Labor

Before being elected to Congress, I cut the lining of men’s suits at Seaford Clothing factory in Rock Island and served as President of UNITE HERE Local 617. It was during this time that I saw first-hand the struggles of every day working Americans to make ends meet. These workers inspired me to fight for better wages, secure pensions and adequate health care coverage – a torch I have carried to Congress and one for which I intend to spend every single day fighting.

Collective Bargaining:
I believe we need to finally make the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) the law of the land. All Americans deserve the right to form a union via majority sign-up. The House passed EFCA, the most important piece of labor reform legislation in a generation, with a bipartisan vote in March 2007. It is time for the Senate to follow suit.

In July 2007, I supported legislation to guarantee the rights of firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical service workers in all 50 states to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions (H.R. ). Our first responders risk their lives every day to keep our families and communities safe. Providing these brave men and women access to the economic security that comes with collective bargaining is the least we can do.

Workplace Safety:
In March 2007, Eleazar Torres-Gomez, a 46-year old washroom employee from Tulsa, OK and a father of four, passed away when operating industrial laundry equipment at Cintas Corporation – the nation’s largest industrial laundry and uniform make. Mr. Torres-Gomez died tragically and needlessly when he was caught inside a dryer as it operated for 20 minutes at 300 degrees. On August 17, 2007, OSHA recommended a historic $2.8 million fine on Cintas for his death. I have called for a nationwide investigation of machinery safety hazards at laundries owned by Cintas and sent letters to all the nation’s large laundry facilities asking for reports on their safety records.

Additionally, with my urging, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on improving workplace safety and strengthening OSHA enforcement of multi-site employers. Since the moment I heard about this tragic and preventable death, I have been committed to shedding light on Cintas’ deplorable record on workplace safety.

I have also introduced legislation, the Protecting Americans Workers Act with Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) that would amend OSHA to cover more workers, increase penalties, and clarify an employer’s duty to provide his or her employees with adequate safety equipment.

I am currently working on legislation that takes this one step further – requiring corporations to be more accountable for the safety of their workers and allowing OSHA to conduct nationwide investigations of employers who have multiple worksites.

International Workers Rights Caucus (IWRC):
Every day, news of worker abuse and dangerous working conditions make headlines around the world. Reports detail workers forced to endure long hours to meet production quotas in harsh conditions, employers paying poverty wages, the use of child labor, and violence against workers exercising basic labor rights.

I re-established the International Workers Rights Caucus (IWRC), which was started by my predecessor, former Congressman Lane Evans, to raise awareness about worker exploitation and promote the enforcement of international labor rights.

In the 110th Congress, the IWRC has focused on:

• Violence perpetrated against union organizers and members;
• Proposed trade agreements and their impact on workers in the U.S. and abroad;
• Reform of trade policies that promote a “race to the bottom”; and
• Enforcement of internationally recognized worker rights.

Boeing/Air Force Contract:The Bush Administration’s decision to award a $40 billion military contract to a foreign company is a threat to our economic and national security. I have been a vocal opponent of this decision, calling on my colleagues and Congressional leadership to investigate the matter and initiate measures to ensure these decisions take into account U.S. jobs and national security. The message is simple – outsourcing a substantial portion of our defense industrial base would harm American workers and irresponsibly entrust a foreign company with the products we need to keep our nation safe. At a time when our economy is slumping and our nation is at war, the Pentagon should be investing in America by hiring our own highly skilled workers who are eager to do the job.

Additionally, in response to a protest from Boeing, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed the Air Force’s procurement process for the refueling tanker, and on June 18, 2008 concluded that the Air Force had made a number of significant errors that affected the outcome of the award. The GAO recommended that the Air Force reopen the bid and re-evaluate revised proposals from all entities interested in acquiring the contract.

The decision by the GAO is a victory for American workers, businesses, and our national security. Since the day the Air Force announced that Airbus would be receiving this contract, I have been speaking out about the dangers of outsourcing our defense industrial base. On September 10, 2008, the Department of Defense notified Congress that it is terminating the competition for the Air Force tanker in order to provide the next President with full flexibility over the requirements and contract process.