Labor leaders are not pleased with certain members of Washington State’s congressional delegation, particularly those whose campaigns (read: Democrats) they pumped money into with the expectation of just a little something in return. This dissatisfaction raised its head publically during the Washington State Labor Council’s (WSLC) recent annual convention – the one Jay Inslee was disinvited to speak at– where delegates came together to deliberate on far-left resolutions submitted by members.
Resolutions that passed included one on organizing (Resolution #3). It includes the following,
“WHEREAS, political contributions and lobbying efforts have been unsuccessful in creating the policy changes we need to lift up workers and families, and oftentimes have resulted in representatives voting against the interests of workers and the majority of their constituents in favor of corporate control, for example the recent passage of Fast Track, which was approved by representatives that labor has supported…
“RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, forward this resolution and a letter suggesting that the AFL-CIO Executive Committee consider reducing the amount of money International Unions put into politics and redirect some of this money towards coordinated organizing efforts to build our labor movement for the benefit of all workers.”
In Washington State’s congressional delegation, only three Democrat representatives supported by labor money – Jim McDermott, Adam Smith and Denny Heck – voted against the free trade bill. The other three House Democrats in the delegation – Derek Kilmer, Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene (and Democrat Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell) — joined with the state’s four House Republicans in voting for free trade despite facing significant union pressure.
Well, it appears that the union strategy of pouring their members forced-dues money into campaign contributions and lobbying of Democrats did not buy them the outcome they wanted. So, the Democrats who took labor’s money and then voted against their wishes (but for the best interests of the state on free trade) will now feel the wrath of unions.
If the passage of the Fast Track trade agreement did anything, it certainly managed to set the Left against one another.
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