Stunned By The Silence of Our Secretary of Labor

[Omaha Steve]

http://nhlabornews.com/2012/12/stunned-by-the-silence-of-our-secretary-of-labor/

By Wayne Alterisio | December 10, 2012 | Labor, Wayne Alterisio

I am actually ecstatic that President Obama has been elected for a second term but I am perplexed at the silence of his entire cabinet. Especially the Labor Department headed, up by Hilda Solis. When I ask fellow union members who heads up the Department of Labor, I get a blank stare. Nobody knows. Here we are in the fight of our lives to preserve unions and in most of the fights from Wisconsin to Michigan to New Hampshire the Labor Department has been absolutely silent.



Sec. of Labor Hilda Solis

From the Right to work fights to the anti-labor stance taken by Hostess and the possible layoff of 25,000 letter carriers due to the implementation of five day delivery by the Postal Service you hear nothing from the Labor Department. That is very troubling to workers. The Labor department is supposed to be our advocates. In 2009 after a very hard confirmation I remember being in a meeting with Secretary Solis and she stated “there’s a new sheriff in town, and she’s on the side of Labor”. So where has she been?

They didn’t weigh in on the crippling shipping strike in California nor have they said anything about the 11,000 workers about to be laid off by Citi Group. It’s astonishing that they are so silent on all these potential job losses. What are they there for but to be on the side of workers? There just seems to be a disconnect.

FULL story at link.

About Wayne Alterisio

Wayne has been an activist for over 40 years. He started by protesting the Vietnam War in the early 70's. He also worked with the NH Peoples Alliance since the late 70's. Wayne is currently the President of the NH State Association of Letter Carriers. As a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Wayne has held many positions including: VP NH AFL-CIO Dist.6 Manchester, President Nashua Branch 230, CD-1 State Legislative Liaison, Sec/Treas. Nashua Central Labor Council, Chief Steward, and Secretary and Editor Branch Newsletter, Nashua Br.230. Wayne has worked with the NH AFL-CIO on the last five election cycles. Follow Wayne on Twitter @WayneAlterisio Statements by Wayne on the NHLN are not official statements from the NALC or NHALC unless stated as such.

View all posts by Wayne Alterisio ?

[hfojvt]

1. maybe she's been locked in the cabinet

Inside joke, as that was the title of Robert Reich's book after he left the job as Clinton's Secretary of Labor and that was the first time I had heard of Reich was when I boght his book from the bargain table at Waldens in 1999.

[mmonk]

2. The Third Way doesn't support unions but will take their support.

[Eleanors38]

11. Precisely. Next....!

[pinboy3niner]

19. Obama Right-To-Work: President Comes Out Against New Legislation In Michigan

Sam Stein
Posted: 12/06/2012 5:26 pm EST Updated: 12/06/2012 5:37 pm EST

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration, in a statement Thursday afternoon, came out against proposed "right-to-work" legislation being pushed by Republicans in Michigan including Gov. Rick Snyder (R).

"President Obama has long opposed so-called ‘right to work’ laws and he continues to oppose them now," said White House spokesperson Matt Lehrich. "The President believes our economy is stronger when workers get good wages and good benefits, and he opposes attempts to roll back their rights. Michigan – and its workers' role in the revival of the US automobile industry – is a prime example of how unions have helped build a strong middle class and a strong American economy."

This isn't the first time the president has had to weigh into the state politics surrounding collective bargaining and labor law. He also spoke out against efforts by Gov. Scott Walker (R) to take away collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin.

...


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/06/obama-right-to-work_n_2253493.html?1354832828

[Lionessa]

26. I believe most of his appointed positions are Third Way,

Treasury, education, even his USSC choices. Obama is not and I don't think ever has been a progressive or liberal, he just speaks that way during campaigns and when issues like this come up. Then he steps aside and let's the corporate masters flatten the middle class.

[agent46]

27. Bingo n/t

[bonniebgood]

37. I second that Bingo agent46. we have a Winner. nt

[bvar22]

30. Some are WORSE than 3rd Way

Our Department of Agriculture and FDA are being RUN by Monsanto Shills.

Google: Tom Vilsack & Monsanto (appointed by Obama to head the Department of Agriculture)

Google: Michael Taylor & Monsanto (appointed by Obama to head the FDA)

The guy who is currently leading the charge for MORE Media Consolidation, Julius Genachowski, was also appointed by Obama tho Chair the FCC in 2009.


[font size=5]
The DLC New Team
Progressives Need NOT Apply
[/font]
(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)

Not a single Democrat who voted AGAINST the Invasion of Iraq was appointed to a position in the Obama Administration.

Not a single member of the Progressive Caucus was appointed to any significant position in the Obama Administration.


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[Angry Dragon]

35. +27,949

[part man all 86]

40. Sad isn't it?

[Brickbat]

3. K&R. Because yeah.

[woo me with science]

4. Are we ready to stop being stunned and puzzled yet?

Last edited Mon Dec 10, 2012, 04:18 PM - Edit history (1)

Are we ready to admit what the real problem is, yet?

[rhett o rick]

8. In a word fuckno. Things will have to get a lot worse. I believe the percentage

of American children that live in poverty is 25%. But most Americans are oblivious to this thanks in part by our corporate media. At some point the corp-media wont be able to hide it.

[jtuck004]

10. Hint - we can find it in our mirror. n/t

Last edited Mon Dec 10, 2012, 05:12 PM - Edit history (1)

[grahamhgreen]

12. Good one - blame us victims.

[jtuck004]

29. Awwww, poort wittle victims. Boo fuckin' hoo. No, I'm saying lazy ass adults who are so cowed

we are almost worthless in the struggle, who say we are lookin' out for the care of the real victims, and waste incredible amounts of effort shirking that stated responsibility, blaming everyone in sight, and leave the real victims to bastards who care nothing about them. Adults who act like credit cards and mortgages are more important than freedom, who really don't think they owe all the people who died to get them that spot a damn thing.

It's like an alternate universe where the " target="_blank">|Geto Boyswrite "Damn, It Feels Good To Be a Victim".

At most there's a million true believers on their side, if you count the tyrants and all the people they pay directly. They are stealing from 311 million people. And we let them while we parade around in our feel-good suits. How anyone can say the 311 million are at a disadvantage not of their own making is beyond me.

If you are the coach, what do you say to a football team, losing at halftime, when you look out and realize your team has 311 players and theirs has 1?. Speechless? How in the hell can you imagine that the 311 mostly fully capable people, even with traitors and thieves in their midst, can't just take back what was theirs in the first place?

Just maybe the reason that kid didn't get to eat all weekend, until she got back to school Monday morning was because all the adults in her life are so worried about hanging on to what Mr. Charlie gives back to them from their labor that they failed her. (she and others are the REAL victims, btw, though unlike the post above I bet they would probably never ever think of themselves like that, until the adults teach them later). Maybe that veteran would be getting care if WE weren't sending $40 billion plus every month to wealthy billionaires who invests in mortgage-backed assets that we are propping up so they don't lose money. While at the same time we watch 50,000 families a month being taken out of their foreclosed homes. (Point a finger at me there are three pointing back at you. If we have to drop to the level of kiddie talk to make it clear, get people's spirit fired back up, that's fine. I'll do whatever if it hurts the opponent).

I think the worst thing the Republicans could have gotten themselves was a win. Their policies would have taken us back over a hundred years. Maybe like the 1870s when people were in the streets demanding the changes they got, making it unsafe for tyrants to walk the streets unmolested. Not making excuses and filling volumes of hard drives with drivel while greedy capitalists and their collaborators dole out ever smaller bits and pieces from what they are stealing from us, from our labor, in the first place. (Although I would have gotten popcorn and thoroughly enjoyed watching as the people re-learned how to be downright uncivil, at Republican expense).

For about 40 years or so back then they stood up, demanded, and got major changes that made their lives better, even though people told them it wasn't possible, that they should rely on Mr. Charlie to bring them aid. We whine because no one is bringing us the solution, and then we let mean bastards hurt people and make excuses for them.

Maybe it's because people keep depending on other people who feel "for" them, and thus really, really don't feel "like" them, and thus don't really care about them at all. At all. At all.

You don't really see yourself as that? Victim my ass.

[Kolesar]

5. Obama Expected To Weigh In On Michigan Right-To-Work Battle In Detroit Speech

Michigan is set to become the 24th right-to-work state, with Gov. Rick Snyder (R) poised to sign the controversial bill on Tuesday after it was fast-tracked by the GOP-controlled legislature. Thousands of union supporters protested at the state capitol in Lansing last week, and more protests are expected in the coming days.

On Monday, Obama is scheduled to give a speech on the fiscal cliff at the Daimler Detroit Diesel plant, as part of his public campaign to build support for raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans as he negotiates with congressional Republicans.

The Obama administration told labor leaders that the president will also be weighing in on the right-to-work fight in his speech, according to union officials who spoke with The Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/09/obama-right-to-work-michigan_n_2268255.html?1355098110&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

[HiPointDem]

15. he'll weigh in. so will the pundits. and?

[Kolesar]

16. And the excitement begins!! !!!

[Cha]

21. Live Tweeting from Nerdy Wonka..

Anne C. Savage

@Anne_Savage #Obama in Detroit: "People shouldn't be taking away your rights to collectively bargain" #SaveMI pic.twitter.com/n76AXH3u

Nerdy Wonka

@NerdyWonka Pres. Obama: "What we shouldn't be doing is trying to take your rights to bargain and organize." Crowd erupts in cheers. #MI

[limpyhobbler]

6. k/r.

[Cha]

7. Yes, the President is in Michigan NOW..

PBO's in Michigan now..and will be talking to the Workers in the Detroit Diesel Facility in Redford, MI at 2pm. And, YES, he will be Weighing IN on the Orwellian "right to work" law.

Tweet found on Obama Diary..

Nerdy Wonka

@NerdyWonka Pres. Obama: "I will admit, I do love coming to factories..." Woman in crowd: "We love you!" POTUS: "I love you back!" #MI

[HiPointDem]

14. love butters no onions.

[sheshe2]

28. Aaah...

PBO Michigan!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

9. Just wait until she follows Robert Reich's lead and openly endorses the let's-send-jobs-to-foreign-

countries "free-trade" agreement.

It was alright for many that Robert Reich did this because he had a big "D" after his name.

She has a big "D" after her name as well. Can we count on her?

[HiPointDem]

13. but she's female, & latina! isn't that enough for you? you want her to actually protect labor

rights too?

[amandabeech]

17. OOOOO!

We couldn't ask that much, could we?

You're sounding very ungrateful.

[Kolesar]

33. It gives you something to whine about

That's a good thing, isn't it?

[tiredtoo]

18. U folks are right.

We have a long way to go. But that does not mean we should just give up and accept what is going on. Maintain pressure on all elected officials. Call, email or snail mail them at least once a week and let them know how you feel about what is going on.

[BE10sCoach]

20. Secretary Hilda Solis

is and has been non existant. Hell I even forgot who the Secretary of Labor is. This is a vital mistake by her and this administration and she needs to be more agressive on Labor issues. As she works the job now Hilda Solis is "WOTHLESS"!

[Egalitarian Thug]

22. And Robert Reich was Clinton's SoL. He was absolutely useless, not for a lack of desire, but

because he worked for another Democratic administration that would not permit him to act.

Once out of the White House, he has done a fairly good job of speaking out, but while serving at the pleasure you do what you're told or resign.

As for Solis herself, I'm not sure. She was raised in a union house when unions still had power, but has never had a real job in her life.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

25. Reich's desire to support NAFTA seemed to be very clear.

[Egalitarian Thug]

31. Yeah, good point. So, did he choose to ignore the inevitable consequences, or was he just not

bright enough to see where it would go?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

32. Did he, like politicians who voted in favor of the mandatory health insurance, buy as much stock

as he could prior to NAFTA?

If so, it would seem that he would be bright enough to see where it would go.

[Coyotl]

24. Do you have a copy of her job definition?

I know it is NOT a political job.

[Angry Dragon]

36. Every job in DC is political

[Coyotl]

45. Some jobs are expressly non-political, and political activity can be illegal in some jobs

Politics is regulated for many government workers.

[Angry Dragon]

34. time for her to go??

[DonRedwood]

38. This is how it feels to be a teacher these days. Everyone is stabbing you in the back

[EC]

39. I wonder how her Dad would feel about her silence.

He was never silent in his work with the Teamsters. Her Mother was outspoken in the union also. Her Dad was a shop stewart.

[bigtree]

41. this is some revisionist bullshit to focus on those cases and make Solis appear anti-labor

this administration has supported unions and union organizing from the start. Their efforts to reestablish working control of the Labor Relations Board was a huge step forward.


As soon as he took office, President Obama signed executive orders to outlaw government money being spent on anti-union activity. He has supported a strong National Mediation Board so union elections are democratic. Under the old law, anyone who didn't vote in a union election was counted as a vote against the union. Now, we're just counting the people who actually vote — like any other election . . .

Solis: http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/speeches/20120115_AFLCIO.htm#.UMdsj6z4JKc


There's no sense in debating crap like this. You have to wonder at the motivation of someone who will ignore the efforts and support that exists to make such a backhanded and false statement and post. (Omaha Steve should know better than to post one-sided and misleading tripe like this)


In Her Words: Speeches, Testimony, and More from the Secretary of Labor (if you give a damn)

http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/#.UMdrAKz4JKc

[macwriter]

42. This is Par For The Course

Chris Matthews has brought it up a number of times on his show over the past couple of years -- not only about Labor, but other cabinet posts as well. In other administrations you'd see a parade of cabinet people doing Sunday shows to promote or defend policy, but not so much with the Obama Administration. That's one of the reasons we lose control of the talking points some times.

[Doctor_J]

44. Many are DINOs

check #43 for a list. Not sure we want them speaking out loud anyway

[Doctor_J]

43. Cabinet is mostly useless, except Hillary & Chu

Solis - anti-labor
Holder -
Salazar - Useless
Duncan - wants to kill public schools
Geithner - Bankster's BFF

Some still think the president is liberal