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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Sept. 4, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Editorial: Gov't hands off AFL-CIO!

August saw several outrageous attacks on labor by the government. A federal official threw out the election of popular Teamsters President Ron Carey right after the union's tremendous victory at UPS. Before that there was a federal court's refusal to order the Detroit newspapers to end their illegal union busting even though the companies have been found guilty of violating labor law.

And then came Congress.

As long as unions lie down and play dead, Congress keeps its pit bulls on a leash. But with labor now defending its rights and trying to regain some of what it has lost, Congress's dogs are snarling and threatening to take a big bite.

Congressional Republicans have subpoenaed a wide range of AFL-CIO documents, including minutes of meetings and documents detailing internal discussions about the federation's political activities. The committee that has demanded the documents is investigating contributions to President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign.

Never mind that most of Clinton's money came from rich business owners and bank ers. That's generally okay with the committee. The much smaller contribution made by the AFL-CIO has become the main focus of the Senate committee hearings.

On Aug. 23, failed movie actor Fred Thompson, a senator from Tennessee who heads the committee, blustered out a threat to issue a contempt citation against the nation's main labor federation. This carries with it the threat of injurious fines and jail time for the AFL-CIO's leaders.

The AFL-CIO responded that the subpoena is in reality an "unlimited search mission" into union affairs. And it is an attempt to throttle labor's constitutional free-speech rights.

This is another in almost 200 years of congressional attempts to weaken labor unions over the decades. They began in the 1800s with laws that declared labor organizing an illegal conspiracy, and they continue up through the present. It is another proof that the rich rule this country and call the tune in Washington.

This attack must be answered with a show of support for the AFL-CIO officials who are resisting the congressional attack. The entire working class--all progressive organizations, community groups, women's organizations, lesbian and gay organizations, Black and white, Latino, Asian and Native peoples--should stand up and add their voices to the chorus that says no to Congress's anti-union subpoena.

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