We all know the AFL-CIO forum and debate was last evening. It is no secret to Democrats that one of the most important parts of their base is organized labor and working Americans. Unions and workers have long supported Democrats because they are the party that fights for us.
John Edwards would be the most union and worker friendly President we have had in a long time. He grew up in a union household and understands the problems that confront working Americans. He has been on the frontlines walking the picket lines to help them organize. I would like to take some time today to look at the many ways John Edwards' campaign supports organized labor and American workers.
First, we have this video from his site:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
That pretty much speaks for itself. Looking back through the ideas on his website, one begins to realize that John Edwards is the candidate who is serious about evening the playing field for labor and workers. Lets look at some more ways Edwards supports workers.
One of the main things that worries American workers are that millions of them have no access to affordable healthcare. Edwards was the first candidate to release a plan to help Americans get affordable healthcare. He was the first to release a comprehensive plan, and it is one of the only plans offered that makes healthcare truly universal. Review it here:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Edwards is also fighting to end unfair trade practices that short the American worker. Shortly after releasing his healthcare plan Edwards' campaign released this statement:
"Thousands of American autoworkers learned this week that they will lose their jobs because of ill-conceived and poorly enforced trade agreements - and what is the Bush Administration doing? It's working overtime to sign a trade agreement with a country that refuses to open its market to American cars.
"Enough is enough. President Bush should shut down all trade negotiations with South Korea until they prove their willingness to open their market to American automobiles and other U.S. products and agree to trade fairly.
"The huge loss of jobs announced this week by DaimlerChrysler should be a wake-up call for this president: one-sided trade agreements hurt working families.
"Instead of stubbornly pursuing policies that put Americans out of work, the Administration should focus on making sure new agreements include real labor and environmental protections and should enforce our rights under existing trade agreements. And the Congress should make it clear to the President that it will override any agreement that does not protect American jobs and American interests."
South Korea exported about 800,000 vehicles to the U.S. in 2005, while U.S. carmakers sold only about 4,000 cars in South Korea. South Korea maintains a number of regulatory hurdles that block American cars, including safety and emissions standards applied only to imported cars. A trade deal with South Korea could be the biggest since NAFTA in 1993.
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Of course Edwards was completely right about this. Since NAFTA was crammed down our throats by the Clinton Administration we have had a flood of trade deals which tilt the playing field against American industry and workers. We should not sign any new trade deals that don't include environmental protections and the rights of American workers. Edwards clearly understands this, and is determined to fix it.
Next, Edwards fought for Card Check Neutrality:
"Today is a victory for working men and women across the country. Speaker Pelosi and 241 members of the House did the right thing by standing up for working Americans and passing this bill.
"Organized labor has been the most important anti-poverty movement in American history — strengthening the middle class and providing good-paying jobs for millions of Americans. We need to make it easier for workers to organize themselves into unions. If a Republican can join the Republican Party by signing their name to a card, any worker in America ought to be able to join a union by doing exactly the same thing.
"By protecting a worker's right to join a union, we give more Americans the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty and into the middle class, which is why I have been all over this country the past few years, working with over 20 national unions to organize thousands of workers, walking picket lines and speaking out in support of workers' rights.
"I encourage the Senate to pass this legislation and hope this is just the beginning of a renewed effort in our country to protect working Americans and strengthen organized labor."
Again Edwards was right on this issue. The House should be commended for passing this bill, but we all know it died in the anti-American worker Senate. American workers should have the right to join a union by signing a union card. Too many times after enough cards have been signed to call a union vote, companies have come in an manipulated the process by bribes, threats, and downright lies. I know this firsthand. Edwards would fight for the right of all Americans to truly join a union.
Next, Edwards was fighting for fair wages and stepping up to bat for the Culinary Union. Check out this video:
http://johnedwards.com/...
Next, Edwards presented a plan to protect American workers from the Predatory Lenders that threaten to crash our ecomony. Here is a link to the plan:
http://johnedwards.com/...
Edwards plan on Predatory Lenders actually addresses the root causes of the problem and doesn't just throw a billion dollars of taxpayer money at the crooks that give predatory loans. It makes them change their practices.
Next Edwards again was speaking out against the South Korean trade deal, and gave four specific reason why:
While the agreement would immediately eliminate U.S. tariffs on Korean vehicles, it leaves in place a discriminatory tax based on engine size that disproportionately affects American cars.
Workers in South Korea lack many basic rights. "South Korea is a country where hundreds of workers are thrown in jail each year for attempting to exercise basic labor rights," said Edwards.
The agreement creates the possibility of providing free access for manufacturing imports made in North Korean industrial zones, where the workers earn less than 10 percent of what South Koreans earn.
The agreement opens up American markets to Korean agricultural imports, but does not allow American beef into Korea.
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
These are all very good reasons. Edwards attempts not only to make things fairer for American industry and workers, but seeks to pressure the Koreans into treating their own workers better. Edwards makes it clear that not only will he fight for American workers, industry, and farmers, but that he will fight against countries that exploit their own workers.
Next, Edwards used Equal Pay Day to highlight the inequality that still faces women workers in our country:
"The cause of equality and respect for women has taken a series of blows in April. On the heels of Don Imus's degrading comments and a Supreme Court decision limiting women's reproductive health choices, today reminds us that women still lack equality of opportunity.
"We must work to take Equal Pay Day off the national calendar, by putting real pay equity on the national agenda. Women earn 77 cents on the dollar earned by men; the disparity for African-American and Latina women is even more striking. While women make up less than half of the workforce, they are 60% of people working at or near minimum wage. These facts have serious consequences for families struggling to make ends meet.
"A fair and just society must reward work equally, without discrimination, and reflect the needs of women for greater flexibility in the workplace. As president, I will help parents balance work and family by expanding access to quality preschool and after-school programs and expanding family and medical leave. We must also strengthen the remedies for sex discrimination to deter wrongdoing. I was a sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act when I was in the Senate, and Congress should pass the law before another year goes by."
I agree with Edwards that in this country it is disgraceful that we even have something on the calender called "Equal Pay Day". I have worked with many women in my life and can attest that they work every bit as effectively and efficiently as men. The fact that they are paid less on average is an American disgrace. Edwards is serious about ending sexual discrimination in the workplace and evening the playing field for our female members of the workforce.
Next Edwards shows that not only does he want to fight for fair wages for our workers, but will fight to ensure fair wages for our fighting men and women in the armed forces:
"The President should immediately revoke his decision to oppose the House version of the 2008 defense authorization bill. The White House's harsh statement that the House's improved benefits for soldiers and widows are 'unnecessary' is part and parcel of this Administration's neglect of our troops and their families. The Department of Defense has already extended tours in Iraq from 12 to 15 months — a decision that I have said borders on the unconscionable. I believe we need to do everything we can to better stand by those who stand by us — and we can start with improved pay and death benefits."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
So, Bush can send American troops to Iraq to die for his misled, incompetent policies, but doesn't believe they deserve a raise in pay? Edwards clearly shows he would be a President that supports our troops with more than talking points.
Next, Edwards spoke on China's currency manipulation:
"The Bush Administration should stop sitting on its hands and actually do something to save American jobs. We have known for years that China is manipulating its currency to boost its trade advantage with the United States, and working families are suffering.
"Because China is a member of the World Trade Organization, we have tools to use to hold China accountable for its currency manipulation. Once again, I call on President Bush to use his authority and end this unfair Chinese advantage. Simply pointing fingers at China cannot substitute for getting our own economy in order, but neither can we allow China to continue policies which harm American workers and the entire global trading system."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
A real leader would value the American worker and protect American industry instead of supporting the exploitation of workers in an oppressive Communist regime. Edwards would put fairness over exploitation for all workers.
Next Edwards called for protections for American workers and consumers against the greed of Big Oil by calling for these specific actions:
Investigate the anticompetitive actions of the oil industry. Edwards will call for an independent Justice Department investigation into the consolidation of the oil industry, the causes of higher gas prices and remedies to the problem.
Reverse Enron-era deregulation of energy markets by restoring basic transparency and oversight, such as requiring public reporting of large trades, to help identify and deter market manipulation.
End taxpayer subsidies for oil companies and reinvest the savings in affordable, clean and renewable energy.
Require oil companies to invest in clean, reliable refineries. Edwards will call on states to enforce Clean Air Act standards to require oil companies to modernize their refineries, making them cleaner and more reliable.
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
These are all excellent ideas that show Edwards is determined to fight for the American worker living paycheck to paycheck against the Big Corporations that take advantage of situations to fleece the American worker and consumer.
Next Edwards fights for Home Healthcare workers who are now being cheated out of the overtime pay they have earned:
"Excluding home care workers from the protections of federal minimum wage and overtime laws is wrong. In a nation of our wealth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty. It's wrong for workers and it's wrong for the economy. The Bush Administration may not know the difference between professional home care workers and babysitters, but older Americans and people with disabilities who rely on them for quality care certainly do. Congress should do what's right and fix the law. If it doesn't, as president I will."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Edwards makes no bones about the fact that as President he will fight for these cheated and forgotten workers.
Next, Edwards urges our Senate to pass the Employee Free Choice Act:
"Organized labor has been the most important anti-poverty movement in American history—strengthening the middle class and providing good-paying jobs for millions of Americans. We need a president who will make it easier for workers to organize themselves into unions, not work against them. If a Republican can join the Republican Party by signing their name to a card, any worker in America ought to be able to join a union by doing exactly the same thing.
"This will probably be the single most important vote on the future of the middle class cast in the Senate this year. Working men and women will be watching their Senators to see whose side they are on."
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Of course Edwards is completely right about this. Unions are the greatest deterent to poverty in the history of the world. After decades of a war being waged by our government against unions and workers it is past time to even the playing field. This was the most important vote this year on the future of the middle-class and unfortunately even a Democratic Senate failed miserably.
Next Edwards used a speech to unveil his plan to reduce debt and help families save. See the speech here:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
And the plan here:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
This is a plan thats time has come and shows Edwards is truly determined in the creating of One America.
Next, Edwards comments on the bitter disappointment of the defeat of the Employee Free Choice Act in the Senate:
"Union membership can be the difference between a poverty-wage job and middle-class security. This was probably the single most important vote on the future of the middle class cast in the Senate this year. Millions of Americans want and deserve what unions provide: health care, a secure retirement and job stability. However, businesses regularly and illegally fight union organizing drives.
"Today, a majority of the Senate stood up to make it easier for workers to join a union. A minority of senators showed which side they are on by blocking the bill today -- but they won't be able to block it forever. When I'm president, we will have strong, fair labor laws. If a Republican can join the Republican Party by signing their name to a card, any worker in America ought to be able to join a union by doing exactly the same thing."
While our Congress has been disappointing I must give credit where it is due. A clear majority of Democrats in both houses did support this. Unfortunately a small band of far-right lunatic Senators managed to block it. The fight goes on......
Next Edwards calls for a raise in the minimum wage and a raise for all workers:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
I think if you can't at least agree with most of this, maybe we are in different parties. These are the things I grew up thinking Democrats fought for.
Next, on his "Road to One America" Edwards again spoke on the need to reward hard working Americans with fair wages and benefits once more:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
The Road to One America brought the issue of poverty and wages to the front of the debate at a time when everyone said it would not sell. Edwards showed the mark of a true leader by bringing his issue to the American people and creating one nobody thought existed.
Edwards used the last day of his tour to talk about helping strengthen the American working family:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
Finally, earlier this week Edwards released a detailed plan for Smarter Trade that puts Workers First. Here is a link to the plan:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
And the speech:
http://www.johnedwards.com/...
To my knowledge this is the most concise, comprehensive plan in existence to come up with smarter, fairer trade practices for American workers. Edwards not only addresses falling and stagnant wages but goes to the cause of the problem.
I would like to remind everyone that this does not include the many works done by Edwards for working Americans from 04 until he announced for the Presidency. He worked hard walking picket lines and raising the minimum wage in several states, bringing wage relief to all workers.
To those of you who have made it to the end of this, I would just like to say thanks for reading whether you agree or not. I believe John Edwards would be the most worker-friendly President in a generation. I hope I have stated my case well enough where you can understand why. I hope Democrats will join me in nominating a real Progressive candidate that pays more than lip service to American workers, John Edwards.