Teamsters President Hoffa weighs-in on Obama

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/10318

Lede: As Barack Obama becomes America’s first black president, workers and their unions see hope for real change. Doug Cunningham reports.

Teamsters President James Hoffa.

: “Barack Obama is a bright inspiration to all of us and I believe that we’re going to have a great eight years. He’s going to
help workers, he’s going to help the middle class. It’s the workers of America that have built America from the bottom up. And it’s time that somebody believes in us and somebody that will fight for us. And Barack Obama is that person.”

Hoffa expects to see the Employee Free Choice Act labor law reform passed during Obama’s first year.

: “It’s something that will give all Americans a chance to organize. Everybody needs a union. It’s a time to rebuild the middle class, and that’s what’ll do it.”

Under George Bush’s Labor Department, workers suffered Hoffa says, but he believes Obama Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will be much more worker-friendly.

: “I believe you’re going to see a renaissance with regard to workers’ rights, with regard to job safety, with regard to trade policies that keep good jobs in this country. I’m excited about these times.”

[rurallib]

1. I certainly hope Mr. Hoffa is right.