RK ARCHIVE - AFL-CIO Endorses Webb

(Vienna, VA) +óGé¼GÇ£ Today, the Virginia AFL-CIO, Virginia+óGé¼Gäós branch of the country+óGé¼Gäós largest federation of unions, strongly endorsed Jim Webb for U.S. Senate. The endorsement, which was approved unanimously by delegates to the 34th Constitutional Convention of the Virginia AFL-CIO, reinforces Webb+óGé¼Gäós dedication to bringing basic elements of fairness back into the American economy.

+óGé¼+ôJim Webb is a true friend of the AFL-CIO and the entire labor movement. He genuinely cares about the modern-day challenges facing unions, and I+óGé¼Gäóm confident that he will be a strong voice in the United States Senate for the workers of Virginia,+óGé¼-¥ said Jim Leaman, President of Virginia AFL-CIO.

The Virginia AFL-CIO consists of nine central labor councils from all regions of the state. It is the Virginia branch of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, which is made up of 53 national and international unions and represents 9 million workers.

+óGé¼+ôOne of the major themes of my campaign is to reinstitute the notion of true fairness into our economic system. Few organizations have achieved more in the pursuit of this goal than the Virginia AFL-CIO,+óGé¼-¥ said Jim Webb. +óGé¼+ôI+óGé¼Gäóm honored to receive their support.+óGé¼-¥

As great as this endorsement is, and it was certainly expected, I wish the AFL-CIO would have taken the opportunity to express it's hope that Webb would revisit his position on the Right to Work Law. I realize it's a "state issue" but, once he's Senator, Webb will be one of the most powerful Democratic voices in VA and he could actually do something to advance this very important labor issue.

That said, fantastic endorsement and I'd love to hear people's thoughts. I'm certainly glad they could see past this one issue and do the right, and obvious thing, by endorsing Webb.

Comments

That is one of the reasons I now work (phriendlyjaime - 8/24/2006 12:48:09 PM)

for the state of VA. I got screwed uphill both ways from Sunday when I worked at 2 private corps here in VA, and I won't stand for it anymore. I think the right to work law is disgusting, and it needs to be stricken.

I can certainly accept Webb... (va.walter - 8/24/2006 2:30:16 PM)

disagreeing with the "party line" on individual issues but this is one I'd really like to see him take a different stance on. You think there's any chance we could get him to "re-evaluate" his position? I was hoping the AFL-CIO would use its endorsement to at least foster a discussion with Webb on the issue. Of course, they may have done that and I'm just not aware of it. In the end, it's a non-issue in this race since the candidates agree.

oh this is very good! (TurnVirginiaBlue - 8/24/2006 2:50:02 PM)

the AFL-CIO position on H-1B is endorsing the DeLauro (L-1 reform) and the Pascrell (H-1B reform) bills. I'm fairly certain they are actively against Allen's co-sponsored "Skil Bill" (washtech, AFL-CIO DPE).

Hopefully they will bring cash, votes and influence on issue statements!

Don't Forget Jim's... (Nick Stump - 8/24/2006 2:50:41 PM)

...a union man himself. The Writer's Guild of which I am a proud member is an AFL-CIO union, or at least it was the last time I looked. I don't know if he's a member of the Author's Guild or not. But you can't write movies for big studios without being in the Guild. Well, actually I think you can get by the first time, but who would want to work with those caring studio executives without union protection. I joined as soon as I sold my first script. Without the protection, those guys will bleed a writer dry and toss him aside penniless. They'll still bleed you dry, but when you're in the Guild, they have to pay for the privilege.

God bless the unions. I've been in a bunch--mostly factory work when I was younger. Still belong to two. Money well-spent.

Webb walked with the Miners (Josh - 8/24/2006 10:15:30 PM)

In 1989 there was a massive and violent coal strike in Virginia against Pittston coal. Webb wasn't part of the Union, but he went down to help out the workers. He doesn't talk about it, in fact, he didn't mention it during the primary, where it really could have helped, but it's a fact. Webb is true blue.