Labor & Employment Law

Labor Secretary Solis: Time to Work Together to Solve State Budget Crises

By James Parks

Public employees, from nurses to teachers to firefighters and police officers, have made and will continue to make sacrifices to help close budget gaps. But some state leaders have gone too far, says U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Budget sacrifices are one thing; demanding that workers give up their rights as union members?to take away their voice?is another, she says.

Writing today at The Huffington Post, Solis, the daughter of union members, says working people and their unions ?make remarkable contributions to the strength and prosperity of our nation.?

[Public employees?] collective voice gives them the opportunity and the right to actually improve public education, public heath, and public safety and security. They deserve the right to have their voices heard when they speak out for job security and safe workplaces. Unions fight for better wages and benefits, not just for their members, but for everyone. They advocate for quality jobs that build a strong middle class.

Solis adds:

In hard times, we all understand the need for sacrifices. Scapegoating teachers, firefighters and bus drivers by taking away their basic rights is not going to solve any problems. This is a time to find ways to work together and forge compromise. Neither side will get everything it wants, and everyone should share in the sacrifice.

Read the entire Solis column here.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 01, 2011 (boomark / email).