Change to Win, AFL-CIO join to push immigration "reform"; ditching big business; labor commission

Julia Preston and Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times offer 'Immigration Accord by Labor Boosts Obama Effort" (link). The AFL-CIO and the Change to Win federation (which includes the Service Employees International Union) have joined forces to push comprehensive immigration reform, aka amnesty.

This is a continuation of the plan that was outlined in Soros-funded Democratic immigration push might ditch business interests involving a commission to manage future immigration levels. The unions want the basic components of "reform", but they also oppose a large guest workers program. This doesn't sit well with the US Chamber of Commerce, whose Randel Johnson says:

"If the unions think they’re going to push a bill through without the support of the business community, they’re crazy... There’s only going to be one shot at immigration reform. As part of the trade-off for legalization, we need to expand the temporary worker program."

And, Tamar Jacoby says:

"The question is, Will the commission work? ...Will it be adequately attuned to and triggered by the labor market? A system that may - or may not - supply the workers that business will need in the future after the recession will be a cause of great concern to employers."

Tue, 04/14/2009 - 10:19 · · Importance: 4