In Obama, Labor Finds the Support It Expected

[Pirate Smile]

Source: The New York Times

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
Published: March 1, 2009

John J. Sweeney, the nation’s top union official, often complains that he was invited just once to the White House during George W. Bush’s eight years in office — and even that was at the Vatican’s behest during a visit by Pope Benedict.
If an index is needed for how much closer organized labor is to President Obama than to his predecessor, it might be the number of times Mr. Sweeney, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s president, has visited the White House since Inauguration Day — at least once a week for receptions, bill signings and a meeting on fiscal responsibility.


Campaigning in Detroit last fall, Barack Obama met with, from left, Ron Gettelfinger of the U.A.W., James Hoffa of the Teamsters and John Sweeney of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. Mr. Sweeney has visited the White House at least once a week since Inauguration Day.

Mr. Obama has delighted labor by issuing four pro-labor executive orders that reversed Bush policies. He has also appointed a union-friendly chairwoman to the National Labor Relations Board and named a labor secretary whose parents were both union members.

-snip-
Any doubts that union leaders might have had about Mr. Obama dissolved several weeks ago when, in announcing a new Task Force on the Middle Class, he said: “I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it’s part of the solution. You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement.”

Mr. Sweeney and many other labor leaders were thrilled. “It’s like night and day having a president who believes in helping working people build power,” Mr. Sweeney said. “I look upon Obama as the most pro-union president since John Kennedy, and I have even compared him to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.”





Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/washington/02labor.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. Our President just appears to be one who keeps his promises!

And that's what I like!

[Political Tiger]

2. The American worker is lucky to have Obama as president!

eom

[EraOfResponsibility]

3. Indeed n/m

[baju]

5. The American worker is lucky to have Obama as president!

That' right, I am absolutely agree...

baju

[DUlover2909]

4. Night and day indeed, with no racial pun intended.

Obama = great president

Bush = pathetic human being

[Omaha Steve]

6. K&R!

Great story. We've been covering all this in the Labor Forum.