Tag Archives: 2010 Elections

YDA Taking a Stand for Workers Rights on Labor Day

7 Sep

Young Democrats of America released this email commemorating Labor Day and committing themselves to fight for candidates that will restore economic stability for young workers…

Dear Matthew,One year ago, the AFL-CIO published a report entitled “Young Workers: A Lost Decade.” (http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/laborday/upload/laborday2009_report.pdf)  Their findings show that for the first time in American history, our generation is unlikely to surpass the economic prosperity achieved by our parents before us.

The Young Democrats of America are working hard in 2010 to help stem this tide.  It’s our responsibility to ensure that those who inherit this country from us will once again find economic stability.  I believe this begins by electing Democrats. Over the years, Republicans have waged a full scale war on the American middle class, particularly those in unions.  From firing thousands of striking air traffic controllers, to deregulating Wall Street, to opposing workers’ fundamental right to organize, leaders in the GOP have demonstrated on countless occasions that they care more about the deep pockets of big business than the working families of this country. Republicans would love nothing more than to take back both houses of Congress in order to enact anti-union legislation that will weaken the already fragile middle class.  If the Republican/Tea Party wins in November, we will lose any chance of enacting the Employee Free Choice Act, which gives workers a fair playing field when attempting to form a union.  We will also say farewell to climate and energy legislation that creates high paying green jobs right here in America. With less than 60 days remaining before November 2, we must roll up our sleeves to help elect Democratic candidates who support American workers.  Two of the biggest reasons progressive candidates were successful in 2006 and 2008 is because of strong voter turnout among young people and union households.  We need that same energy and enthusiasm in 2010.The fight continues even today.  Right now there are 300 workers in Rochester, New York at the Mott’s applesauce factory who need our help. Earlier this year, the company was bought out by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, and despite record company profits, the new owners think the workers in western New York make too much money.  For more than 100 days, the workers have been on strike fighting to protect their salaries and benefits. Today – on Labor Day – I’m asking every YDA member to send a short note to the president of Dr. Pepper-Snapple in support of a fair wage for the Mott’s factory workers here: http://action.americanrightsatwork.org/campaign/motts_alertAs a kid growing up in a union household, my parents always taught me that actions speak louder than words.  YDA is ready to fight to ensure that the “lost decade” doesn’t lead to a lost generation.  On November 2, we will stand up for working women and men.  We will elect Democrats.  We will take America forward.    In Solidarity,Mike Corbett
Labor Caucus Chair
Young Democrats of America

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More Primaries, Labor Wins, Republicans Run from Young Workers

9 Jun


Last night’s primaries, like the earlier contests, come back to trust and values.  Young workers learned that they can trust unions to fight for their values to the bitter end and learned that Republicans can’t be trusted to fight for those values.  Here were the main questions for young workers in yesterday’s primaries:

  • Would labor’s attempt to kick Blanche Lincoln out work?
  • How little do Republican primary voters reflect the values of young workers?

On the first, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln defeated Lt. Governor Bill Halter in the Democratic primary run-off by significantly winning Little Rock.  Lincoln had come out against the public option in the health care reform legislation and opposed the Employee Free Choice Act, angering many in her low-wage, right-to-work state.  Labor and progressive groups put millions of dollars into the race to support Halter, with the hope of bringing other conservative Democrats in-line with the groups that mobilized to send them to Congress.  “We’re sending a message here,” said Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America told the New York Times on Friday. “Our members have had it — not just in Arkansas, they have had it across this country.”

Despite the heavy spending, progressives were always at a disadvantage in Arkansas because of the state’s low union density.  More importantly, even though Halter lost, progressives still won.  They showed conservative Democrats they will not stand by elected officials who don’t stand with them.  They pushed Lincoln to pass out of the Senate Agriculture Committee restrictions on derivatives trading by banks, despite Wall Street’s significant donations to her campaign.  And, the national unions showed their members nationwide that they are not puppets of the Democratic Party and are standing up for their values in their political action.  By playing so significantly in the primary unions won the trust of young workers who now know that the union is fighting for them.

As for Republican primary voters reflecting the values of young workers, the answer is – drum roll, please – not even close.  In Nevada, Tea Party candidate, former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle beat establishment-supported Sue Lowden to challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the fall.  Angle’s top agenda items: eliminate Social Security, end the Department of Education, and reinstate prohibition.  And despite the need for a clean energy policy, as the Gulf continues to be polluted by a dependence on oil, in condemning Reid’s support for cap-and-trade legislation, Angle told The Cypress Times that “the last thing we need is legislation” which she said would raise taxes.   Her policy positions put her outside the mainstream of Nevada voters, giving the GOP at a disadvantage, and far away from the values of young workers.

In South Carolina, Sarah Palin-supported Nikki Haley, who campaigned on rejecting federal stimulus dollars despite the state’s , won 49% of the vote for the Republican nomination for governor – just shy of what was needed to avoid a run-off.  And in California, two rich businesswomen, who are looking to buy themselves public office, won.  Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who was John McCain’s economic adviser during the campaign, won the nomination to challenge Senator Barbara Boxer; former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who spent $81 million already on the campaign, will face former Governor Jerry Brown in the general election to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Young workers do not want a CEO, they want people who understand government.  In their roles at HP and eBay, Fiorina and Whitman went for the highest profit, at the lowest cost, shipping jobs off to China.  Government functions the exact opposite.  The stimulus money was important and more is needed.  Governor’s need to be in-tune with the needs of their constituents, not opposing job growth policies out of political ideology.  It is impressive that the Republicans so significantly supported female candidates, but their values are outside the mainstream and are going to cost them the support of young workers.

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Young Workers in the Midterms

4 May

Yesterday David Plouffe, Obama’s Campaign Manager, hosted an open “strategy session” for Organizing for America activists on the game-plan for 2010.  The bulk of the strategy is about reengaging the fifteen million first-time voters from 2008 that came out because they were excited about electing a progressive President that would stand for rebuilding the middle-class and reversing the inequality gap.  If effective, that strategy would give Democrats a significant boost in turnout for a midterm elections – stemming the anti-working family, “Tea Party” tide.

However, Democrats have not done enough to deliver for many young workers.  AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka is quoted in The Hill today saying Dems chances are looking better now that healthcare reform has passed and it looks like financial regulatory reform will pass as well.  I would add to that list student financial aid reform.  However, none of those significant and important reforms are directly and swiftly adjusting the unemployment and underemployment of young workers.  First-time voters who were inspired to vote for President Obama have seen hedging, anxiety, and a mess legislative process while they move back in with their parents or lack summer employment because the youth jobs program is closed.  Make no mistake, the Dems aggressive posture will certainly help, leadership particularly on financial reform is an important signal, but the current economic depression facing 18-30 year old workers is the elephant in the room (if you will).

Take Ohio, the example David Plouffe used: 763,ooo first time voters in 2008.  If only 8% of them come back to the polls in 2010, you increase 2006 turnout by 2%.  Thats the way you win elections.  But Ohio young workers are seeing the lowest wages in 40 years, the high debt burdens, and are raising children in poverty.  That’s how you loose elections.

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