Conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer’s recent column “Union Owned and Operated” outlines what he calls democrats “fealty” to organized labor.
For progressive critics of congressional democrats and this white house, it’s instructive to see how the right stokes its base by citing the union boogeyman. And it’s important to recognize that many republicans honestly believe that labor does, in fact, control the democratic party.
Krauthammer clams that free-trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea have been held up by the administration because “unions don’t like them” insisting that “trade adjustment assistance” to displaced American workers are included in the deals.
Listing the economic stimulus, the auto industry bailout and a representation election at Delta Airlines as examples of union-driven policies, Krauthammer then raises the latest attack on Obama’s submission to the union agenda:
The National Labor Relations Board’s action against Boeing for allegedly punishing union workers in the northwest by moving work to a nonunion plant in the southeast.
Just because conservatives say we’re powerful doesn’t make it true. In fact, the threat by the AFL-CIO to withhold support from anti-worker democrats is an attempt by labor to regain some leverage in policy matters.
The fact, though, is that unions – because of contributions and boots on the ground during elections – can exert a degree of influence on democrats, particularly in certain regions.
But using that power to transform the political culture on behalf of workers is the challenge.
And – whatever Krauthammer and his readers choose to believe – the labor movement certainly hasn’t been able to do that.