Richard Trumka on Jobs, Labor Issues

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The focus of the presidential campaign so far has been the economy and more specifically jobs and it will likely continue that way.

Here to talk about that another labor issues is the president of the AFL CIO Richard Trumka thanks for being here -- -- from me on appreciate.

Do you think President Obama has led.

On the issue of jobs.

I think -- starting to -- more effectively.

But He got off into the notion of talking about debt ceiling and debt reduction all that stuff they forgot about the primary focus and the number one issue on everybody's mind and that's jobs.

And I think He made a very very important step when He introduced the job back I think that's a necessary step.

For us to start.

The national conversation about jobs and ending the jobs crisis because at one point you said you were frustrated and upset.

And that the White House is making strategic mistakes.

Your past that now.

Well -- have to we'll see about the results of -- He said He was gonna fight for those bills and he's been doing that.

He introduced a bill which was in -- important first step.

He's been going from city to city talking about the necessity for job creation.

He's putting the focus on jobs and I think that's what every worker in America really wants the focus on job creation.

How are obligated are you the President Obama in this reelection effort.

How obligated -- how committed is -- organization to helping him.

Financially I -- you've been talking about being more independent.

With -- -- money and using it differently than perhaps in years past.

Is that true.

Well we're we are gonna be more independent.

We're gonna be more independent because we're gonna build a structure that speaks for working people.

Union people and hopefully non -- people as well to get their interest out -- so every dollar we put into our structure.

We'll have it there to help workers afterwards then after the election.

Unlike in the past will keep our our rough.

Structure in place.

To be able to go from -- -- politics advocacy to accountability pretty seamlessly so not necessarily directly to the Democratic Party.

Know some will some more will do a lot more of our own build our own structure.

Let's talk about the jobs bill and the specifically the taxes part.

Here was President Obama in 2009.

And what He was saying about raising taxes.

The last thing you want to do is to raise taxes in the middle of recession.

Because that would just suck up.

Take more demand the economy and put businesses.

-- -- further -- so what do you think his change now.

I think he's finally can do -- senses about about that the book.

Leave the room to be -- a -- with a lot for a long time they haven't been paying their fair share if we're ever gonna get out of this hole.

If -- ever wanna reduce the deficits and create jobs they have to pay their fair share now's the time for them to do that think the CBO's shed.

That if the bush tax cuts expire.

The deficit we cut in half over the next five years.

That's a significant step with the IRS says that 1% of households pay 38%.

Of federal income tax is the top 10% of households.

Pay 70%.

Of federal income taxes and then you have the estimate that 47%.

Roughly of households pay.

Zero federal income -- so is that not paying their fair share.

Well I think -- -- -- -- share than they have been in the past.

There's more of the loop -- that have been built in this thing you have corporations that are paying question of rich people are paying less.

Look they're paying less now than they did when Bill Clinton was creating hundreds of thousands of jobs every month.

What's the future of labor.

I think we got a break preacher we were attacked this year and a number of the states by people like Scott Walker.

And Jon -- second things like that trying to wait.

Take away collective bargaining rights -- we've been trying to have a debate about collective bargaining for ten years just.

Been difficult to have.

He gave the senate debate and the good news is we're winning it.

Most Americans seventy some percent of Americans think the workers ought to have.

The right to collective bargaining they know their wages have been stagnating they know that the wage gap has been growing they -- that -- -- -- doing exceptionally well.

But the average Americans getting behind and they need collective bargaining so that they can get a little bit more and so that they can create demand.

By wages in mind -- Wisconsin you lost that battle.

No we did lose a battle.

Quite contrary.

We didn't lose a little we had death.

In 2000 and eight.

President Obama won Wisconsin by fourteen points.

And the six people that we recall.

One by a like number they were to six strongest Republican districts in that state.

We took two of them out -- -- we got 49%.

Plus votes percent the votes in those six strong Republican district.

And we lost a little bit -- we took two of them out that means.

That 49 only forty or fifty plus 1% of the Republicans in the state -- those districts.

Really think that you gotta take away collective bargaining.

That's present workers and the governor Walker's plan is still in intact and a prayer or you're just saying that you have more work to do there.

Well temporal well -- here's what else happened we organize my new hospitals we brought 30000 new members into working America.

We're actually bigger and stronger right now though we were before He started his overreaching.

And that's what the American public saying we'll see what happens -- if.

-- -- is pushing the free trades.

Free trade deals with that Columbia South Korea.

And Panama you have sent a letter up about Columbia specifically listing names of 22 union leaders who have been killed in Columbia.

First of all just -- this will be passed number one number two -- Democrats who sign on to this and vote for it.

Well they have to pay.

With your group and the will you go after them in elections around the country.

Not just -- ripped -- to pay with workers.

I mean the best of -- American public vast majority of the American public.

Know that these trade -- so we've been negotiating haven't been good for the country they've cost us jobs millions of jobs.

-- for real cost us a 159000.

Jobs com mail costs us 55000 jobs but last year.

They assassinated.

Not not accidentally killed.

They assassinated 51 trade Unionist.

If 51 CEOs have been assassinated last year.

I don't think many people.

Would be talking about a trade -- with Columbia but this really is pushing in almost every stop we think those trade Unionists are every bit as important as CEO.

And we will -- about it because the bills are bad for the country.

And you'll fight that.

-- -- we will OKMR trumka thank you very much appreciate thanks very -- a labor of love.

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Richard Trumka on Jobs, Labor Issues

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