How Unions Affect Politics
Apart from this, out of ten union members, seven believe that it is more wise to vote for an individual who is supported by national unions and American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Also, the candidate must have strong pro-union positions on the issues that unions and its members are fighting for. The explanation for these positions is that union members believe that big corporations can influence politicians into changing labor laws into laws which the corporation could benefit from there are instances wherein these corporations interests do not benefit the workers, and union members believe that by initiating union involvement in politics, unions could ensure that workers rights are protected. Apart from this, unions need to make sure that the working-class is given a voice during the political process (Garin and Molyneux 114).
One problem that unions face upon engaging in politics is that there are instances wherein unions pursue skewed political goals. Sometimes, the union engages itself in politics and becomes absorbed in it that it forgets about the goals of its members and the reasons on why it engaged itself in politics in the first place. Another problem is that some unions do not focus on involving and informing their members, resulting in politically powerless union members. Unions must focus on its members and on finding means to empower its members if the union trusts its members with vital political information, it believes that its members can make proper voting choices and decisions. Most unions do not properly inform their members and instead, these unions merely bombard their members with information regarding endorsements of who these unions believe should be voted. If a union is engaged in politics, it needs to give its members the information they need in order to make wise decisions. Some unions get blinded by their means that they forget their ends most engage in politics with clear goals and yet they fail to meet these goals, eventually failing union members. Union members need to be reassured that the union they are part of is a union that aims to empower them as workers (Garin and Molyneux 114-115).
According to Garin and Molyneux (116-120), there are unions must follow ten rules when it comes to participating in politics. First, union issues must always come first, whereas political parties and their candidates are only second unions must not lose track of their goals and focus on what it really important for its members. Second, unions need to provide members with information, not voting instructions union members want to be empowered, therefore, they want to be able to decide for themselves, instead of being told what to do. Third, unions need to present information credibly and objectively therefore, unions must be able to present information without including their biases and ulterior motives. Fourth, unions must not be partisan unions must work independently with the motive of empowering and helping their members. Fifth, unions should work as watchdogs and make sure that the information that they are giving to their members are information that is accurate. Some politicians put on a facade whenever they face unions and act as if they are pro-union when in fact they have entirely different agendas. Unions should be able to see beneath the surface and properly inform their members. Apart from this, once a union and its member support and elect a candidate, the union must make sure that the politician represents the union and its members once he or she is in the position.
Sixth, unions need to represent its members are workers and that they address issues that directly affect union members, particularly their jobs. There are unions who take positions when it comes to cultural and social issues and union members deem this inappropriate for these issues are not directly related to their job and are very sensitive. Seventh, union political action should always be of, by, and for the members. A union could not properly represent its members if it does not base its political actions on the concerns and needs of the members.
According to a PEW Research Center news release (2-4), there are six types of people who when it comes to the election process the regular voters, the intermittent voters, the registered but rare voters, the unregistered adults, the regular and intermittent voters, and the non-voters. The PEW Research Center focused on those who do not vote and conducted a survey to find out the reason on why some people do not engage in the election process, however, the results indicate that there is no single reason. Apparently, people have very relative reasons when it comes to voting. It all ends up on whatever may motivate them to engage in the process.
In relation to this, a lot of union members feel apathetic towards the process for they feel that they are not properly informed and that their opinion is not needed. The eighth rule to consider when participating in politics is that if unions want to mobilize its members, they need to provide them information. Ninth, in order for unions to mobilize their members during the election process, unions need to be able to communicate to them via modern communication means and tenth, unions should address its members concerns by looking at them in sub-groups, for not everything may apply to everyone. For example, women and men see issues differently, and unions must address these properly (Garin and Molyneux 120-124).
According to Donald Bleacher (311-315), unions played a significant role in the mobilization on union voters in the 2000 election. However, there are several aspects that affect the voting decisions of the union voter, such as race, religion, and standpoint regarding firearms. For example, Latinos, whites, and Christians who live in union households are far more inclined to vote for the Democratic party, whereas blacks and those who are non-Christians prefer those from the Republican party. In Bleachers Victory and the Promise of Reform Labor and the 2008 Election (267), it was stated that blacks were persuaded by unions into voting by stating that they ought to vote so that there is a chance that they can elect a black president, who is a friend, rather than have white people elect a white president who is an enemy.
In 2008, Barack Obama won the seat of the president of the United States. It is said that unions worked very hard in order for Obama to be elected, for his records in the U.S Senate show that he is pro-labor. Fifty-nine percent of of Obamas votes were from workers living in union houeholds, for they believe that Obama would be able to help unions and their members address their issues. When Obama was elected, he enhanced the prospects for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and enabled unions to organize in the United States (Bleacher 265).
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, there are a lot of American donors who provide campaign contributions for political parties and candidates. Out of the estimated US population of 296, 410, 404, around 0.10 provide political parties and candidates with 200 or more currently, the House Candidate and Senate Candidate whom are able to raise the highest are Joe Wilson and Harry Reid, respectively. Most of the contributions that these politicians have accumulated are from lawyers, retired individuals, health professionals and so on. Given that both are Republicans, it could be said that unions have to work hard in lobbying for politicians from the Democratic party, for Republicans have the reputation of being anti-labor.
According to the Federal Election Commissions Citizens Guide, both corporations and unions are not allowed to contribute to the campaign funds of a politician, given that this may compromise the politician into standing for a certain corporation, or a certain union, when in fact, there should be fair play. However, individuals from a corporation may use their personal accounts to contribute to the politician of their choice. If this is the case, then the best that unions can do to make sure that they are properly informing their members about the running politicians. Information is always a good means to motivate employees, because, as previously discussed, by informing employees, they feel a sense of empowerment. Apart from this, if the employees are well-informed, the higher are the chances that they will vote and encourage others to vote as well for a specific politician whom they deem to be someone who is pro-labor and will represent them properly.
Empowered employees, as seen in the previous discussion, feel the need to contribute to the political process. By giving them relevant information, encouraging them, and letting them make their own decisions, they can contribute to the possibility of electing a politician that will be able to address their labor issues.
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