"The meeting allowed labor and labor issues the opportunity to get one-on-one with the Senator," said Bill McCarthy, president of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council (CLUC). "It was an opportunity for us to be heard on the issues."
Klobuchar was endorsed by the Minnesota AFL-CIO in her campaign for U.S. Senate last year and this year she has become a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), one of the labor movement\'s top legislative priorities in Congress. The legislation would simplify the union organizing process, providing union recognition when a majority of workers at a worksite signed union authorization cards.
"She gave a briefing and talked about the EFCA and how it was a priority for her," said Andrea Ledger, political director for the Minneapolis CLUC. Klobuchar was on a tight schedule but also took a few questions from the group.
A member of the Machinists asked Klobuchar to oppose any efforts to renew President Bush\'s authority for "Fast Track" trade legislation. Klobuchar responded that she would be keeping a close eye on trade policy.
About 40 labor representatives attended the meeting with Klobuchar, which took place at the United Labor Centre in Minneapolis. The group came from "a wide variety of unions, both AFL-CIO and Change to Win," Ledger said. "They were almost all from different unions."
Klobuchar\'s meeting with labor representatives followed two breakfast meetings March 16 and April 13 between Ellison and Minneapolis area unions.
"They actually sought us out," Ledger said. "They want our input."
These meetings stand in contrast to a recent town hall forum hosted by Second District U.S. Congressman John Kline, when labor union members who attended couldn\'t get their questions answered.
"The difference is the degree to which that was staged versus the open dialogue we had with Amy and Keith," Ledger said, adding "we don\'t screen the questions."
Klobuchar also stopped by another union gathering in the United Labor Centre, a Heath Insurance Fair sponsored by SEIU Local 26, whose members recently won expanded health insurance coverage.
Klobuchar said she would meet again this summer with Minnesota unions while Ellison is planning another labor breakfast in June.
Ellison\'s second labor breakfast focused on outsourcing and the next session will focus on trade issues.
Steve Share edits the Minneapolis Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. Visit the CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org
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"The meeting allowed labor and labor issues the opportunity to get one-on-one with the Senator," said Bill McCarthy, president of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council (CLUC). "It was an opportunity for us to be heard on the issues."
Klobuchar was endorsed by the Minnesota AFL-CIO in her campaign for U.S. Senate last year and this year she has become a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), one of the labor movement\’s top legislative priorities in Congress. The legislation would simplify the union organizing process, providing union recognition when a majority of workers at a worksite signed union authorization cards.
"She gave a briefing and talked about the EFCA and how it was a priority for her," said Andrea Ledger, political director for the Minneapolis CLUC. Klobuchar was on a tight schedule but also took a few questions from the group.
A member of the Machinists asked Klobuchar to oppose any efforts to renew President Bush\’s authority for "Fast Track" trade legislation. Klobuchar responded that she would be keeping a close eye on trade policy.
About 40 labor representatives attended the meeting with Klobuchar, which took place at the United Labor Centre in Minneapolis. The group came from "a wide variety of unions, both AFL-CIO and Change to Win," Ledger said. "They were almost all from different unions."
Klobuchar\’s meeting with labor representatives followed two breakfast meetings March 16 and April 13 between Ellison and Minneapolis area unions.
"They actually sought us out," Ledger said. "They want our input."
These meetings stand in contrast to a recent town hall forum hosted by Second District U.S. Congressman John Kline, when labor union members who attended couldn\’t get their questions answered.
"The difference is the degree to which that was staged versus the open dialogue we had with Amy and Keith," Ledger said, adding "we don\’t screen the questions."
Klobuchar also stopped by another union gathering in the United Labor Centre, a Heath Insurance Fair sponsored by SEIU Local 26, whose members recently won expanded health insurance coverage.
Klobuchar said she would meet again this summer with Minnesota unions while Ellison is planning another labor breakfast in June.
Ellison\’s second labor breakfast focused on outsourcing and the next session will focus on trade issues.
Steve Share edits the Minneapolis Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. Visit the CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org