Obama acts for unions

President Barack Obama issued a series of executive orders today that he said should “level the playing field” for labor unions in their "struggles" with management.

“I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it’s part of the solution,” he said. “You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."

James Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who attended the White House ceremony with other union leaders, said:

“It’s a new day for workers. We finally have a White House that is dedicated to working with us to rebuild our middle class. Hope for the American Dream is being restored."

The president and vice president said the task force includes Cabinet departments whose work has the most influence on the well-being of the country’s middle class, including the departments of education, commerce, health and human services and

He pledged that the task force will conduct its business in the open, and announced a Web site, www.astrongmiddleclass.gov, for the public to get information.

[Middle class?. Union membership in the private sector is 12%. We've a middle class of 12%? Insulting, but likely to work if they just say it often enough. How can anyone look at American auto makers and see labor unions as part of the solution? {rhetorical, he knows better - but a debt's a debt}. BTW:]

He also announced that the panel’s first meeting will be Feb. 27 in Philadelphia and will focus on environmental or “green jobs.”

[joy]

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