http://www.laborradio.org/node/4944WIN Year in Review: Labors Role in the 2006 election
By Doug Cunningham
: It was a course-changing election and the results are a great victory for Americas working families."
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney reacted to the amazing labor-driven Democratic Party victory at the polls that took control of Congress away from Republicans in the 2006 elections.
: The leaders in control of Congress neglected the needs of working Americans while catering to corrupt special interests. They ignored health care insecurity. They protected their friends in the drug and oil industries. They refused to raise the minimum wage for the lowest paid workers while raising their own pay and giving tax cuts to the wealthiest taxpayers. They rewarded corporations for moving jobs offshore. They tried to privatize the only retirement system millions of Americans have to depend on."
The Change To Win Federation's Anna Burger.
: "The sense in our country is that people are insecure about their economic position. They are worried about being able to support their families, they are worried about if they can afford healthcare and they are worried about whether or not their kids will be able to look forward to a better life then they will."
Cody Osborne is a worker active with Working America in Ohio, where the AFL-CIO's community affiliate played a powerful grassroots role in the election win.
: "Together we can make a difference as opposed to every person by themselves. Our voices are gonna be heard if we all come together."
Sharon Feenster is a steelworker who says what millions of workers yearning for political change feel.
: "We are working harder, producing more and our real wages continue to fall further and further behind. It's time to change the course with a new direction. I feel the middle class now has a voice."
: "We are working harder, producing more and our real wages continue to fall further and further behind. It's time to change the course with a new direction. I feel the middle class now has a voice."
Labor spent tens of millions of dollars on politics in 2006 and this time Democrats, who get the lion's share of labor money, won big. But Democrats are not always in labor's corner on critical issues. So why not form an independent labor political party? SEIU's Andy Stern wants labor to make sure instead that politicians are held accountable when they take power in January.
: "I think accountability is really what we need and not necessarily a new party."
Organized labor was absolutely critical in the Democratic Party elections victory, providing not only money but crucial people power and get out the vote efforts that made the difference at the polls in 2006. It demonstrated what the collective power or working families can accomplish politically.
As 2007 dawns labor is hopeful for a working families agenda of raising the minimum wage, making health care more affordable and accessible, blocking trade agreements that hurt workers and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, a labor law reform that will give workers back the right to easily form unions without employer retribution.
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