What do you think is the most important issue for working families facing the 112th Congress on a national level?
The November elections brought significant change to the House of Representatives, with conservative Republicans now occupying the majority of House seats. Already we have seen the new Republican majority try to repeal health care reform, end foreclosure mitigation programs and cut critical investments in education –all actions that would impact working families the most. Theirs is not a debate on best policy, but a debate on ideology. Instead of focusing on the priorities of the American people to create jobs and grow the economy, the new Republican majority is attempting to frame all legislative debates solely in terms of deficit reduction on the backs of working families primarily and on government overreach. This is a false context within which to engage in serious discussions on what’s best for working families and the future of the country.
In my view there is not a single ‘most important’ issue for working families this Congressional session. Rather, there are a host of issues Members of Congress must focus on during the 112th Congress. I have serious concerns over job creation, education and infrastructure investment. We must invest in the future of our children, our economy, and our educational institutions to ensure a prosperous future for all Americans.
Why are you such an advocate for collective bargaining rights? What role do you think union members can play in society today, politically or otherwise?
I am a longtime advocate for unions and collective bargaining rights as they are critical to ensuring that working Americans – even non-union workers - receive the wages and working conditions they deserve. Our nation has a rich history of committed individuals joining together to push for self-determination, representation, and labor rights. Thanks to union efforts over the past several decades, we witnessed the growth and prosperity of the middle class that today serves as the backbone of our nation’s economy. Today, we enjoy minimum wage, safe work place, and retirement security because of the advocacy of unions.
Union members must continue to play a pivotal role in advocating for our shared priorities, which include creating good-paying jobs, maintaining collective bargaining rights, and developing a 21st Century economy. Unions are at the forefront of each of these issues and must work to communicate the importance of these initiatives to all Americans.
What do you think the role is for women in the labor movement as unions shift into the center of the national political debate? How can women's advocacy groups fighting for equality and justice collaborate with the labor movement to make progress on all frontiers?
Women are entering the labor force in greater numbers than men since the Great Recession, and as a result are joining the ranks of our nation’s unions at a greater rate. Women have the opportunity to continue driving an agenda that secures equity for all within the labor movement.
With women totaling half of all U.S. workers, yet continuing to be paid only 80% of what their male counterparts earn, women have the most to gain through a strong labor movement. The contributions women make to our economy are critical and cannot be overstated. Women’s advocacy groups and labor unions must work together to show that equality and justice for women is not only the right thing to do, but that it is in the country’s best interest both socially and economically.
As a former community organizer and activist, what would you encourage union members to do today as we face such an aggressive onslaught on our collective bargaining rights?
I encourage union members to rededicate themselves to ensuring that their voices are heard in Washington and across the country. It is important to remember that the challenges we are seeing at the beginning of this year are only the beginning of what is sure to be long and difficult 112th Congress. We must not allow the debate to be determined by those who want a race to the bottom with cheap labor and fewer benefits. Rather, our national and international goal should center on raising all workers up to the highest common denominator and improving our national standard of well-being.
Guided by our convictions in the right to speak as one voice, and bolstered by the support of the majority of our fellow citizens, we must fight for collective bargaining rights. The future prosperity of workers based on collective bargaining rights is too important to not stay engaged, vocal, and organized.
As a relatively new Member of Congress, how do you think the role of unions has changed over the last few years? What role do you feel the current climate plays in the decline of percentage of American workers in labor unions, which has shifted from 34% to 7% since the 1970s? Do you think recent unity marks a changing of the tides? How can Members of Congress engage in these labor debates on a national level?
For years, we have seen efforts to demonize the role unions play in our economy. The truth of the matter is that unions remain a critical force in protecting the rights of working families across the country. In the face of a concerted effort by corporations and state and local governments to lower wages, strip collective bargaining rights, and ship good-paying jobs overseas, the role of public and private unions is more important today than we have seen in decades. With recent events in Wisconsin, Ohio, and other states around the country, it is important that we in Congress continue to speak out about the important role unions play in protecting the livelihoods of working families.
You are a great proponent of fair trade agreements to help support job growth here in America and to protect workers’ rights both here and abroad. How can constituents and folks on the ground help engage their Members of Congress to take the time needed to fully examine and debate the coming trade agreements in Korea, Colombia, and Panama? What do you think is at stake?
It is critical in order to maintain a healthy democracy that constituents engage their elected representatives on issues of importance, be they local or international in scope. Trade agreements reach across this spectrum as they can impact local communities but also the global economy. I am a proponent of fair trade agreements that can lead to positive outcomes such as more affordable products that are in high demand and an increase in the standard of living for all involved. However, when trade agreements are done poorly, they can also lead to a loss of jobs, economic instability, and a loss of workers’ rights. In these particular agreements I am concerned on a number of fronts, primarily concerning what these agreements will do to American jobs, the impact on wages across the nation, and ongoing human rights conditions in these counties. We saw under NAFTA and CAFTA a net loss of jobs that went out of our borders. I do not want to see any more American jobs lost due to poorly constructed trade agreements. The public must exercise their due diligence by asking the difficult questions and voicing their concerns to their Members of Congress about these trade agreements.