From time to time, CWA will profile one of our champions in Congress. This week, please meet Rep. Tammy Baldwin.
CWA: What do you think the most important issue for working families facing the 112th Congress on a national level?
Tammy Baldwin: Nearly every issue Congress is dealing with, from health care, to education, to energy and the environment has a direct impact on working families. But most important is the need to create jobs and grow our economy.
CWA: 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?
Baldwin: I was born and raised in Wisconsin, the state that created workers’ compensation protections, the first state to pass unemployment insurance laws, and the first to allow collective bargaining for public employees. Respect for workers has been a rich part of our state’s history, and with it, Wisconsin has thrived for decades. Sadly, those rights and that historic tradition are under attack by our current Governor and his cohort that controls both houses of the state legislature.
I know from experience that having a seat at the table matters and that we each bring our own unique perspective to that table. Our democracy demands that every voice be heard and that all people be respected.
CWA: You've been a vocal defender of the collective bargaining rights of public employees in your home state of Wisconsin. Were you surprised to see the overwhelming support at the rallies at the state capitol? Do you think that this mass turnout of support has been helpful? Should the labor movement continue such sort of actions around the country as collective bargaining rights are under attack?
Baldwin: I think everyone was surprised by the swiftness with which people mobilized, but I’m not surprised by the passion of my fellow Wisconsinites for democracy and fairness. The turnout of support in Madison and other parts of the state has sent a message to the nation and the world that Wisconsinites will not allow our rights to be trampled or our voices stifled. I believe we are demonstrating to workers and decision-makers throughout the nation that Americans support collective bargaining rights and won’t stand by when these rights are threatened.
CWA: As a Member serving over 10 years, how do you think the role of unions has changed over the last decade? Why do you think the percentage of American workers in labor unions has shifted from 34% to 7% since the 1970s? Do you think recent unity marks a changing of the tides?
Baldwin: Over the past few decades, powerful corporations seeking low wage and no-benefit workers have shipped tens of thousands of quality American jobs overseas. They have been aided in this effort by our nation’s trade policies. Many of these jobs had been held by union workers. Corporations have further used the threat of plant closings and job loss to extract wage and benefit concessions.
Today, with long term unemployment still high, Americans are coming to appreciate and value the importance of workers having a voice at a bargaining table. The overreaching by the Wisconsin Governor, who is trying to break public worker unions, has galvanized workers and citizens in ways that we haven’t seen in decades. The events have proved to be a teachable moment. Wisconsinites and people throughout the nation, who are observing this attack on working families, now understand the vital role played by both public and private sector unions. This is an important turning point in our history.
CWA: You are a great proponent of a new green economy. How do you think the labor movement and the green movement can work together to bring good, green jobs to America?
Baldwin: America has the opportunity to lead the world in developing a green economy that will create good jobs here at home, protect our environment, and enhance our national security. Both the labor movement and the green movement have important roles to play in shaping public policy to support the development of a sound energy plan. Such a plan will focus on long-term sustainability, and promote a stable economy that is not subject to arbitrary price spikes and shortage in oil markets. Development of such a plan could open new export markets for American technology, such as wind turbines, solar panels, high efficiency building materials, and state of the art batteries. The result would be good jobs here in the United States. .
CWA: Is there anything else you would like to add for CWA members?
Baldwin: Communications workers know that access to broadband is essential for businesses to grow and communities to thrive. Every American should have good quality, high speed internet access. I am working to make this a reality and to ensure that broadband networks are developed in a thoughtful and cost effective manner, with next-generation speeds.