Washblog

dlaw: "They [labor] openly view themselves as an organ of the Democratic party , so they'll do nothing to oppose it. This change in stance is a trial balloon from an organization that has lost membership and is in the process of losing all clout in D.C.  This is a tree falling in a forest of deaf ears"

Me:

In a lot of ways the AFL-CIO and the labor movement in general is indeed an organ of the Democratic party.  That is simply because almost the whole Republican party is virulently anti-worker, while only roughly half the Democratic party is anti-worker.  To the extent that the changes they are working for must be achieved through the legislative process, of course they're going to trend Dem.

I work with labor activists every day who are even more anti establishment-Democrat than you are dlaw, but they also recognize that on the vast majority of issues the dems are better for them than the repubs.  Some are pissed about the war, some are pissed about labor law, some are pissed about free-trade, etc.  But they also realize that on the environment, on social services, on choice, on general respect for the value of work vs. the value of wealth the Democrats are the only game in town.

As for declining membership and influence, that's absolutely true.  But the idea that they are in danger of losing all clout is ridiculous.  Union voters accounted for almost 25% of the total votes cast in the 2004 election (despite being 12% of the population), vote 2 to 1 for the progressive candidate (almost always Dem), and are very attuned to endorsements (which incidentally are democratically determined, compared with many other large interest groups).  Union voters are the closest thing our side has to the right's evangelical vote.  

Further, maybe not exactly to your point, but almost 20% of workers in Washington state are union members - so labor's not in great danger of losing influence in WA state.  Look at the state labor council priorities this session, UI reform - passed, Small Business Insurance Partnerships - passed, Family Leave - passed, Expansion of BHP - passed, apprenticeship requirements on DOT projects - passed, increased healthcare coverage for children - passed.  And the big-cahuna, Fair Share Health Care, went from an unknown issue to arguably the biggest policy debate in the state with a commitment from the Governor to pass it next year, and came within one obstinate speaker from passing this session.

Specific examples of Labor challenging the Democratic party after jump