Federal agency’s e-mails show bias

You might expect public employees like those in the U.S. Labor Department to be evenhanded about their dealings with organizations whose stated purpose is to destroy unions.

But unfortunately not even the appearance of fairness matters at the Labor Department. All that seems to matter is pushing the corporate agenda at the expense of protecting workers.

Consider the recent e-mails between Labor Department employees – including Secretary Elaine Chao – and the multibillion-dollar union-busting industry.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) recently released documents that show “a close and supportive relationship” between the agency and Richard Berman, director of the anti-union Web site, the so-called Center for Union Facts (CUF). Berman gained fame for being the public face for companies fighting tougher anti-drunken driving laws, living-wage ordinances, clean air initiatives and other progressive issues.

“These documents make it clear that under the leadership of Secretary Elaine Chao, the Department of Labor has become anti-labor,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW. “It is disgraceful that the very department designed to focus on improving the lives of American laborers is disseminating anti-union propaganda and developing relationships with anti-union organizations. American workers deserve better.”

One of the e-mails shows that Chao agreed to be profiled for one of Berman’s many ultra-conservative, anti-worker fronts, the First Jobs Institute.

The documents also include an e-mail indicating that agency staffer Lynn Gibson set up a meeting between Berman and department staff. In another, Gibson tells a CUF staff person she will send out e-mails related to CUF’s Web site to her “network.” E-mails obtained by CREW and sent out by department staff include an op-ed drafted by Berman, anti-union newspaper accounts, as well as anti-union blogs and news releases.

And it’s all done with your tax dollars.

Claiming privilege, the agency has withheld e-mail correspondence, including correspondence from Chao, that directly refers to Berman and his organizations. CREW plans to file a lawsuit to make the department release the documents.

Vince Piscopo