WASHINGTON — Competing demands by two factions of organized labor could sink the latest immigration legislation, dividing congressional Democrats who rely on union support.
The labor divide reflects a deeper rift within the party, which includes a growing constituency of immigrants as well as middle-class workers afraid of layoffs as U.S. jobs move overseas.
On one side of the debate are the AFL-CIO and other large industrial unions whose members have historically seen illegal immigrants as unwanted competitors.
Immigration bill: An article June 1 in Section A on how unions view the Senate immigration bill said the AFL-CIO and large industrial unions had historically seen illegal immigrants as unwanted competitors to their membership. However, in recent years, the AFL-CIO has made efforts to reach out to illegal immigrants, including an alliance last year with a network representing day laborers.
The other side includes the Service Employees International Union, whose members have healthcare, property management and public service jobs, and Unite Here, which represents garment, hotel and restaurant workers. These unions have embraced immigrants, even those here illegally.
"One is thinking in terms of adding members, and the other is thinking in terms of new people coming in and taking jobs from their members," said Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of a nonpartisan political newsletter.
Some Democratic strategists say the labor divide could be enough to halt the bill, given the amount of added opposition from immigrant groups and businesses. Others predict that the SEIU and Unite Here will succeed in moving the bill forward with their lobbying and organizing of immigrant workers.
Industrial union leaders oppose provisions that would create a temporary-worker program for 200,000 immigrants each year, a transient workforce they fear would erode wages and working conditions.
Service workers' unions are more willing to accept an amended version of the temporary-worker program because of provisions that would legalize an estimated 12 million people now here illegally. Industrial unions are skeptical of legalization.
Under the legislation, immigrants could begin legalization only after border security benchmarks were achieved, which industrial union leaders say could take years. And once the process starts, immigrants face added barriers; they would have to return to their home countries before they could apply -- a trip many will be hesitant to make, AFL-CIO lobbyists say -- and pay thousands of dollars in fines.
This week, while Congress is in recess, union members are lobbying legislators at home. The Senate will resume debate on the bill next week.
- Making their voices heard Mar 27, 2006
- Immigrant advocates form a plan Mar 17, 2007
- Guest Worker Plan in Doubt Jan 18, 2005
