State: ME
Congressional District: 02
Political Party: Democrat
Year First Elected to Congress: 2002
Website: http://michaud.house.gov
Rep. Michael Michaud is one of the few card-carrying union members of Congress and has led the fight against unfair trade deals. Other areas of expertise include health care, economic development and veterans’ affairs. One little-known fact: Rep. Michaud is believed to be the first Franco-American from Maine to be elected to federal office. Rep. Michaud serves on the Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. His best-known piece of legislation to pass the House was the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, which directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate with drug companies for lower drug prices for Medicare recipients.
What do you think the most important issue for working families facing the 112th Congress on a national level?
By far the answer is job creation. We need to be doing more for our manufacturing sector as well as our small businesses – they are the real job creators and they deserve policies that support them. And we need to pass bills like the multiyear transportation bill because we know that investments in our infrastructure create jobs, promote efficiencies in our transportation system, and keep our businesses competitive with the rest of the world.
But so far, we’ve seen little on the agenda that specifically targets job creation. Instead, we’ve seen attacks on the new health care law and bills aimed at satisfying political bases rather than helping American workers.
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’m such an advocate because I’ve seen the impact of unions firsthand. I followed in the footsteps of my father and grandfather in working at the local paper mill in my hometown. I remain a member of the United Steelworks today and am one of the few card carrying union members in Congress. I’ve stood in the picket lines with my fellow brothers and sisters, and I’ve seen how unions help workers get ahead.
Today, unions remain on the front lines, and they lend a crucial voice to workers throughout our country when it comes to the big policy debates of the day. I remember how critical the voices of union members were in fighting back President Bush’s attempt to privatize Social Security. Just like then, we need to take the fight to those in Congress that are attempting to privatize Medicare, limit worker protections, and shut union workers out of federal contracts. It’s more important than ever before that union members remain engaged in the political debate.
The paper mill I worked at for so many years recently shut down operations and laid off hundreds of workers. While these workers are my constituents, they are also my friends and neighbors. This issue is personal for me, and I will continue to champion collective bargaining and other labor causes because we need to ensure that hardworking Americans receive the respect, recognition, and just compensation that they deserve.
You have been a rank and file member of the United Steelworkers of America for 29 years. In light of the recent attacks on labor- nationally, on the state level, and in your home state of ME- 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?
Unions continue to play an important role, but there is no question that they are under attack. They grew out of the need for workers to protect themselves in the workplace and to advance workers’ basic rights, including collective bargaining. Although the workers’ movement has come a long way since the first unions were formed, there is still work to be done. The recent attack on collective bargaining rights and unions shows that there are coordinated and aggressive efforts underway to weaken unions and take away workers’ rights.
Members of Congress engage in the labor debate any time they take a vote on Davis-Bacon laws, for example, or the ability of TSA workers to be able to collectively bargain There are ongoing efforts at both the federal and state levels to undo workers protections and rights, and we need to be ready to fight back. As these attacks on workers continue, I think the ongoing need for unions will be evident and supported by workers across the country.
You are a great proponent 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?
There is a lot at stake. We saw how devastating NAFTA was to our economy and these trade agreements are no different.
I encourage union members to schedule meetings with their members of Congress and impress upon them how important the issue of trade is to them. You can also call and email. Talk to members of their staff too, and make sure they know how this issue impacts you. Request follow up after talking to them too so that they are compelled to give you their position and you know what steps to take from there. You can also write letters to the editor to help keep up the pressure.
We all support international trade, but trade agreements should promote policies that are fair and that provide U.S. businesses and workers with an even playing field to compete on in the global economy.
In what ways have you applied your experiences 29 years as a mill worker to your service in Congress? In your mind, how have we failed with the current proposed trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama? What would a new trade model that protects fair labor standards and American jobs?
I literally applied it a few weeks after being sworn in as a new member of Congress. I was walking through the basement of the Capitol Building to my office when I noticed that a janitorial worker couldn’t get her cart past a forklift that was parked in the middle of the hallway. So I jumped on the forklift and moved it so that she could get by – I think she was surprised that a member of Congress knew how to drive a fork truck!
But on the trade issue, I know we’ve failed to make progress. The deals that have been negotiated with Korea, Colombia, and Panama are built on the same, failed NAFTA model. They remain largely unchanged from when they were first negotiated by President George W. Bush.
For the life of me, I can’t understand why we haven’t learned from past mistakes. Union workers continue to be intimidated and murdered in Colombia and the deal with Korea is expected to result in 159,000 Americans losing their jobs. It’s my hope that the American people will say enough is enough, and force the administration to reconsider their stance.
Unfortunately, it appears Congress is ready to work with the administration to pass these deals, which I think is a huge mistake that our nation will live to regret.