a bit better for
January to comment on the proposals
small investors suffer because Nasdaq's
the customers than-they are doing now
and then suggest changes.
Sweeney Claims Lock on AFL-CIO Votes
Federation Chief Donahue Hopes to Get Some Unions to Switch to Him
By Frank Swoboda
Washington Post Staff Writer
John Sweeney, president of the
Service Employees International
Union, said yesterday he believes he
has locked up enough delegates to
ensure his election as president of
the AFL-CIO.
With less than a month to go be-
fore the federation's New York con-
vention, Sweeney claims to have the
support of unions representing 58
percent of the AFL-CIO member-
ship. The AFL-CIO is locked in a
rare contested election for the fed-
eration presidency at a time when
unions are in serious trouble in the
workplace.
AFL-CIO President Thomas Don-
ahue yesterday acknowledged that
JOHN SWEENEY
THOMAS DONAHUE
Sweeney had a majority of the dele-
challenger for AFL-CIO chief
current AFL-CIO president
gate votes, but he said Sweeney's
majority was closer to 53 percent
Donahue wants the carpenters' sup-
and he was confident he could per-
thrown their support behind one of
port to help spark other defections
suade some unions to switch their
the candidates. The remaining un-
from Sweeney.
support. Unions cast as many votes
committed unions are small, repre-
Carpenters President Sigurd Lu-
as they have dues-paying members
senting less than 3 percent of con-
cassen, a strong Sweeney supporter,
in the election of the federation's na-
vention delegates.
is stepping down at the union's con-
tional officers.
vention this week and it is unclear
In addition to the union support,
"I think there are a number of
whom the new leadership will sup-
the Sweeney camp has been actively
unions still in play and I intend to
port in the election. Sweeney said he
working to WOO support from the 50
keep working with them right down
has had no indication that the car-
state AFL-CIO organizations and the
to the convention vote," Donahue
penters will not support him.
more than 500 AFL-CIO central la-
said.
Donahue-conceded yesterday that
bor councils, most of which choose
The only agreement between the
he has no chance of persuading ma-
not to attend the national conven-
two candidates yesterday was that
jor industrial unions such as the auto
tion.
neither was likely to pull out of the
workers, steelworkers and machin-
This year, however, the presence
rare election race for the AFL-CIO
ists to switch their votes from Swee-
of the state federations and central,
presidency before the start of the
ney, so his campaign has concentrat-
labor bodies-which each get one
Oct. 23 convention.
ed efforts on trying to win the
convention vote-could be impor-
A key test for Donahue will come
support of the powerful construction
tant for votes on policy changes. The
this week when the executive board
unions that basically have split their
Sweeney camp yesterday claimed
of the 378,000-member carpenters
support between the two candidates.
the support of nearly three-fourths.
union votes on an endorsement.
Almost all of the 78 unions have
of these groups.
08/09/95
11:00
202 508 6946
AFL-CIO PRES OFF
002/006
AFL-CIO
evant
Los Angeles Times
August 6, 1995
CJ
Thomas
Donahue
Locked in the Struggle to
Build a Revitalized Labor Union
BY HARRY BERNSTEIN
rganized labor is in trouble. Unions now represent fewer than one in six
O
American workers, down from one in three during the 1950s. Meanwhile,
labor's most vehement enemies hold sway-with powerful Republicans
controlling both houses of Congress, and major employers fighting unions
more furiously than they have in decades.
In an effort to combat these troubles, leaders of the 14-mitlion-member AFL-CIO are
in the midst of a struggle for new leadership-and Thomas R. Donahue, an articulate,
charming man, is at the center of the fight. As recently as a few months ago, Donahue
insisted he would be retiring this year, at age 66, after serving for decades as a union
activist and leader. He was secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO for the last 16 years,
the second-highest position in America's preeminent labor federation, encompassing 80
autonomous unions with nearly 14 million members.
But in June, Donahue announced he would seck election as president to replace the
dour Lane Kirkland, 73, the longtime union leader, who had first insisted he would run
for reelection but then dropped out of the race after facing strong opposition. Last week,
Kirkland resigned the presidency to help Donahue, who was named interim president
by the federation's 33-member executive board on Tuesday.
That was no contest, since each council member had only one vote. regardless of the
size of the member's union, and most small unions supported Kirkland's choice,
Donahue. His real challenge will come in October at the AFL-CIO convention in New
York, where his opponent will be John J. Sweeney, president of the Service Employees
Union. Sweeney claims he will have nearly 60% of the votes of the convention
delegates, since votes are based on union membership, and most large unions back
Sweeney. The winner of that election will serve a full two-year term and, if tradition is
resumed, the new president will serve for many years. The last serious contest for the
federation presidency was 101 years ago.
Sweeney and his supporters say Donahue has been 100 much a part of Kirkland's
administration to provide the new leadership that is so urgently needed. Sweeney's
prediction of his victory could be wrong, but whoever wins, he must set about
revitalizing the labor movement. providing what labor has most spectacularly
lacked-strong. vocal leadership that can press a coherent liberal agenda. Neither
candidate has sharply attacked the other, but in a recent conversation, Donahue
indirectly criticized both Sweeney and, for the first time, the uncharismatic
Kirkland-who is seen as a handicap to Donahue.
A native New Yorker and graduate of Fordham Law School. Donahue is married to
Rachelle Horowitz. They have two children.
1
003/006
08/09/95 11:01
202 508 6946
AFL-CIO PRES OFF
Los Angeles Times
-2-
LOS ANGELES TIMES
INTERVIEW
Newt Gingrich and the Republican
majorities in Congress are pushing the
most anti-worker, anti-union agenda this
country has seen in decades.
Reforming labor law to restore the right
of working people to associate freely in
independent, democratically elected
unions remains at the top of our agenda.
We need to put tens of millions of dollars
into a trust fund to energize the
organizing of workers in low-wage
industries and new high-tech work force.
Harry Bernstein covered labor issues for
The Times for 32 years. He interviewed
Thomas R. Donahue by phone from the
labor leader's office in Washington, D.C.
O
K
g
08/09/95
11:02
202 508 6946
AFL-CIO PRES OFF
005/006
Los Angeles Times
-4-
uestion: Some of your supporters
were his mentor in the Service Employees
Q
have denounced your opponent, John
Union, do you have serious differences over
Sweeney, by saying he is splitting the
the way the federation should be run?
ranks of unions when they desperately
A: John Sweeney and I see eye to eye
need unity in their battles with corpora-
on the importance of organizing low-
tions and their enemies in Congress. Yet
wage workers and recruiting other mem-
aren't you doing the same thing by entering
bers; on revitalizing our grass-roots polit-
the race after the incumbent, Lane Kirk-
ical and legislative operations so as to put
land, decided to drop out of the contest and
to shame the far-right Christian Coalition
back you to challenge Sweeney?
and the National Rifle Assn., and on
Answer: Until a few weeks ago, I was
creating a 21st-Century communications
supported for the AFL-CIO presidency
program for the labor movement.
by John Sweeney and all of his present
But I believe I am best able to build
backers. I am running for the presidency
broad support within the labor movement
because working men and women are
for those kinds of changes through open,
threatened by an economic order which
inclusive decision-making. I would not be
puts profits above people and by a
content to allow a small group of unions to
political order which threatens to strip
hold closed caucuses and then dictate
away anything that helps hard-working
decisions for the entire AFL-CIO. I also
families whose real income is going down
believe that my experience and God-giv-
as profits rise. I know the men and women
en abilities make me the best qualified to
of the labor movement because I've been
represent working families with Presi-
brivileged to join them in more organizing
dents, before Congress, on the airwaves
drives, contract fights and political battles
and in all of the other public forums in
than anyone. I know what needs to be
which working people SO desperately
done to harness their talents and energy
need a strong voice. I played that role in
10 forge the kind of unified. creative labor
leading the fight against the North Amer-
movement that can successfully stand up
ican Free Trade Agreement, and I look
for working families. I believe that by
forward to doing SQ on many other issues
virtue of my experience and abilities, I am
that are SO important to workers.
the best qualified person to make the kind
Q: Some union leaders believe President
of changes that are needed to make the
Clinton is 100 conservative and not doing
AFL-CIO into the leader of the fight for
all he can to help organized labor get social
working families. I am persuaded that,
legislation it advocates and labor laws that
over time, I can unify the labor movement
would give unions more favorable treat-
behind those changes.
ment than they get under present labor
laws. Do you agree?
Q: Sweeney says the federation of unions
should put a third of its budget in organiz-
A: No. We have sometimes disagreed
ing new members. Do you agree?
with Bill Clinton-just as we disagreed
with Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and
A: I agree the AFL-CIO needs to vastly
Johnson at times. But the fact remains
expand the amount of money it spends to
that President Clinton has regularly been
assist unorganized workers in forming
on the side of working people and the
unions of their own. That is not simply a
unions that represent them.
question of money, but of training. target-
Unions and working families in general
ing, tactics and much more. One of my
are getting a raw deal in Washington, but
proudest accomplishments as AFL-CIO
the culprit is not Bill Clinton-it's Newt
secretary-treasurer was our creation of
Gingrich and the Republican majorities in
the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute, to
Congress. They are pushing the most
recruit and train organizers. At a time of
anti- worker. anti-union agenda this
very light budgets, it is one of the largest
country has seen in decades. They are
programs of the AFL-CIO and is graduat-
undercutting the promise of America for
ing 150 organizers a year-more than half
millions of working families by attacking
of whom are women and persons of color.
the very programs and policies these
We need to accelerate the growth of that
families rely on,
institute so that next year it doubles the
President Clinton's position is clear-
number of organizers it graduates. I also
he has consistently supported changes in
believe we need to put tens of millions of
labor law that would help correct the
dollars into an organizing trust fund to
huge lift in favor of management and
energize the organizing of workers in
against American workers that we have
low-wage industries and in the new
today. He has appointed National Labor
American high-tech work force.
Relations Board members who, for the
first time in years. are aggressively
Q: Since you and Sweeney have been
enforcing the law that protects the right
close friends and allies for years, and you
08/09/95
11:03
202 508 6946
PRES OFF
006/008
LOS Angeles I imes
-5-
of workers to organize unions. The Re-
Q: Since some union leaders feel Clinton
publicans in Congress are trying to stop
has not fought vigorously enough for
the Labor Board dead in its tracks.
labor-law reform, would you go along with,
President Clinton worked for legislation
suggestions that labor back another candi-
to make it illegal for employers LO fire
date for the Democratic nomination who is
workers who exercise their right to strike.
more pro-union-or even join in a coali-
The Republicans in Congress filibustered
that bill to death. President Clinton issued
tion for a liberal, pro-labor third political
an executive order under which the
party?
federal government will no longer pur-
A: President Clinton has been fighting
chase goods or services from companies
for workers, trying to get on-the-job
that permanently replace striking em-
training, college loans, a minimum wage
ployees. The Republicans are trying to:
increase, enforcement of health and safe-
overturn that.
ty laws and for workers rights. So I
So, yes, we have some disagreements
disagree with the premise of your ques-
with him on a few issues, but we think he
tion. If some other candidates come
has been on the side of unions and
forward who are supportive of our goals,
working families.
and the goals of America's working
families, we would consider their record,
Q: I understand the federation 80 far has
evaluate their electability and make our
not pressed Clinton or Congress for an
best judgment as to how best advance the
overhaul of U.S. labor laws. Is it because
cause of working families-just as we do
you see certain defeat of such proposals in
with all political candidates.
the GOP-controlled Congress? Why not
But I don't think it is.likely that anyone
agitate for the laws you feel are necessary-
within the Democratic Party will mount a
even if you lose? Wouldn't that enable you
strong challenge to the President in 1996.
to get more attention to your arguments for
It is even less likely that we will support a
reform?
third-party candidate in the next Presi-
A: The problem is that we are fighting
dential election. I don't think a third-
tough battles now here in Washington
party candidate can win in 1996, and that
and across the country against more
candidate would only help elect a Ging-
anti-labor laws and for the things that
rich clone by taking votes away from
matter LO working families: good jobs.
President Clinton. Working people cannot
good wages and strong health and safety
to risk that
protections-as well as for a real. inde-
pendent worker voice on the job. But
Q: Some union leaders say labor should
reforming labor law to restore the right of
set its own standards for political en-
working people to associate freely in
dorsements, supporting candidates who,
independent, democratically elected
generally, meet those standards, and ab-
unions remains at the top of our agenda.
stain from endorsing anyone who does not
We supported the creation of a presi-
come close. Has the federation too often
dential commission as a first step toward
supported political candidates who are at
developing constructive solutions, but
best lukewarm toward labor's goals on the
unfortunately that commission produced
theory that one is "the better of two evils"?
a timid sel of recommendations inade-
A: I believe we should match our efforts
quate to address the real problems work-
for and against political candidates to
ers face. Now that Newt Gingrich is
their efforts for or against working peo-
running Washington, we have found it
ple. In other words, elected officials who
necessary to fight vigorously against
are real. dedicated supporters of policies
legislation which would Jet employers set
that help workers will earn the real,
up phony unions under management's
dedicated, determined support of working
control and against the Republican's ef-
families and of the unions that represent
forts to prevent the Labor Board from
them; for those who find it possible to
enforcing the law.
support workers' interests only some of
With the support and active involve-
the time. we can be equally lukewarm in
ment of America's working families,
our support for them. But the problem is
we're going to continue to fight these
that, like all Americans. when union
battles with everything we've got. We'll
members go to the polls every year. they
make sure that the American people
are called upon to choose between the
know who it is that is taking away their
candidates on the ballot. When one candi-
shot al the American dream-and that
date is more favorable to the interests of
they hold the Republican right-wingers
working families, we owe it to our
accountable in 1996.
members lo endorse that eandidate-
even if he or she falls short of perfect. It's
rare in politics that you can find the
perfect candidate. So you have to make
intelligent choices.
The Workplace
UNIONS
threshold, federal officials say. And while
most large employers don't experience
strikes or wind up hiring permanent
strikebreakers, many threaten to do so
SMELLING SALTS
to deter walkouts. Fully 82% of large
unionized employers say they would hire
replacements if they were struck in
FOR LABOR?
1995, according to a recent survey by
the Bureau of National Affairs in Wash-
ington. Of those, 25% said the replace-
Clinton's moves to help unions may give them new muscle
ments would be permanent. An addi-
tional 57% said they hadn't decided that
R
eynolds Metals Co. and Aluminum
agencies to terminate contracts with
issue-leaving the possibility open as a
Company of America never threat-
anyone who hires permanent strike-
risk unions must run if they strike.
ened outright to permanently re-
breakers. It also allows the Labor Dept.
CLAMPING DOWN. Even a company such
place their 20,000 union members during
to bar employers who already have
as General Electric Co., which prides it-
1993 contract talks. Still, the possibility
hired them, such as tiremaker Bridge-
self on being an enlightened employer,
worried union leaders so much that they
stone/Firestone Inc., from bidding on
likes the added leverage. GE says public-
reined in their demands and didn't walk
future contracts. The Administration is
ly it shuns permanent replacements. But
out. But labor will be tougher when the
downplaying the impact, pointing out
it has long opposed legislation to ban
pacts expire in 1996. The reason:
them SO labor won't
President Clinton's recent order
STRIKING
gain clout. Indeed,
BRIDGESTONE
barring employers who hire perma-
WORKERS:
Clinton's
order
nent replacements from doing busi-
THE NLRB
"would shift the bal-
ness with the government, as- the
ON STRIKE
MAY BOOST
ance of power to la-
aluminum makers do. "The order is
CAUSES SUCH
bor if it sticks," says
AS THEIRS
extremely important to us," says
Sharon F. Canner, a
Ernie J. LaBaff, president of the
vice-president of the National As-
Aluminum, Brick & Glass Workers
sociation of Manufacturers, which is
union. "Even if the companies don't
fighting the order.
say they'll hire replacements, it
Clinton's NLRB is swinging the
makes us stronger if members know
pendulum back from management,
it can't happen."
too. One of the agency's most power-
Labor unions have been complain-
ful weapons is the court injunction,
ing lately about how little Clinton
which helps it to stop employers
has done for them, a core Democrat-
ic constituency. But his Mar. 8 or-
Where Labor's Strength
from breaking the law and delaying
the consequences until a union is de-
der on permanent replacements may
help ease that jilted feeling. The
Is on the Line
feated. In the year since Chairman
William B. Gould took office, the
move could have a big impact on
Union bargaining clout has been bolstered by
board has sought 105 such injunc-
bargaining at large, unionized compa-
President Clinton's appointees to the National
tions, including one against baseball
nies. Labor also is benefiting from a
Labor Relations Board and by his recent order
owners on Mar. 27. By contrast, the
newly awakened National Labor Re-
banning government contractors from hiring per-
board requested about 40 a year
lations Board (NLRB), which is mov-
manent replacements during strikes Some major
during the Reagan and Bush years.
ing aggressively to curb labor-law
labor pacts-companies and industries-coming
Gould is clamping down in other
violations by employers.
up this year:
areas, too. The board has set time-
"SNOWBALL EFFECT." True, Republi-
EMPLOYER
NO. OF UNION
EXPIRATION
tables for its 70 administrative judg-
cans and business groups may yet
WORKERS
DATE
es and has assigned special judges
reverse both efforts. They may try
McDONNELL DOUGLAS
19,000
Apr
to try to settle cases before they
to cut the NLRB'S budget and are
CLOTHING MANUFACTURERS
45,000
Apr.
get bogged down in litigation. The
opposing Clinton's order in Congress
16,000
board also is considering procedural
and the courts. Republicans also
AUTO TRANSPORTERS
May
changes to reduce the endless le-
plan to push bills that would weak-
AT&T
145,000
May
gal challenges employers mount to
en safety and health inspections and
REGIONAL BELLS
250,000
Aug
block union organizing drives. "The
other pro-labor programs. And even
BOEING
35,000
Oct
point is to eliminate wasteful liti-
if Clintonites prevail, labor won't
gation and delay," says Gould.
suddenly become a powerhouse.
DATA: BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Of course, these changes aren't
Still, the cumulative effect will give
that only about 19 government contrac-
enough to revive labor. Workers still fear
unions a boost. "These things have a
tors a year use permanent replacements.
losing their jobs to imports or domestic
DAVID PETERSON/DES MOINES REGISTER
snowball effect," says Daniel J. B. Mitch-
And officials note that the order covers
rivals if they strike. And the NLRB ac-
ell, a management professor at the Uni-
only contracts worth more than
tions do little to deal with employers
versity of California at Los Angeles.
$100,000.
who illegally fire union supporters, which
"You could see an improvement in la-
But the move is certain to ripple be-
occurs in a third of all organizing
bor's bargaining position and maybe
yond the numbers. More than 90% of
drives, studies show. Still, Clinton is giv-
even a turnaround in organizing."
the nation's 1,000 largest companies
ing labor its biggest leg up in years.
The executive order calls for federal
have government contracts over the
By Aaron Bernstein in New York
66 BUSINESS WEEK / APRIL 10, 1995
"I was thinking, 'If I can just get
to the game, I'll be all right.'
JOHNNY MOORE
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
The point guard for the Spurs never made it to
that game against the Lakers back in 1985. Instead,
he landed in the hospital, where after 10 days
he was diagnosed with a deadly infection.
For months, Johnny was plagued by excruciating
headaches and terrible nausea. His doctors told
him he might, go blind and lose the use of his limbs.
They said he might even die
Thanks to excellent care and a medication made
possible by the research we do at Pfizer, none
of these came to pass. And Johnny got another
shot at life.
"They told me I'd probably never have kids," he says.
"And now I've got my little girl. I'm so thankful."
Pfizer
We're part of the cure.
AFLCIO
work
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 14, 1995
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
GENE SPERLING
STEVE ROSENTHAL
AARON RAPPAPORT
SUBJECT:
ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE LABOR MOVEMENT
The unions share with you deep concerns about the reconciliation and appropriations bills
now pending before Congress.
Reconciliation. The unions oppose provisions in the House and Senate reconciliation
bills that would enact deep cuts in:
major entitlement programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, student loans, and
AFDC)
important pro-labor programs (such as the Trade Adjustment Act, the Coal
Miner Retirement Provision, and the Service Contract Act).
income tax rates or the EITC
Appropriations. The unions view Congressional attempts to undermine worker safety
programs -- through spending cuts and legislative riders -- as a direct assault on
American workers and their families.
Reconciliation
The unions are fearful that deep entitlement cuts will cause significant layoffs,
particularly among public service and health care workers, while efforts to devolve
programs to the states will subvert protections for workers at the federal level.
Medicare: The union position is that cuts should not lead to increased patient costs and
should be no larger than $89 billion in total.
Medicaid: The unions support your efforts to preserve the entitlement status of
Medicaid and to retain federal nursing home standards. The House reconciliation bill
would eliminate the nursing home standards, but it is not clear whether they will restore
standards in their final reconciliation bill.
Pension Reversion: The unions are strongly opposed to the House-passed provision,
which allows companies to withdraw pension plan assets above a reduced level and use
them for any purpose they desire. The Senate deleted a similar provision on the floor, a
major victory for both the Administration and the unions. Nonetheless, the Washington
Post and the Wall Street Journal both report that Conferees have reached a tentative
agreement to include a modified pension reversion provision in the reconciliation
conference report. Some unions are running paid television against this provision and
this is a bill we can work together with them on defeating.
Student Loans: The unions support the Administration's attempts to minimize cuts in
student loans and to protect the direct lending program.
Coal Miner Retiree Provision: UMW is strongly opposed to this proposal, which
would weaken current laws requiring coal companies to pay the health care costs of
retired coal miners and-their defendants. Although this provision is said to be subject to
the Byrd rule, coal companies are working to find ways around the rule. The
Administration opposes changes in the Coal Act.
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA): The unions strongly support the continuation of
this program, which provides training and income support payments to workers laid off
as a result of foreign trade. The program, which expires in 1998, has been extended in
the House bill, but not in the Senate plan. The Administration supports the extension of
the TAA
Service Contract Act (SCA): The public service union has put special emphasis on the
preservation of the SCA, which essentially provides Davis-Bacon-like protections to
low-wage workers in service industries. The House-passed bill repeals the SCA, while
the Senate does not. The Administration opposes the House-passed repeal. This is
undoubtedly an issue familiar to Sweeney from his long tenure as President of the SEIU,
the public service union.
Taxes: The unions want the smallest possible tax cut, oppose the EITC reduction, and
are supportive of reductions in corporate welfare.
CPI: The unions are strongly opposed to adjusting the CPI to reduce COLAs. He may
stress that in addition to hitting Social Security recipients, many union contracts are tied
to the CPI and that a change could therefore affect wages.
Employment and Training. The unions support adequate funding for DOL's
employment and training programs, particularly summer jobs and the dislocated worker
program. Appropriations for employment and training activities have been reduced $1.6
billion below the 1995 level and $2.4 billion below your request.
Other Issues
Maritime Issues: The unions may raise concerns about bills pending in the House and
Senate that would phase out the independent Federal Maritime Commission and possibly
transfer its regulatory powers to the Department of Transportation. The longshoreman's
union, in particular, is concerned that this change might result in an industry
consolidation that would produce fewer shipping ports, powerful megafirms. and many
new alliances with foreign companies.
GI Bill for America's Workers. Although the unions were originally concerned that
TAA and Wagner-Peyser funds might be placed at risk in the consolidation of federal
training, job search and workforce programs, the Administration successfully negotiated
with the House and Senate to maintain separate funding for each. As a result, the unions
are generally supportive of this effort to serve all workers --- and particularly dislocated
workers -- better. The Administration will continue to work to strengthen the House
and Senate versions in conference, while fighting Republican proposal to cut the budget
for education, training, and assistance to dislocated workers.
Teamsters Election Funding: A federal Consent Decree requires the Federal
government to pay the costs of Teamsters election. The Administration has requested
$12 million in FY96 to carry out that order. However, while these funds have been
authorized, none yet have been appropriated for this specific purpose. The Teamsters
union may want assurances that the Administration will find sufficient resources within
existing agency funds to meet the Consent Decree's requirements.
3
AFL-CIO Fight Signals
End of Era for Labor
Leadership Struggle Forces Debate Over Future
and avoid the public fighting. Even his
By Frank Swoboda
opponents are surprised that he has
Washington Post Staff Writer
dug in his heels. "No one thought it
Maybe organized labor should
would go this far," said a union presi-
thank Lane Kirkland for refusing to
dent seeking Kirkland's ouster.
step down as president of the
But as much as both sides dislike
AFL-CIO.
the public civil war taking place within
Kirkland's refusal to resign in the
labor's leadership ranks, it may prove
face of an open chal-
to be one of the healthiest develop-
NEWS
lenge to his presidency
ments in decades for an institution that
ANALYSIS
has forced a rare public
has had a hard time coping with the
debate on the future of the labor
changing world around it. Now, union
movement by union leaders condi-
leaders are being asked to choose
tioned to settling their differences
sides in a debate about the future of
behind closed doors.
organized labor that goes far beyond
Unions acknowledge they are in
personalities.
trouble. Their membership is
Whatever the outcome of the Octo-
shrinking, both as a percentage of the
ber election, the internal politics of the
work force and in absolute numbers.
AFL-CIO may never be quite the
Labor's political clout is on the wane.
same. Unions opposing Kirkland are
Unable to get its legislative agenda ap-
pushing for an end to the autocratic,
proved when Congress and the White
top-down structure that has marked
House were in the hands of the Demo-
national labor policy for the last 40
crats, labor faces the prospect of los-
years-first under the late George
ing past legislative gains at the hands
Meany and, since 1979, under Kirk-
of the Republican majority in Con-
land. The challengers insist they want
gress.
to open up the leadership process,
Against that backdrop, the leaders
which is concentrated in the hands of a
of 11 major unions representing nearly
few people-including the leaders of
half the federation's 13 million mem-
the anti-Kirkland movement-who are
bers publicly declared their formal op-
selected as much on the basis of insti-
position last week to Kirkland's bid for
tutional tradition as anything else.
a ninth two-year term. This week, five
The way McEntee sees it, union
more unions joined the anti-Kirkland
leaders have to ask themselves
movement, raising the number of po-
whether they are satisfied with the
tential anti-Kirkland votes to more
the way things are going at the
than 7 million, more than enough to
AFL-CIO. "If they are, they can vote
unseat him if the coalition sticks to-
for Lane Kirkland," he said:
gether through the summer until the
Arthur Coia, president of the La
AFL-CIO convention in October
borers' International Union,
As Gerald W. McEntee, president
summed up the frustration of Kirk-
of the 1.2 million-member American
land's opponents in a recent letter to
Federation of State County and Mu-
fellow members of the AFL-CIO's
nicipal Employees and spokesman for
executive council:
the insurgent union group, noted, "it
"Let's face it-if every new idea
doesn't take a rocket scientist to fig-
someone suggests gets shot down,
ure out we've got 53 percent of the
pretty soon no one will bother. Peo-
votes." In the AFL-CIO, individual
ple will just go through the motions,
unions get as many votes as they have
do what they ve always done be-
members. McEntee said he would an-
cause it's the way things have al-
nounce more unions opposed to Kirk-
ways been done, and ignore the re-
land next week.
sults," Coia wrote.
The 73-year-old Kirkland is not
"Maybe that's not a fair descrip-
without his defenders. A group of 21
tion of life at 815 16th Street
union leaders, representing slightly
[AFL-CIO headquarters]--though I
more than 4 million convention votes,
think most affiliates hold this percep-
has thrown its support behind Kirk-
tion-but it is clear that with the
land, accusing his opponents of failing
challenges facing the labor move-
to offer an "alternative vision, plan or
ment, the AFL-CIO needs to over-
See LABOR, F2, Col. 1
haul its organizational culture."
Kirkland's opponents are expec-
THE WASHINGTON POST/
LABOR, From F1
ted to announce their candidates for
FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1995
program to better the lives of work-
the top federation jobs within the
ers." Simply opposing Kirkland, they
next three weeks. Early betting has
argue, is not in the interests of work-
John Sweeney; president of the Ser-
ing Americans.
vice Employees International Union,
Both sides insist that Kirkland isn't
as the presidential candidate and
the issue. They all praise his past lead-
Richard Trumka, president of the
United Mine Workers of America, as
ership, but some of his supporters pri-
vately say they wish he would retire
the candidate for secretary-treasur-
er.
4/5 Remarks by POTUS to Building Trades
AFL-CIO
- bout
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 5, 1995
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE NATIONAL BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION TRADES DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE
Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.
10:20 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Ladies and
gentlemen, thank you for that wonderful welcome. Thank you, Bob
Georgine, for that fine introduction. All the distinguished
affiliated presidents up here on the platform, and all of you out
there in the audience -- and I thank those of you who brought your
children. Since most of what we're doing and a lot of what I have to
say is about them, I'm glad to see them here.
I forgive the person in the back who shouted, "UCLA."
(Laughter.) I told the Gridiron Dinner the other night at the Press
Club -- I said, my worst nightmare was a final with Arkansas and
UCLA. My worst nightmare -- the team I love against a team with 54
electoral votes. (Laughter and applause.)
It was a great tournament, a great game. They won it
fair and square, and I congratulate them.
You know, a lot of us here have a lot in common. Bob
and I have something in common. We were both raised by strong
mothers who believed in hard work and optimism and practiced what
they preached and made sure that we practiced what they preached. It
was our first lesson in organized labor. (Laughter.)
I'm deeply honored to be here with you today. I want to
thank you for the support that you have given to our programs to
train America's workers for the future. I believe that good, strong
unions and collective bargaining can help us to meet the challenges
that are just ahead if all of us are willing to embrace those
challenges and to do what has to be done to make sure that we compete
and win in the global economy.
That's why one of the very first thing I did as
President was to rescind the anti-union executive orders of the last
12 years -- (applause) -- and why, last month, I also signed an
executive order which bars federal agencies from doing business with
companies that hire permanent replacement workers. (Applause.)
I have been saying as I'm going around the country that
we know what works in our own lives. What works in our own lives is
when we are well-educated, well-trained, we work hard, and we work
together. There is no future in this country in pitting management
against labor. All of us are caught up now in a common destiny in
the global economy. All of us will have more job security or more
job insecurity, as the case may be, depending on how well we adapt to
the challenges of today and tomorrow.
That is the way we have to look at this. We are going
up or down together. And it is time we stop looking for ways to be
divided, one from another, and start at looking harder for how we can
resolve these divisions in an open and honest way SO we can get about
MORE
- 2 -
the business of building our future. That's what we ought to be
doing in this country, and that's what I'm trying to do for you every
day at the White House. (Applause.)
I look at the unions represented here -- the carpenters,
the painters, the bricklayers, the electricians, the others -- you
built our home, our cities, our factories, the biggest industrial
system in the world. You have built our country, and then you have
had to rebuild our country. One of the greatest wonders I have seen
since I have been President is the swift handiwork of your members
who rushed in after the natural disasters, from Florida to the
Midwest to California. You did a very good job. And we now are
doing a better job with our Emergency Management Agency to try to
make sure we do our part and the money gets out there to rebuild
places who are torn down through no fault of their own.
Many of you have become heroes to folks whose lives were
devastated in those disasters, who wouldn't have a bridge to cross a
river, or roads, to get them to work, or offices to work in, or roofs
over their head if you hadn't worked hard to make sure that the
American Dream could be restored.
All through 1992 when I was out running for President, I
met a lot of people who wondered about the state of the American
Dream, including construction workers, farmers, office workers,
mothers and fathers. I talked with them and listened to them; I
worked with them. I walked a picket line with them at the
Caterpillar Workers in Illinois. (Applause.) What I found was that
most people felt that they were out there on their own, struggling
against forces that were bigger than they were without anybody very
much concerned about what was going to happen to them.
I ran for President because I felt strongly that the end
of the Cold War and the dawn of the Information Age gave us
opportunities for peace and prosperity; gave our children
opportunities to live out their dreams never before known in human
history; but that we also had some very, very profound challenges
that unless they were faced, the American Dream for all of our people
would be at risk.
I wanted to make sure that middle-class Americans and
their children were not forgotten. I want to make sure that poor
people would have chance to work their way into the middle class. I
wanted to make sure that we could keep alive opportunities for
entrepreneurs to become wildly successful without forgetting that
this country was built and this will country will endure by the broad
middle class, and by the fact that they work hard, play by the rules,
raise their children and deserve to be rewarded for it, and must be
rewarded for it if we're going to keep the American Dream alive.
That is why I ran for this job. (Applause.)
I also, very frankly, ran to challenge middle class
America, because there are many things that government cannot and
should not do. The most important things in the world to us -- our
commitments, our values, our work, our family, our communities -- by
and large operate independent of the government.
Today we're having a great debate here in Washington
about what role our national government should play, and how far we
can go in working together and moving together. Really, the debate
has been going on for at least 15 years now -- a debate that,
frankly, I'm getting kind of tired of. An old debate that defends
government at every turn; a new debate that attacks government at
every turn. An old view that says we should spend more on
everything; a new view that says we should spend less on everything.
An old view that said we should do more of everything; a new view
that says we should do less of everything. Both views defy our
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common experience, our common sense, and what we see about what's
working not only here in the United States, but around the world.
What works is when the government, in my judgment,
focuses on four things: First of all, creating economic opportunity
-- jobs -- working for better jobs and higher incomes, and demanding
responsible behavior from citizens in return.
I had an economic meeting in Atlanta last week, and Hugh
McColl, from North Carolina, the chairman of NationsBank, pointed out
that about that time, he said, tonight your basketball team and mine
are going to have a basketball game. And the referee is going to
throw the ball up, make sure the playing field is level, enforce the
rules, and otherwise get out of the way. And that's about what the
government ought to do. But we have to make sure the playing field
is level (applause) -- that there are rules that are enforced, and
we get out of the way. (Applause.)
The second thing that we have to pay attention to is the
security of our people -- our security from attack from abroad, and
our security from within. I'm proud of the fact that since I have
been President, for the first time since the dawn of the nuclear age
there are no Russian missiles pointed at the children of the United
States of America. I am proud of that. (Applause.) But I know and
you know that our security is also threatened by crime and violence
and drugs on our streets. And our security is also threatened by the
things which are breaking our families apart and punishing people who
are doing their best to do the right things.
That's why we worked so hard to pass that crime bill
with 100, police on the streets, and with prevention programs to
give our kids something to say yes to; and why we should not walk
away from our commitment to putting 100, police on the street.
Violent crime has tripled in the United States in the last 30 years;
the police forces have expanded by 10 percent. You don't have to be
a rocket scientist to know that we could lower the crime rate if we
did what city after city after city is doing now and put more police
on the block, working with kids, trying to prevent crime and catch
criminals quicker. And we must not back away from that commitment to
our security. (Applause.)
And there is another element to our security, too. It's
what happens to families. Are we really going to reward work? Are
we going to permit people to be successful workers and successful
parents? Most places today, whether they're single-parent or two-
parent households, all the parents are working. That's why I fought
so hard for the Family and Medical Leave Act. I saw that as a
question of family security -- why I want to see all the children in
this country immunized; why in the economic plan last year we
insisted that we give tax breaks for families with incomes just above
the poverty line so we would not encourage anybody to slip back into
welfare, and because nobody who works full-time and has children in
the home should live in poverty in this country. If you work hard,
you ought to be able to have a decent life. (Applause.)
The third thing we have to do is to reform the
government. We do have to change it. It ought to be smaller. It
ought to be less bureaucratic. We ought to give more decisions back
to the state and local government. We ought to give more decisions
back to private citizens in their own lives. We ought to have
government that meets tomorrow's problems, not yesterday's.
That's why we've worked hard at deregulation and why we
have given more responsibility to states in the area of welfare and
health care reform than in two years -- than the last two
administrations combined did in 12 years. We have been the
administration that has pushed the decentralization of authority for
solving a lot of our problems. And we've reduced the size of
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government. There are over 100,000 fewer people working for the
federal government today than there were on the day I became
President.
And we have also decided that we have to solve some
problems too long ignored. In a little-known action at the end of
the last Congress, there was a reform in the United States pension
systems which saved the pensions of 8.5 million working Americans who
were in danger of losing their pensions, and protected the pensions
of over 30 million more. We still have work to do, and when we have
to do it, we should do it well. (Applause.)
The fourth thing we have to do -- and maybe the most
important of all -- is to help our people make the most of their own
lives by making sure that everywhere -- everywhere -- we have a
system of lifetime education and training that will permit people
always to find work and always to compete and win in the global
economy. That is what I think the job of government is -- create
jobs, get better paying jobs, increase the security of the American
people, make the government smaller and less bureaucratic, but do the
job that has to be done, and give people the skills they need to make
the most of their own lives. That should be our road map.
If we could create opportunity, and we can insist on
more responsibility from the American people -- and I believe that
strongly; that's what welfare reform is all about -- we'll help you
if you're in trouble, but not for a lifetime. You've got to go to
work sometime. I think that's what child support enforcement is all
about. If you've got the money, you ought to be taking care of your
kid, not asking the taxpayers to do it. That's what enforcing the --
(applause.) That's what enforcing the student loan program is all
about. I increased the availability of student loans, but when I
became President it was costing you $2.8 billion a year because
people weren't paying the loans back. We've cut that down to a
billion dollars a year. If people borrowed money from the government
to go to college, they ought to pay it back when they get a job so
other kids can borrow the money when they come along. (Applause.)
I have called this new arrangement the New Covenant.
What it means to. me is simple: The government should try to create
more opportunity, but the citizens of this country are going to have
to behave more responsibly in seizing it. And if you put the two
together, there will be no stopping the United States.
Now, if you look at what's been accomplished in the last
couple of years, I think the most important thing is that we have
changed the direction of economic policy in this country. We went
beyond the old debate. There's no more tax and spend, but there's
not more trickle-down, either. This is invest and grow economics.
And look at the results. (Applause.)
Two years ago when we were fighting for the economic
plan, the people who were against it said the sky would fall. If the
President's plan passes, the economy will be wrecked. Everything
will be terrible. Some said I was cutting too much. Some said it
was an error to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans to put
against the deficit because that would hurt the economy. Well, two
years later, we have over 6 million new jobs and the lowest combined
rates of unemployment and inflation in 25 years. (Applause.)
In reducing the deficit by $600 billion, we took $10,000
in debt off the future of every family in the United States. In
cutting taxes for 15 million working families, this year, on average,
families with two kids with an income of $25,000 a year or less will
pay about $1,000 less in taxes than they would have if that economic
plan hadn't passed. We made it possible for our country to say, if
you work 40 hours a week and you have a child in your home, you will
not be in poverty. That is important, folks. If you want people to
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get off welfare, we have to reward work. And it's also why, by the
way, we ought to raise the minimum wage -- because people can't live
on it. (Applause.)
And we didn't just spend more money on everything. We
cut 300 programs, and the new budget I proposed cuts or consolidates
400 more.
We've also done what we could to help those of you in
labor who have been taking responsibility all along. Last year, the
AFL-CIO listed all the bills supported by organized labor that I
signed into law. As of last fall, there were 32 of them -- motor
voter, Family and Medical Leave, the assault weapons ban, to name
just a few. Laws that increased our security as workers, parents and
citizens.
But, you know, in spite of all this, there's still a lot
more to do. I have people all the time come up to me in kind of
bewilderment and say, well, things are going well in my business.
Things are going well for our country. This country is in better
shape than it was two years ago. Why are people still so negative
about the future of the country? When you ask people what about the
direction of the country, they say they are worried. I was
interviewed by a magazine the other day saying their annual readers
poll said that people understood that things were getting better, but
they were more worried about their personal security than ever
before. Why is that?
Well, there's a reason for that. The global economy has
imposed new challenges and new burdens on our country and every
wealthy country in the world, and runs the risk in our country of
literally splitting apart the American idea. Let me explain what I
mean by that.
From the time I was born at the end of World War II
until the year I was elected governor of my state for the first time,
1978, the American people moved forward in absolute lock-step. That
is, if you break the economy into people who are in the lowest 20
percent and the second and so forth on to the top 20 percent, all of
them had about the same increase in their incomes. Incomes roughly
doubled in America from 1950 to 1978 evenly across the board, except
the poorest 20 percent had an increase of 140 percent. So we were
all going forward and we were actually coming together.
Since 1978 that's all changed. Wages have been stagnant
and not kept up with inflation on average for hourly-wage earners.
And in the last 15 years, half of the American people are now living
for the same or lower earnings that they were making 15 years ago
when you adjust for inflation. Why? Because of the way the
technology revolution and the global economy, where management and
money and technology can fly across national borders, have divided
opportunity, so that people with high levels of skill in growth
industries tend to do well, and people with lower skill levels tend
to get hurt. And then, if our government walks away from its
obligations to invest in our future, even more people get hurt.
The other thing that's happened is because the economy
is changing so fast, even a lot of people that are doing well today
think they're waiting for the other shoe to drop. So many big
companies getting smaller all the time. You ought to read my mail
about it. People my age, even young people I grew up with -- not so
young anymore -- writing me, saying, you know, I've worked for this
company for 25 years; I've got to send my kids to college; we're
doing great now, but what happens if they lay me off?
So there is this uncertainty in our country today, even
though we are clearly in better shape then we were two years ago.
We've turned away from the false choice between tax and spend and
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trickle-down economics. We're moving in the right direction. The
question is, how can we get everybody involved in the American Dream?
How can we reward everyone's work? How can we make people more
secure in living with all these changes that are rifling through the
world? That is the burden that I carry to the office every day,
because I know -- I know that if everybody in this country had a
chance to live their lives the way most of you have lived your lives
and raised your kids, this country would be fine, and our future
would be unlimited.
The key to the 21st century, more than anything else, is
clearly, education for young people, lifetime job training for
adults. It is clear that if we can raise the skill levels of our
people, constantly and permanently, and continue to change the job
mix so that we're always getting America's share of those high-wage
jobs, we can keep the American Dream alive and we can stop the middle
class from splitting apart, so that everybody can grow and prosper.
That is our great challenge. And that is the one we must not walk
away from.
You have been working on this for years. You've had
opportunities to train a new generation of builders. I want to
especially commend the outreach programs that you've had with the
Housing and Urban Development Department, reaching deep into our
cities, taking thousands of young people from housing projects,
teaching them the skills and clearing away the obstacles to job
opportunities. You have done some things that the government could
not do. And I thank you for that. I know that Bob really cares a
lot about this outreach program because he spent his own early years
in housing projects in Chicago. This is the kind of partnership we
need more of.
For government's part, we have to do more, as well. In
1994, the educational experts said that the United States Congress,
in passing our education program, did more for education than had
been done in Washington in 30 years. We expanded Head Start. We
established the Goals 2000 program, which writes the national
education goals into law, but gives our local schools more
flexibility in how they spend federal money to achieve excellence.
We dramatically increased the number of programs around our country
for apprenticeships from young people leaving high school who aren't
going on to college. And we expanded the availability of college
loans to the middle class, at lower cost and better repayment terms.
And of course, our national service program,
Americorps, is now bigger than the Peace Corps ever was. And there
are 20,000 young people all across America working in community
service projects, doing things that need done and earning funds to go
on to college.
Those are the kinds of things we must do more of. Those
are the kinds of things that are important. That's why I said a
moment ago that if we work on education and we work on incomes, the
rest of this will pretty much take care of itself, I think. That's
why I hope the Congress this year will not only raise the minimum
wage, but with all this tax cut talk, we can't afford a lot of these
tax cuts. We've got too big a deficit. But we ought to give the
middle class a break. And the most important thing we could do is
give people a tax deduction for any costs they or their children have
for any education after high school, because that will raise incomes
over the long run. (Applause.)
Let me just ask you one other thing I want you to think
about. There are a lot of exciting things going on in this town
these days. And as I said, we are debating the role of government.
But there must be a distinction made. If you don't believe in tax-
and-spend economics; and you don't believe in trickle-down economics,
and you do believe in invest-and-grow economics, and you've seen how
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it is working the last two years, then you also have to reject this
debate that we should spend more money on everything or we should
spend less money on everything.
We have to make judgments up here based on what is
important. Therefore, I would say, let's cut more spending. I have
cut and cut and cut, and I want to cut some more. We've got to get
this budget deficit down further. We can bring this budget into
balance, and we can do it in a fair way. But we have to make
judgments. We should not be cutting Head Start. We should not be
cutting aid to the public schools. We shouldn't be cutting the
apprenticeship programs. And we certainly shouldn't be limiting the
availability of college loans to the middle class. We shouldn't be
adding to the cost of college education for working families.
These are proposals that I think are wrong. We
shouldn't be eliminating national service. And we certainly
shouldn't be doing all these things either to pay for a tax cut for
the wealthiest Americans or because we refuse to find other things to
cut. That is wrong. Let's make decisions, and let's do it right,
and let's stick up for education and training. (Applause.)
And you have issues in this Congress -- Bob referred to
one of them, the Davis-Bacon law. We need to make this economy more
competitive. But we need more high wages. We don't need a low-wage
strategy. We need a high-wage strategy for the future. We need a
high-wage strategy. (Applause.)
Like every other law, it shouldn't be abused. We should
not pretend it's something it's not. But it is a decent thing to say
that the government should stand on the side of good wages and the
real wages in the community that are good and fair.
I've made appointments, like Bill Gould to the National
Labor Relations Board, and Fred Feinstein to be the General Counsel,
who now have given you a board that believes in the process of
collective bargaining and one that believes we can be fair to
workers. These are the kinds of things that we ought to do if you
believe our future is in working together.
I'm not for repealing Davis-Bacon. (Applause.) I also
believe that we should not walk away from our commitment to safety in
the American workplace. (Applause.) In 1993 there were more than
half a million construction injuries, and over 900 fatalities. We
can reform OSHA in ways that you feel better about it, and employers
feel better about it, where it works better and makes more sense, and
helps you get more jobs and gain more income, and helps them make
bigger profits. But we cannot walk away from the fundamental fact
that before we were committed to worker safety, a lot more people
died in the work place; a lot more people were permanently maimed in
the work place; a lot of more people were hurt in the work place.
There is a right way and a wrong way to reduce the burden of
government.
I could just -- let me mention one other thing that
affects some of your industries. I believe with all my heart if we
hadn't passed the environmental protection legislation in the 1970s,
the air would not be as clean, the water would be as pure as it is
today and the legacy we're going to pass along to our children would
not be as good. I believe that. I also believe, like any government
bureaucracy, there are things about the EPA that ought to be changed.
So we're going to more market-based incentives to give companies
incentives to clean up the environment. And Carol Browner, our
Administrator, is reducing by 25 percent the paperwork burden of the
EPA. It will free up 20 million man-hours of work next year. That's
a lot of time in a lot of industries that all of you work in.
We're trying to give small businesses a break. We're
saying to small businesses -- I was at a union print shop in Virginia
a couple of weeks ago to announce this -- if you worry about whether
- 8 -
you've got an EPA violation and your afraid to call because you're
afraid they 11 fine you, now we're going to set up a compliance
center, and if you call there and ask, if you ask, you can't be fined
for six months. And you're going to be given a chance to clean up
the problems.
I think we can change the way government regulation
works to make it less nutty. But let's not forget that we have a
common public interest in a safe workplace. We have a common public
interest in a clean environment. And we have a common public
interest in having a high-wage, high-growth partnership economy --
(applause) -- not a low-wage, stagnant, divided economy. (Applause.)
So I say to you, engage the members of Congress. Tell
them you welcome the debate about the role of government. But
government has certain responsibilities: first of all, to change and
get rid of the past stuff that doesn't work; to create more
opportunity; to provide more security; to insist on more
responsibility, but to give people the education and training and
skills they need to make it in the 21st century.
I'm telling you that if we take advantage of this time,
if we keep the economic strategy that we have adopted -- that I
hammered through the Congress by the narrowest of margins, with all
the doubters saying, well, we had to either have tax-and-spend or
trickle-down, and I knew this was the right thing to do -- if we will
stay with this economic strategy, and then, aggressively go after
strategies to raise wages, raise incomes, educate and train people,
and if we don't throw out the baby with the bath water, this country
is going to do just fine.
I am looking for a future for America like the ones most
of us who are my age in this audience used to take for granted. And
we can give it to our kids, but only if we are tough enough and wise
enough and compassionate enough to do what we know in our heart is
right. You help, we'll do it.
Thank you, and God bless you. (Applause.)
END
10:55 A.M. EDT
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JOHN J. SWEENEY
RICHARD L. TRUMKA
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Washington. D.C 20006
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Remarks by John Sweeney
President, AFL-CIO
National Press Club
December 15, 1995
Thank you for inviting me to speak with you on behalf of American workers and
their families.
Two weeks ago, I had the honor of joining President Clinton's journey of
peacemaking all across Ireland. Most Americans think of the problem in Northern Ireland
as a religious and political divide -- and, of course, it is. But it is important to understand
that this generation of "the troubles" began because of an economic divide, as well.
In 1968, large numbers of Catholics began to protest against the discrimination that
denied them good jobs in growing industries. They were inspired, in part, by the civil
rights struggle in our own country, which was a movement for jobs and freedom.
After more than a quarter-century of struggle, progress is being made. That is why
one of our first stops in Northern Ireland was at the Mackie Engineering Works plant in
Belfast.
For years, that plant was a symbol of discrimination and division. Now it is a
symbol of progress and peace. On the shop floor, Catholics and Protestants work
together. At the bargaining table, labor and management are cooperating. Productivity,
profits and wages are all rising, and management is investing in new equipment and new
jobs.
The lesson is clear: When there is dignity for everyone, everyone wins.
What is happening at Mackie may happen throughout Northern Ireland. Thanks in
large measure to President Clinton's brave peacemaking, Catholics and Protestants,
Dublin and London, are closer together than at any time in a generation. In that land of
pain and poetry, hope and healing may finally prevail over division and despair.
That is why I found more joyous optimism on the streets of Derry and Belfast than
I've seen in Detroit or the Bronx. In fact, I felt mixed feelings coming back from the
peacemaking in Ireland to the problems here at home.
Sweeney/National Press Club
December 15, 1995
The conflict at Caterpillar, the newspaper strike in Detroit, the contract talks in New
York City and the difficulties here in Washington, from the District Building to Capitol Hill,
almost made me miss the relative tranquility of Belfast.
Of course, that journey made me prouder than ever of everything America is doing
to make peace in Northern Ireland, the Middle East and the Balkans.
I am here today to talk about what we can do to reach another historic agreement:
a new social compact between business and labor. To find new ways to grow the
American economy, American companies and American wages in the new world
economy. And to bridge the growing gap between the great majority of Americans who
are working longer and harder for less and the fortunate few who are prospering as never
before.
Andy Warhol used to say that everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. Here at the
National Press Club, you give your speakers 20 minutes. I promise you that, before my
20 minutes is up, I'll give you a preview of what labor will do next year and a prediction
about the 1996 elections.
To the journalists here today, let me offer this advice: The biggest story of our
times will be whether America can find a way to restore the sense that we are all moving
and advancing together, not sinking separately.
I am a product of the social compact that lifted America out of the Great
Depression and lifted working Americans into the middle class.
My father was an Irish immigrant, a New York City bus driver and a proud member
of the Transport Workers Union. Some of my earliest memories are of going to union
meetings with him. We'd listen to Mike Quill -- whose brogue was better than some I
heard in Dublin and Derry -- explain paycheck economics to workers and their families.
Those were tough times. But working people, business people and public officials
shared certain understandings -- a social contract, if you will.
Here's what working people knew: If we got up every morning and did our jobs,
then we could earn a better life for ourselves and a better chance for our children.
Here's what business people knew: If they paid their workers fairly and plowed
some of their profits back into their communities, they could count on loyal employees
and loyal consumers. For companies back then, good citizenship was good business.
And here's what our leaders in government understood - and President Kennedy
said it best -- "A rising tide lifts all boats."
2
Sweeney/National Press Club
December 15, 1995
For almost 30 years after winning World War II, we all prospered because we
prospered together. We were concerned with raising the standard of living for all
Americans -- not just accumulating enormous wealth for a fortunate few. That social
compact was a formula for the strongest economy, the largest middle class and the most
successful society this world has ever known.
Unfortunately, those days are gone. You all have reported what happened: the oil
embargo of 1973; global economic competition; new technologies; and the deregulation
of the domestic economy, from transportation to communications.
Business found new ways to compete -- ways that may succeed in the short term
but which, I submit to you, are short-sighted and ultimately self-destructive.
They competed, not by American teamwork and American know-how, but by
driving down labor costs. Caught in an unforgiving global economy, corporate America
too often squeezed the last possible ounce of productivity out of American workers, and
then threw them on the scrap-heap of unemployment or old age, with reduced pensions
and health coverage.
Consider the stories you've reported on the business page:
Chase Manhattan and Chemical Bank announce a merger that will put 12,000
people
out
of
work and their stock goes up. Does a rising tide now sink all ships ---
except for the luxury yachts?
And what's wrong with this picture: Caterpillar is doing great, racking up record
profits, enjoying great productivity. So they decide to install a two-tier wage system,
schedule work on the weekends without paying overtime and reject pattern bargaining.
They force thousands of workers out on strike, commit 300 unfair labor practices and rack
up more record profits.
Caterpillar says it did it to stay competitive with Kamatsu. Baloney!
Kamatsu is struggling with a global market share below 3 percent, while Caterpillar has
the lion's share. Know why? Because the United States government has spent American
tax dollars fronting them into emerging nations in Europe, including Russia, and helping
arrange financing for their operations through the World Bank!
And, finally, how about this picture: The state of Arizona and the city of Phoenix
bail America West Airlines out of bankruptcy with more than $100 million dollars in tax
breaks and revenue bonds. The airline agrees not to contract out hangar jobs and
rebounds with 11 straight quarters of profitability and stacks up $300 million in reserves.
Then the Teamsters crank up an organizing drive aimed at machinists working for
America West. America West shows its respect for our labor laws and thanks the
3
Sweeney/National Press Club
December 15, 1995
community by illegally firing 500 $35,000-a-year machinists and contracting out their jobs
to a company in Everett, Washington, where machinists make only $21,000.
That happened last Friday. How many of you want to fly in an airplane that's just
been repaired by a $21,000-a-year rookie mechanic? Raise your hands.
For American workers and their families, these are snapshots from hell. They paint
an ugly portrait of an economy that has lost respect for workers and the jobs they do.
In a prophetic article in The New York Times last January, Lou Uchitelle added
words to the pictures. "Something is wrong with America's economic boom," he wrote.
"After four years of ever-stronger growth, people's wages should be going up faster than
their expenses. For most people, they're not, and this is the first time in decades that a
recovery has gone so long without putting more money in more pockets. And now, if the
recovery runs out of steam in 1995 --- as so many economists predict that money
might never show up."
You have reported what this means for workers: Between 1947 and 1973, the
median paychecks of American workers more than doubled -- and the bottom 20 percent
enjoyed the biggest gains. But since 1973, median earnings have fallen by about 15
percent, and the bottom 20 percent have fallen the furthest behind. More than 40 percent
of all earnings gains have gone to the richest 1 percent.
Meanwhile, wealth became even more concentrated. The top 20 percent of all
households now control more than 55 percent of all wealth. The rest of us -- 80 percent
of all American households -- get to split the rest.
Profits are up. Productivity is up. Executive compensation is up. The stock
market is up. Worker wages and health benefits and pensions are down.
Now, you're reporting how great gaps in wages and wealth are hurting American
companies and the American economy. Think of the hardworking lowa family Susan
Sheehan describes in a recent article in the New Yorker.
Bonita and Kenny Merton live with their two sons in a small home they own in Des
Moines. Kenny once had an $11-an-hour job before the factory closed. Last year, he
made $17,239 hauling sand sacks. Bonita made $13,977 working full time at Luther Park
Nursing home. After 15 years, she's paid $7.40 an hour, gets a ham at Easter, a turkey
at Thanksgiving, $10 for her birthday and $20 at Christmas. She pays $36 a month for
health insurance, $28 a month for dental coverage and gets no pension. Every year they
go further and further in debt and there is no hope of ever doing better. Kenny says,
"There ain't no middle class no more. There's only rich and poor."
4
Sweeney/National Press Club
December 15, 1995
Now, ask yourself whether families like the Mertons are spending confidently this
holiday season. American workers are running out of money, running out of hope and are
loaded with debt. That's why retail sales are lagging; why manufacturers are loaded with
inventory; and why they cut 32,000 jobs last month. Macy's figured out a new way this
week to blame the worker: to compensate for plunging sales, they cut the commissions
of their clerks.
And can you imagine in the middle of all of this, the Republicans giving a tax break
to the rich by declaring all-out war on the programs and policies Kenny and Bonita
depend on just for survival?
You may have seen the television commercials we're running during the current
budget battle. In one of them, Father Julio Perez, a priest in Miami, sums it up for all of
us when, with his eyes filled with tear,s he says: "I came to America in 1954. What a
country we had then. What happened to America?"
America is becoming edgier, angrier and meaner. Until we ease the growing gaps
in work, wages and wealth, you will be sending more dispatches from a wounded nation -
- more militia movements, more bombings, more hate crimes and more of the quiet
anguish of Americans losing their sense of a common destiny and a common purpose.
America will become more like the trouble spots where we send our sons and daughters
to keep the peace.
So what can we do about it?
Of course, American business must change. But I stand before you today as
president of the AFL-CIO because American labor must also change.
That is why I ran for president of the AFL-CIO, and that is why I won. We
understand that while the world and the workplace changed, labor stood still and lost
ground.
Just as today I challenge business to change, every day on my job I challenge
labor to change.
First, we have to reach out to unorganized workers -- because that is the only way
we can build a stronger movement. For too long, too many unions have seemed satisfied
with a shrinking membership base. As our membership strength has declined, so has our
bargaining power. It used to be that strong unions lifted all workers up; now, non-union
employers are dragging all workers down.
Here's the truth: Our weakness encouraged employers to take the low road. Only
by rebuilding our strength can we bring American business back to the high road of high
wages.
5
Sweeney/National Press Club
December 15, 1995
That is why I am challenging every union and every level of our labor movement
to do what the fastest-growing unions do: Put at least 30 percent of our resources into
organizing. That is why we will be training at least a thousand organizers a year, pouring
$20 million into organizing programs -- and organizing from the Sunbelt to the Rustbelt
and from health care to high tech.
That is why we are rebuilding our grass roots political strength, training candidates
and training political organizers. Yesterday, I told a gathering of 30 Democratic senators
they can also expect an end to checkbook politics: we're going to demand a voice for the
working people of this country in setting strategies, defining messages and issues and
a hand in running campaigns.
Second, we have to reach out to management -- from a position of strength --
because that is the only way we can build a stronger, high-wage economy.
We can no longer afford the luxury of pretending that productivity, quality and
competitiveness are not our business. They are our business, our jobs and our
paychecks. Too many workers have suffered because of failed and foolish, short-sighted
management policies. We need to follow the example of workers and their unions in
companies and government agencies and school systems across the country who are
winning a voice in improving the products they make and the services they deliver.
As labor becomes stronger and smarter, we will really be in a position to offer
management this challenge:
*Take your profits and invest them in growing the American economy, American
workers, and American wages.
*Offer your workers the training they need for tomorrow's jobs -- not just the big-
shots in the executive suites, but all your employees.
*Work with your employees and their unions. Give us a voice in decision-making.
Give us half a chance to improve the quality of our goods and services. That is the path
to lasting prosperity -- and we want to walk down that road with you.
We will offer this challenge with the confidence that we are prepared for conflict
or cooperation -- and the choice is management's to make.
Here's an example. In the Boeing contract just ratified by 32,000 Machinists in
Washington, Oregon and Kansas, management agreed to give the workers and their
unions a voice in decisions to contract out work --- adequate notice, a chance to bid
competitively, retraining and meet-and-confer language. It's a tremendous agreement.
The only trouble was, we had to strike for 69 days to get it!
6
Sweeney/National Press Club
December 15, 1995
Our challenge to management is to avoid conflict, not promote it. Let's spend our
time and our money and our energy pursuing higher profits and higher wages.
Next year, we will begin to offer these challenges not only to the leaders of labor
and business but to all Americans.
Early next spring, the AFL-CIO will begin to hold hearings on falling living
standards in communities across the country. We will ask working men and women what
is happening to their jobs, their paychecks and their family budgets. We'll take our show
on the road -- from lowa to New Hampshire, from the South to the Midwest and the Far
West -- to put the issue of wages at the center of political debate.
We want to get even more of the suggestions that already are pouring in from
unlikely sources, like this letter I got last week from Rusty Hills in East Lansing, Michigan.
He says, "As a conservative Republican, I suspect you and I part company on most
political issues. But as a fellow Catholic, I believe strongly in just wages and an equitable
distribution of profits." He goes on to make a recommendation: that we bargain wages
by comparing the percentage increase in executive compensation to percentage
increases for workers over the past 10 years.
In every speech I give, from the Press Club to the picket lines, I try to make this
simple point: America needs a raise. Next year, we'll be asking every candidate for public
office to tell working Americans how they'll get them a raise.
Then in June, we're going to start a Union Summer, as we send a thousand
college students and young workers to organize voter registration and living wage
campaigns across the country. We're going to begin a dialogue with working America -
union members and future members, alike.
And, come September, we'll have a Union Fall, as we organize and mobilize
working Americans around the fundamental issue of raising wages and increasing
incomes. If Americans vote on the issue of who can lift the poor and secure the middle
class, I am confident they will make the right choices for president and Congress.
Here's my prediction for 1996: If the Republicans continue to pursue their extremist
economic agenda and Bill Clinton continues to stand tall against it, we will win back the
House and re-elect our president. Somebody said the Republicans won the last election
by saying, "They took it from you and gave it to them," meaning poor people. We can
win this one by saying, "They tried to take it from you and give it to themselves."
If we take that message to every workplace and every polling place, then we will
win. And we can begin to close the gap between those who do the work of America and
those who control their lives and livelihoods.
7
Sweeney/National Press Club
December 15, 1995
I believe that, in the words of the Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney,
whose writings inspired so many fighters for peace and justice: "History says don't hope
on this side of the grave. But, once in a lifetime, the longed-for tidal wave of justice can
rise up -- and hope and history rhyme."
Soon, you will see our labor movement "rising up," like "the longed-for tidal wave
of justice." And working men and women will once again make "hope and history rhyme."
-30-
For information:
Denise Mitchell 202/637-5340
8
AFC-CIO
AFL
working 2/5 to
Jon
o's
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 2, 1996
Mr. John Sweeney
President
AFL-CIO
805 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Dear John:
As always, it was good to see you. You and your colleagues
provided a warm reception on a cold, snowy day.
I very much appreciated our time together and felt we had a good
exchange. I genuinely feel there are a number of areas in which
an ongoing discussion could produce both at least a better
understanding of the issues involved and in some cases agreement
and common ground regarding certain trade issues. I look forward
to working with you and the appropriate people in your
organization in that regard and, of course, I appreciate your
personal interest and supportive attitude. We will try to get
the specific follow-up details worked out in the near term.
Again, thank you for your personal and professional courtesies,
and for your support of our Administration.
Personally,
Meel Mack McLarty
bcc: Eric
Desk
it Anold
ICKES
copy
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
21 March 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR LAURA TYSON
GENE SPERLING
FROM:
HAROLD ICKES
CC:
JENNIFER O'CONNOR
SUBJECT:
Meeting with John Sweeney
Leon and I met with John Sweeney last week. Mr. Sweeney
suggested he has many good ideas for corporations to feature as
examples of good corporate citizens. Please include him in
discussions of the upcoming corporate responsibility event (s) you
are planning, so that we can take advantage of his ideas.
AFL-LIO
- work
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 4, 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION
FROM:
Thomas P. O'Donnell /
SUBJECT: Monthly NEC AFL-CIO Meeting
Enclosed is the agenda for tomorrow's NEC meeting with the Executive Officers of the
AFL-CIO. I have also enclosed a list of meeting participants, short biographies of the AFL-
CIO attendees and a copy of John Sweeney's standard "stump" speech.
The next monthly meeting will be Thursday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. Starting in May, the
monthly NEC AFL-CIO meeting will be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:00
a.m. For example, the May NEC AFL-CIO meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 1 at
11:00 a.m.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MONTHLY NEC AFL-CIO MEETING
Tuesday, March 5, 1996
Roosevelt Room
10:30 A.M.
AGENDA
1.
Opening Remarks and Introductions (Tyson/Sweeney)
2.
New Directions at the AFL-CIO (Sweeney)
3.
Budget Issues Update (Tyson)
4.
General Issues Discussion
a. Economic Growth
b. Corporate/Business Issues
C. Trade
5.
Next Meeting/Follow-up (Tyson/Sweeney)
NEC AFL-CIO Meeting Participants
Tuesday, March 5 at 10:30 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room.
ADMINISTRATION ATTENDEES
Laura Tyson - Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Bob Rubin - Secretary of the Treasury
Gene Sperling - Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Dan Tarullo - Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Bob Reich - Secretary of Labor
George Stephanopoulos - Senior Advisor To The President And Executive Assistant To The
Chief Of Staff For Policy
Harold Ickes - Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Political Affairs
David Strauss (for Ron Klain) - Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice-President
Doug Sosnik - Assistant to the President Director of Political Affairs
John Hilley - Assistant to the President and Director of Legislative Affairs
Tom O'Donnell - Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Jennifer O'Conner - Special Assistant to the President for Policy and Political Affairs
AFL-CIO ATTENDEES
John Sweeney - President of the AFL-CIO
Rudolph Oswald - Director of Economic Research for the AFL-CIO
Gerald Shea - Assistant to the President for Government Affairs of the AFL-CIO
Peggy Taylor - Director of Legislation for the AFL-CIO
Robert Welsh - Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff to the President of the AFL-CIO
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002. profile
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b(6)
COLLECTION:
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Chief of Staff
Harold Ickes
OA/Box Number: 9162
FOLDER TITLE:
AFL-CIO General [Folder 2]
2013-0306-F
jml 191
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act 144 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - |5 U.S.C. 552(b)|
PI National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute |(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA|
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes |(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions |(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
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002/006
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
FEDERATION OF LABOR
815 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
JOHN J. SWEENEY
RICHARD L. TRUMKA
Washington, D.C 20006
LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON
PRESIDENT
SECRETARY.TREASURER
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(202) 637-5000
Albon Shanker
-
Edward 1. Hardey
Waynn E. Glenn
James E. Hadield
AFL
CIO
Vincr.nl A. Sombrato
Garald W. McEnico
William H. Bymbit
Marvin J. Boads
Julin T. Joyce
Morton Bair
Rohert A. Georgive
Gam Upsnaw
by Matur
Lanore Miller
John J. Barry
Mos Bilter
George J. Kourpias
John N, Stundivant
Frank Hanloy
Junes J. Norton
of INDUSTRIAL
Michael Sacco
non Caroy
Annur A Cob
Frank Hun
Gloria T. Johnson
Douglas H. Donty
George F. Bector
Stophen P. Yokich
Capl J. Rindolph Babbitt
Clayola Brown
Richard W. Cardiz
M.A. "MEC" Florming
Carolyn Forrest
Pai Friend
Michael Goodwin
Joe L. Greona
Sonny HJH
Sumi Haru
Carroll Haynos
James LaSab
Walliam Lucy
Leon Lynch
Doug McCarron
Andrew McKonzie
AL. 'MA' Monroe
Arthur Moore
Adure S. Rodriguez
Hobert A. Scardated
Robort E. Wage:
Jake West
Alfred K. Writehead
JOHN J. SWEENEY
AFL-CIO President
John J. Sweeney was elected president of the AFL-CIO at the federation's biennial
convention in New York October 1995.
At the time of his election, Sweeney was serving his fourth four-year term as
president of the Service Employees International Union, which grew from 625,000 to 1.1
million members under his leadership. He also was a vice president of the AFL-CIO and
chair of Executive Council committees on Health Care and Organization and Field Services.
Sweeney's first job in the labor movement was with the International Ladies'
Garment Workers, which earlier this year merged with the Clothing and Textile Workers
Union to form UNITE. He began his SEIU career in 1960 when he first joined Local 32B
in New York City as contract director. Sweeney was elected president of Local 32B in 1976,
and led two citywide strikes of apartment maintenance workers, including an eight-day
landmark strike of 20,000 workers in 1979. He was elected to the SEIU Executive Board in
1972 and became SEIU president in 1980.
Sweeney is a board member of the American Arbitration Association, the American
Red Cross, the Catholic Youth Organization and the Citizen-Labor Organization; he is a
trustee of the Asian-American Free Labor Institute, the George Meany Center for Labor
Studies and Iona College.
He has served with the National Committee on Employment Policy (1995), the
International Labor Organization in Geneva (U.S. worker delegate, 1984, 1985 and 1991),
the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Advisory Council (current) and the 1992
Democratic National Convention (delegatc). He co-authored Solutions for the New Work
Force in 1989 and co-edited the UNA-USA Economic Policy Council's Family and Work:
Bridging the Gap in 1987.
John J. Sweeney was born
(b)(6)
He graduated from Iona
[002]
College in New Rochelle, N.Y., with a degree in economics. He lives in Washington with
his wife, Maureen, a former New York City school teacher, and their two children, John and
Patricia.
November 22, 1995
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AFL-CIO
PRES
OFF
WHITE HOUSE/NEC
003/006
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
INFANCAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
815 Sixteenth Street. N.W.
JOHN J. SWEENEY
RICHARD L. TRUMKA
LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON
Washington, D.C 20006
PRESIDENT
SECRETARY-TREASURER
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(202) 637-5000
Albert Shanker
Edward I Hanley
Wayne E. Giónn
Jamos E. Hattleld
,
AFL
CIO
Vincem R. Sombrotto
Gorald W. McEnted
William H. Bywator
Marvin J. Bosde
1
John T. Joyce
Morton Bahr
Robert A. Goorgine
Guno Upshaw
CESO
Jay Mazur
Lonore Miller
John J. Barry
Moo Biller
George J. Kourplas
John N. Studivard
Frank Hanloy
James J. Norton
OF
Michael Succo
Ron Carey
Arthur A Colo
Frank Hun
INDUSTRIAL
Gloria T. Johnson
Douglas H. Dortty
George F. Bocker
Stephen P. Yolden
Capt. J. Rendolph Babbin
Clayola Brown
Richard W. Cordiz
M.A. "Mac" Fleming
Carolyn Forrest
Pai Friend
Michael Goodwin
Joo L. Greane
Sonny Hall
Suml Harv
Carroll Haynos
Junes LaSale
Willium Lucy
Leon Lynch
Doug McCarron
Andrew McKenzie
AL "Mike" Monroe
Anthur Moore
Arturo S. Rodriguez
Roben A. Scardelletti
Robert E. Wages
take West
Alfrud K. Whilehead
RICHARD L. TRUMKA
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer
Richard L. Trumka was elected Oct. 25, 1995, as the youngest secretary-treasurer in
AFL-CIO history, part of an insurgent campaign to reinvigorate the American labor
movement.
At the time of his election, Trumka, 46, was serving his third term as president of the
United Mine Workers of America. A member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council since
1989, he chaired the Strategic Approaches and Energy Committees and served on the
executive boards of the Industrial Union, Maritime Trades and Transportation Trades
Departments.
In 1994, President Clinton named him to the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement
and Tax Reform, where he represented the interests of working families in policy debates
on Social Security, pensions and health care.
During his tenure as UMWA president, Trumka led two major strikes against the
nation's coal companies - Pittston in 1989 and the Bituminous Coal Operators in 1993 --
that resulted in significant advances in employer-employee cooperation and the
enhancement of mine workers' job security, pensions and benefits.
UMWA victories in those disputes were assisted by international campaigns that
Trumka developed. As chairman of the committee on strategic approaches, he was
instrumental in developing tactics to bring the pressure of international labor to bear on
multinational conglomerates involved in disputes with U.S. workers. He also serves on the
executive boards of the International Miners Federation and the International Confederation
of Free Trade Unions, and played a key role in organizing a new global coalition of coal
miners' unions in five countries.
Trumka is a third-generation coal miner from Nemacolin, Pa., who began working
in the mines at the age of 19. He joined UMWA Local 6290, serving as safety committee
chairman. He soon became an activist in the Miners for Democracy reform movement.
In the early 1970s, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University and later earned
a law degree from Villanova University Law School. After serving four years on the UMWA
legal staff during the reform administration of Arnold Miller, he returned to the mines in
03/04/96
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Trimka
2
1978. He was elected to the union's executive board in 1981. He was first elected president
of the union in 1982.
He has received numerous awards, including the 1995 Gompers-Murray-Meany
Award from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the Labor Responsibility Award from the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in 1990.
###
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Clinton Library
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DATE
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AND TYPE
003. profile
DOB (Partial); POB (Partial) (1 page)
11/15/1995
b(6)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
Chief of Staff
Harold Ickes
OA/Box Number: 9162
FOLDER TITLE:
AFL-CIO General [Folder 2]
2013-0306-F
jm1191
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
PI National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information |(b)(1) of the FOIA|
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office |(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA|
an agency |(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information |(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy |(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA]
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells |(b)(9) of the FOIA|
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
03/04/96
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PRES
OFF
WHITE HOUSE/NEC
005/006
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
FEDERATION OF LABON
815 Sixteenth Street. N.W.
JOHN J. SWEENEY
RICHARD L. TRUMKA
LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON
Washington, D.C 20006
PRESIDENT
SECRETARY-TREASURER
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(202) 637-5000
1
Albert Shanker
Edward I Hanley
Wayne a. Glunn
James E. Harfleld
&
Vincers R, Sombrono
Gerald W. Mcfinied
William M. Bywater
Marvin 1 Boade
AFL
CIO
John I Joyce
Monon Befr
Robert A, Georgine
Gene Upshaw
ACCORDO
My Mazur
Lenors Miller
John & Garry
Mos Biller
George J. Kourples
John N. Studivent
Prank Hanloy
James 1 Norton
Michael Secce
Ron Carey
Attur A. Coia
Frank Hun
INDUSTRIAL
Glorts I Johnson
Dougles H. Dority
George 5 Becker
Stephen P. Yokich
Capt. 1 Randolph Babbill
Clayois Brown
Richard W. Cordiz
MA. "Mar" Flaming
Carolyn Forrest
Pat Friend
Michael Goodwin
Joe L Greena
Sonny Hall
Sum Haru
Carroll Haynes
James LaSete
William Lucy
Leon Lynch
Doug McCarron
Andrew McKenzie
A.L. Monroe
After Moore
Anturo S. Rodriguez
Robert A. Scardollott
Robert E. Wages
take Wast
Alfred K Whitehead
LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON
AFL-CIO Executive Vice President
Linda Chavez-Thompson was elected executive vice president of the AFL-CIO Oct.
25 at the federation's convention in New York, part of an insurgent campaign to
reinvigorate the American labor movement.
A second-generation American of Mexican descent, Chavez-Thompson has 27 years
experience in the labor movement. She rose from the organizing ranks of her union, the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, to become the first person
of color elected to an executive office of the AFL-CIO. She is the highest ranking woman
in the labor movement.
Prior to her election as executive vice president, Chavez-Thompson served as a vice
president of the AFL-CIO since Oct. 1, 1993. She served on the Executive Council
committees on Full Participation, International Affairs, Article XX Appeals and Housing.
She was elected national vice president of the Labor Council for Latin American
Advancement in 1986, and continues to serve in that capacity.
Chavez-Thompson was elected vice president of AFSCME in June 1988 and again
in June 1992 without opposition. As vice president of AFSCME, she directed the union's
efforts in a seven-state district -- Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas and Utah that is widely recognized as unfriendly to labor. But she
achieved numerous successes there, including an organizing drive in Texas that brought in
5,000 new members over the past five years, and the passage of a collective bargaining law
for public employees in New Mexico.
She was elected executive director of AFSCME Council 42 on Feb. 4, 1995,
responsible for advancing legislative, political action and education programs of more than
17 local unions that make up the council.
Born
(b)(6)
to sharecropper parents
(b)(6)
Chavez-Thompson
[003]
began her trade union career as a union secretary. She served as an AFSCME international
representative 1971 to 1973; assistant business manager and business manager of AFSCME
Local 2399 in San Antonio from 1973 to 1977; and executive director of AFSCME Local
2399 from September 1977 to February 1995.
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Themp:
2
Chavez-Thompson has served on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer
Society and the United Way; President of the San Antonio/Bexar County Public Employee
Council; the Martin L King Commission; the Board of Trustees of San Antonio's VIA
Metropolitan Transit Authority; the Governor's Health Policy Task Force and the Mayor's
Commission on the Status of Women.
Prior to moving to Washington, D.C. in November 1995, Chavez-Thompson had
resided in San Antonio since 1972. She is the widow of Robert Thompson, has two children
by a previous marriage and a grandson.
November 15, 1995
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RUDOLPH A. OSWALD
Rudy Oswald is the Director of Economic Research for the AFL-CIO. He has served
in that position since 1976, having previously served as the Research Director of two
AFL-CIO affiliated unions, the Service Employees International Union and the International
Association of Fire Fighters. He was also the Assistant Director of the AFL-CIO's Education
Department.
He serves on various government advisory bodies, including the Advisory Committee
on Trade Negotiations, the Panel of Economic Advisers to the Congressional Budget Office,
and the Labor Advisory Committee to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He serves on the
Boards of the National Bureau of Economic Research, the National Planning Association, the
Joint Council on Economic Education and is a past president of the Industrial Relations
Research Association.
He was educated at Holy Cross University, received his Masters from the University of
Wisconsin and his Ph.d from Georgetown University. He attended the University of Munich
as a Fulbright Scholar.
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004/010
Bio for Peggy Taylor
Director, Department of Legislation
AFL-CIO
Peggy Taylor became the Director of Legislation on March 1,
1995.
She had been the AFL-CIO's Associate Director for the
Department of Legislation since March 1986.
Taylor has been an AFL-CIO legislative representative since 1979,
specializing in budget, appropriations, and defense conversion
issues.
Before coming to the AFL-CIO staff, she was a professional staff
member of the House Budget Committee, dealing primarily with
labor and employment issues. She previously served on the Senate
Labor subcommittee with responsibilities including occupational
safety and health programs.
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GERALD M. SHEA
Gerry Shea is currently Assistant to the President for
Government Affairs of the AFL-CIO. Mr. Shea was appointed to
this position by President John J. Sweeney who was elected on
October 25, 1995.
Prior to this appointment, from June 1994 through
October 1995, Mr. Shea served as executive assistant to the
AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, and, later, executive assistant to
the president. From August 1993 through May 1994, Mr. Shea was
director of the AFL-CIO Employee Benefits Department.
Before coming to the AFL-CIO, Mr. Shea held the position
of Assistant to the President for Government Affairs for the
Service Employees International Union. He began his tenure
with SEIU in 1972 as an organizer for the Massachusetts
Hospital Workers Organizing Committee. Later, he served the
union in various capacities, including executive director,
Local 880; business manager, Local 285; Health Care Coordinator
and, later, Healthcare Division Director for SEIU.
Mr. Shea is a member of the 1995 Advisory Council on
Social Security and the Prospective Payment Advisory
Commission.
Mr. Shea is a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of
Boston College.
November 1995
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not current.
!
Robert William Welsh, Jr.
Executive Assistant to the International President
Service Employees International Union
AFL-CIO, CLC
Bob Welsh has been the chief of staff and top aide to the President of the
Service Employees International Union since 1976. He was named to this position
by former International President George Hardy and has served under President
John Sweeney since Sweeney's election in 1980.
As Executive Assistant to the President, he has overall responsibility for the
administration of the International Union, overseeing staff of more than 400 and
an annual budget of over $50,000,000.
Prior to becoming Executive Assistant to the President, he served as
Assistant to the Executive Secretary for three years. He began his career in the
labor movement with the AFL-CIO in 1972.
Prior to 1972 he worked as a community organizer for the National Center
for Urban Ethnic Affairs.
Welsh holds an undergraduate degree in American History from the
University of Virginia and a Masters in Public Administration from the American
University.
He was elected to the Service Employees International Union Executive
Board in 1992 where he serves as Vice Chair of the SEIU Committee on the
Future, chaired by International Vice President Betty Bednarczyk.
He is on the board of the National Consumers league, and a member of the
Industrial Relations Research Association. He is active in community affairs.
He is married to the former Joan Seidman and has three children.
$ Chief of Staff
pate: Currently Exec. asst, to the President of the AFL-CIO
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Remarks by John J. Sweeney
President of the AFL-CIO
The Business Council
Washington, DC
February 29, 1996
Thank you for that cordial introduction and thank you for inviting me here to speak to
you on behalf of American workers and their families.
I am here today to talk about what we can do to find new ways to grow the American
economy, American companies, and American wages in the new world economy. And bridge
the growing gap between the great majority of Americans who are working longer and harder
for less and the fortunate few who are prospering as never before.
In the process, I'm going to say some things about American business that will not be
especially flattering. I offer my criticisms in a spirit of goodwill and I offer my apologies if
you or your company are exceptions to the generalizations I make.
I am a product of the social compact that lifted America out of the Great Depression
and lifted working Americans into the middle class.
My father was an Irish immigrant, a New York City bus driver, and a proud member
of the Transport Workers Union. Some of my earliest memories are of going to union
meetings with him. We'd listen to the thick brogue of Mike Quill as he explained paycheck
economics to workers and their families.
Those were tough times. But working people, business people, and public officials
shared certain understandings -- a social contract, if you will.
Here's what working people knew: If we got up every morning and did our jobs, then
we could earn a better life for ourselves and a better chance for our children.
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Here's what business people knew: If they paid their workers fairly and plowed some
of their profits back into their communities, they could count on loyal employees and loyal
consumers. For companies back then, good citizenship was good business.
And here's what our leaders in government understood -- and President Kennedy said
it best: "A rising tide lifts all boats."
For almost 30 years after winning World War II, we all prospered because we
prospered together. We were concerned with raising the standard of living for all Americans
-- not just accumulating enormous wealth for a fortunate few. That social compact was a
formula for the strongest economy, the largest middle class, and the most successful society
this world has ever known.
Unfortunately, those days are gone. You all know what happened: the oil embargo of
1973; global economic competition; new technologies; and the deregulation of the domestic
economy -- from transportation to communications.
Many businesses, and especially larger corporations, found new ways to compete -
ways that may succeed in the short-term but which, I submit to you, are short-sighted and
ultimately self-destructive.
They competed, not by American team-work and American know-how, but by driving
down labor costs. Caught in an unforgiving global economy, corporate America too often
squeezed the last possible ounce of productivity out of American workers. And then threw
them on the scrap-heap of unemployment or old age, with reduced pensions and health
coverage.
Consider the stories you've been reading on the business page:
Chase Manhattan and Chemical Bank announce a merger that puts 12,000 people out
of work and their stock goes up. AT&T says they plan to lay off 40,000 men and women
and their stock goes up. Does a rising tide now sink all ships except for the luxury
yachts?
And what's wrong with this picture: Caterpillar is doing great, racking up record
profits, enjoying great productivity. So they decide to install a two-tier wage system,
schedule work on the weekends without paying overtime and reject pattern bargaining. They
force thousands of workers out on strike, commit 300 unfair labor practices, and rack up
more record profits.
Caterpillar says it did it to stay competitive with Kamatsu. Baloney!
Kamatsu is struggling with a global market share below three percent. while Caterpillar has
the lion's share. Know why? Because the United States government has spent American tax
dollars fronting them into emerging nations in Europe, including Russia, and helping arrange
financing for their operations through the World Bank!
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And, finally, how about this picture: The State of Arizona and the City of Phoenix
bail America West Airlines out of bankruptcy with more than $100 million dollars in tax
breaks and revenue bonds. The airline agrees not to contract out hangar jobs and rebounds
with 11 straight quarters of profitability and stacks up $300 million in reserves. Then the
Teamsters crank up an organizing drive aimed at machinists working for America West.
America West shows its respect for our labor laws and thanks the community by illegally
firing 500 $35,000-a-year machinists and contracting out their jobs to a company in Everett,
Washington, where machinists make only $21,000.
That happened last December. Now tell me, really, "How many of you want to fly
in a 757 that's just been repaired by a $21,000 rookie mechanic?" Raise your hands.
For American workers and their families, these are snapshots from hell. They paint
an ugly portrait of an economy that has lost respect for workers and the jobs they do.
In a prophetic article in The New York Times last year, Lou Uchitelle added words
to the pictures. "Something is wrong with America's economic boom," he wrote. "After
four years of ever-stronger growth, people's wages should be going up faster than their
expenses. For most people, they're not, and this is the first time in decades that a recovery
has gone so long without putting more money in more pockets. And now, if the recovery
runs out of steam
that money might never show up."
Here's what's wrong with America's economic boom: Between 1947 and 1973, the
median paychecks of American workers more than doubled and the bottom 20 percent
enjoyed the biggest gains. But since 1973, median earnings have fallen by about 15 percent,
and the bottom 20% have fallen the furthest behind. More than 40 percent of all earnings
gains have gone to the richest one percent.
Meanwhile, wealth became even more concentrated. The top 20% of all households
now control more than 55% of all wealth. The rest of us 80% of all American households
- get to split the rest.
Profits are up. Productivity is up, executive compensation is up and the stock market
is up. But worker wages and health benefits and pensions are down.
Now we are finally beginning to hear how this great disparity is hurting American
workers as well as the American economy. Think of the hardworking Iowa family Susan
Sheehan describes in a recent article in The New Yorker.
Bonita and Kenny Merton live with their two sons in a small home they own in Des
Moines. Kenny once had an $11-an-hour job before the factory closed. Last year, he made
$17,239 hauling sand sacks. Bonita made $13,977 working full time at Luther Park Nursing
home. After 15 years, she's paid $7.40 an hour, gets a ham at Easter, a turkey at
Thanksgiving, ten dollars for her birthday and $20 at Christmas. She pays $36 a month for
health insurance, $28 a month for dental coverage, and gets no pension. Every year they go
further and further in debt and there is no hope of ever doing better. Kenny says, "There
ain't no middle class no more. There's only rich and poor."
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Like the Mertons, millions of American workers are running out of money, running
out of options and running out of hope. They've exhausted their savings accounts, they are
working two and three jobs and they are loaded with debt. They see the stock market
soaring and profits roaring and they wonder, "Who the hell is getting my share?" They are
frustrated and bitter and their anger is exceeded only by anxiety over possibly losing their
jobs.
And can you imagine in the middle of all of this, the radical Republicans in the House
giving a tax break to the rich by declaring all-out war on the programs and policies Kenny
and Bonita depend on just for survival?
Because of the wage and the wealth gap. America is becoming edgier, angrier, and
meaner. Until we ease the growing gaps in work, wages, and wealth, we will be reading
more dispatches from a wounded nation more militia movements, more bombings, more
hate crimes, and more of the quiet anguish of Americans losing their sense of a common
destiny and a common purpose. America will become more like the trouble spots where we
send our sons and daughters to keep the peace.
So what can we do about it?
Of course, American business must change. But I stand before you today as President
of the AFL-CIO because American labor must also change.
That is why I ran for President of the AFL-CIO, and that is why I won. We
understand, that while the world and the workplace have changed, labor stood still and lost
ground. Just as today I challenge business to change, every day on my job I challenge labor
in change.
Here's the truth: Our weakness encouraged employers to take the low road. And,
only by rebuilding our strength, can we bring American business back to the high road of
high wages. That is why I am challenging every union and every level of our labor
movement to do what the fastest-growing unions do: Put at least 30 percent of our resources
into organizing. That is why we will be training at least a thousand organizers a year,
pouring millions into organizing programs; and organizing from the sunbelt to the rustbelt
and from health care to high tech.
That is why we are rebuilding our grassroots
political strength, training candidates, and training political organizers.
Second, we have to reach out to business, to management from a position of
strength because that is the only way we can build a stronger, high-wage economy.
We can no longer afford the luxury of pretending that productivity, quality, and
competitiveness are not our business. They are our business, our jobs, and our paychecks.
Too many workers have suffered because of failed and foolish shortsighted management
policies. We need to follow the example of workers and their unions in companies and
government agencies and school systems across the country who are winning a voice in
improving the products they make and the services they deliver.
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As labor becomes stronger and smarter, we will really be in a position to offer
business a challenge: take some of your profits and invest them in growing the American
economy, American workers, and American wages.
Offer your workers the training
they need for tomorrow's jobs -- not just the big-shots in the executive suites, but all your
employees.
Work with your employees and their unions. Give us a voice in decision-making.
Give us half a chance to improve the quality of our goods and services. That is the path to
lasting prosperity -- and we want to walk down that road with you. Our challenge to
management is to avoid conflict, not promote it; let's spend our time and our money and our
energy pursuing higher profits and higher wages.
This year, we will begin to offer these challenges not only to the leaders of labor and
business but to all Americans. Later this month, the AFL-CIO will begin to hold hearings
on falling living standards in 29 communities across the country to put the issue of wages
and wealth at the center of political debate. We will ask working men and women what is
happening to their jobs, their paychecks, and their family budgets.
We want to get even more of the suggestions that are already pouring in from
unlikely sources, like a letter I got last month from Rusty Hills in East Lansing Michigan.
He says, "As a conservative Republican, I suspect you and I part company on most political
issues. But as a fellow Catholic, I believe strongly in just wages and an equitable
distribution of profits." He goes on to make a recommendation: that we bargain wages by
comparing the percentage increase in executive compensation to percentage increases for
workers over the past 10 years.
In every speech I give, from the Business Council to the picket lines, I'm trying to
make this simple point: America needs a raise. And the sooner we get together and deliver
one, the better off we will be, labor and management alike.
So, let me offer, through
you, a final challenge to American business: Labor's victories can be your victories, too.
With decent paychecks, we can buy your products and services.
With a little respect -- as that song says -- we can help you compete in the global
economy. We are going to chailenge American business to use our brains as well as our
backs, to let workers and their unions contribute to your decision-making process, to let us
help you make the hard choices that affect our family budgets as well as your bottom lines.
For American business, this is our message: Join us in supporting public policies and
private initiatives to build a path to a new shared prosperity for American business AND
American workers.
Thank you very much
-30-
For information:
Denise Mitchell 202/637-5340
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ACC.CED
May 9, 1996
MEETING WITH AFL-CIO PRESIDENT JOHN SWEENEY
DATE:
May 10, 1996
LOCATION:
Oval Office
TIME:
11:05 a.m.
CONTACT:
HAROLD ICKES
JENNIFER O'CONNOR
I.
PURPOSE
To meet with John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO, on budget issues.
II.
BACKGROUND
President Sweeney requested a meeting with you to discuss the prospects for a balanced
budget agreement. In general, President Sweeney is worried about the implications of a deal.
Other issues that are likely to come up are:
Executive Council Meeting
The AFL-CIO Executive Council met this week in Portland, OR. Most issues discussed were
internal, except discussions on the TEAM Act and China MFN.
TEAM Act
As you know, the TEAM Act is a controversial issue on Hill right now. This bill,
which would weaken the law's ban on company unions, passed the House and is
before the Senate. The labor movement is actively trying to avoid a vote on it in the
Senate. If it comes to vote and passes, the AFL-CIO strongly urges you veto it. The
Administration is on record in support of such a veto.
Secretary Reich and Chief of Staff Panetta are going up on this Hill today to discuss
this issue with the Senate Democratic leadership and try to figure out how to move
forward. The AFL-CIO is adamantly opposed to the TEAM Act or any amendment to
section 8(a)(2) of the National Labor Relations Act.
China MFN
The AFL-CIO Executive Council passed a resolution on China MFN. The resolution
states their opposition to the renewal of MFN status to China. It does not appear that
labor will make this issue a big public relations issue.
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III. PARTICIPANTS
The President
John Sweeney, President AFL-CIO
Gerald McEntee, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
IV. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
President Sweeney and Mr. McEntee will meet with President Clinton in the Oval Office.
V. PRESS
Closed Press
VI. REMARKS
None