Unions must change tactics and not pledge blind allegiance to Democrats
Updated On: Jul 202, 2006

Schaitberger.jpg

Harold Schaitberger

 

It may sound strange coming from the president of a major national union, but there are Republican lawmakers running in this year's midterm elections who have earned our support.

This year's midterm elections are a key precursor to the presidential election in 2008, and you can expect a louder and louder rallying cry from organized labor as November approaches.

As strong patriots, willing workers and the taxpayers who foot the bill for this government and country of ours, we've all watched as the Bush administration panders to the wealthy and ignores American workers and the disappearance of jobs.

Organized labor has plenty of reason to be outraged and, like always, we will play a key role in the coming elections. However, labor's shrinking numbers make it harder for us to influence federal elections. That has changed the game, and unions must change the way they approach politics.

 

Support for Republicans

Michigan's U.S. Reps. Joe Schwarz, Fred Upton, Dave Camp, Mike Rogers and Candice Miller have provided crucial backing for fire fighters by supporting increased funding for essential services to protect our homeland and measures to improve retirement and health benefits for professional fire fighters. We won't abandon lawmakers or other incumbent GOP members who help fire fighters and paramedics.

We also are giving unwavering support to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Democrats who believe strongly in protecting our homeland and who have backed that up with action to help Michigan's fire fighters. We count U.S. Reps. John Conyers and John Dingell among our supporters, too. If Democrats make big gains in the midterm elections and take back the House, both men will hold key chairmanships.

Additionally, Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. Sander Levin, Rep. Dale Kildee and Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick champion the cause of fire fighters and remain Democratic allies.

But the strategy of organized labor in elections often is limited to attempting to kick the butts of Republican candidates. Our union doesn't adhere to that approach. It is unwise and shortsighted.

The International Association of Fire Fighters makes its value judgments based on a candidate's support for our issues. And that leads us to support incumbent Republicans, even when that support puts us at odds with other unions.

Union wears bipartisan boot

Don't get me wrong: We also are prepared to kick butts, but we wear a bipartisan boot. We work with Republicans and Democrats sympathetic to working-class Americans whose health care and energy costs are rising, and whose confidence in the economy and nation weakens every time an employer like Delphi Corp. tries to jettison good-paying jobs or a city like Detroit or Pontiac moves to layoff fire fighters and close stations because of budget problems.

Labor can't be an ATM machine for either party. It hasn't helped us to support only Democrats, who told us to sit in the corner and shut up while they pushed the North American Free Trade Agreement through Congress under President Bill Clinton. Labor shouldn't bankroll the 15 Democrats who provided the key votes to approve the Central American Free Trade Agreement last year. Unions must expect more in return.

Unions must do what its members do in every single election: Make judgments about a candidate as an individual. We must reward those who support us on key votes and specific issues. Unions can't continue to give, while receiving nothing in return.

Personally, I'm a Democrat. But my personal agenda must stay home when I make decisions that affect my members. Blind allegiance never works.

Harold Schaitberger is president of the International Association of Fire Fighters.


-
  • Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont

    Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved.

    Powered By UnionActive



  • Top of Page image