Kennedy: 60 million want to join a union

02.06.2008

Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., kept UAW activists on their feet with his address on the last morning of the CAP Conference. He said he always looks forward to being with UAW members because “the UAW has been in the vanguard of moving this nation in a positive and constructive way” throughout its history.

Photos by Rick Reinhard Kennedy: Salutes UAW's 'amazing integrity.'

“I listened to your round of applause for the minimum wage. Every worker in here receives more than the minimum wage, but you demonstrate your brotherhood for others who are left out and left behind,” he said. “It’s an indication of the amazing integrity of this union. You go out and work not only for decent jobs for your union, but for a better America. So I am extremely honored and proud to be here.”

Kennedy, who has served on the Senate Labor Committee for 45 years, and is the principal Senate sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, used charts to show the link between a strong union movement and a strong economy. “From 1947 to 1973 we as a country improved together, and this is the time of heightened union membership,” he said.

“Now look at 1973 to the year 2000. This is the time real income (for people in the bottom 20 percent) went up just about 10 percent. The top went up almost 70 percent,’ Kennedy said. “This is the beginning of the Republican leadership cutting taxes and giving the preferences to special interests. And this is the beginning of the attack and the assault on unionism; it’s the beginning of the attack and the assault on the NLRB.”

Kennedy then presented a chart on income distribution for the period 2000 to 2006, which shows income falling sharply for low- and middle-income Americans and rising income for the wealthiest. “Is that one country with one history and one destiny?” he asked. “No it’s not.”

Kennedy said this Bush administration is the most anti-union, anti-worker administration he’s seen during his time in the U.S. Senate.

“You’ve made this nation the most productive in the world, but you’re not getting the wages,” he said. “You’ve had the deck stacked against you because of the anti-union activity that day after day after day is stamping down opportunity for our unions to be able to represent the middle class and the increasing economic strength of the United States of America.

“That is why you have to be here and why you have to be serious about supporting those of us who are going to fight for the Employee Free Choice Act. There are 60 million Americans who want to join a union, and I say it’s about time we let them in!

The senator also railed against legislators who have blocked attempts to enact national health care.

“You pay 73 percent of the (health care insurance) premiums of every member of Congress,” said Kennedy referring to taxpayers. “Every time a member of the United States Congress comes into the Capitol, they’re given a little sheet with their pay, and a box if they want health care. And they all check it off – every member!” said Kennedy, his voice rising with anger. “That’s why I get so sick and tired of listening to our Republican friends in the United States Senate, when we get this (national health care) legislation up, first words out of their mouth, ‘Well this is socialism,’ and then they go down to Walter Reed and get their health care taken care of - free!

“I say if it’s good enough for this president of the United States, and it’s good enough for members of Congress, it’s good enough for the UAW and all of America!”

Local 6000 member Betty Summerville, who works for the Michigan Department of Human Services, said she can relate to Senator Kennedy’s remarks about people becoming worse off over the past decade.

Summerville: People are saying 'enough is enough.'

“Wages are going down. We’re definitely worse off,” said Summerville. “It’s taking more and more of our income just to live – you know, our utility bills, food prices are outrageous. It costs $40 or $50 to fill your gas tank. It’s taking everything just for the basics.”

Summerville believes people had become complacent, but she sees that changing now. “I think you’re starting to hear the middle class grumble and say, ‘Enough is enough.’ ” Looking toward November, Summerville says, “It’s my hope that they grumble loud enough and make a change.”