by René Lavanchy
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has pledged to “level the playing field for workers and the unions” as he signed into law an executive order banning companies who receive United States government contracts from receiving money for union-busting work.
Mr Obama signed the order last week as he launched a “middle-class task force”, which he promised would work with trade unions and employers to improve people’s employment rights and job prospects.
Speaking to an audience of union officials and non-governmental groups, Mr Obama said: “This task force will bring together my economic advisors and members of my cabinet to focus on policies that will really benefit the middle-class, policies to create jobs that pay well and provide a chance to save… to ensure that workplaces are safe and fair as well as flexible for employees”.
He said that he wanted to reverse the Bush administration’s trend of union legislation, adding: “I do not view the labour movement as part of the problem, to me it’s part of the solution.
“We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests, because we know that you cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labour movement.”
According to Mr Obama, the order – whose terms were not published as Tribune went to press – will “prevent taxpayer dollars from going to reimburse federal contractors who spend money trying to influence the formation of unions”.
Two further orders oblige firms to inform employees of their rights under law, and guarantee the jobs of “qualified employees” working for the government when contracts are transferred to another company.
US unions, which welcomed the executive orders, are lobbying Mr Obama and the US Congress to support the Employee Free Choice Act, which strengthens workers’ rights to union recognition and protects them from victimisation.
