Veto threat looms over labor bills

June 1, 2007

BY JESSE J. HOLLAND

WASHINGTON -- Labor legislation that is a priority for Democrats has become the definition of ''veto bait'' for the White House.

Five of the 24 veto threats President Bush has issued since Democrats took control of Congress target bills with provisions that benefit unions and their members.

Measures passed by either the House or Senate making it easier for unions to organize workplaces, stiffening penalties for union busting or establishing more collective bargaining rights for federal employees are among those under veto threats.

''There's really a lot of examples where he's looked at legislation, it seems, from the perspective of, 'Will this help workers?' 'Will this help workers win representation?' And if the answer is yes, he finds a reason to veto it,'' said William Samuel, the AFL-CIO's chief lobbyist.

Unions spent more than $66 million in the midterm election cycle, most of that going to Democrats.

Bush 'not going to budge'

''The American people need to know that these union leaders are consumed with a power grab,'' said Richard Berman of the Washington-based Center for Union Facts, a group critical of organized labor. ''I think most people should be glad that Bush is in the White House with the attitude that he has.''

The president has suspended rules that gave union-organized companies an advantage in winning federal contracts, rolled back overtime pay rights for some 6 million workers and enacted a free trade agreement that unions blame for exporting U.S. jobs.

''Labor has not been at all shy about their opposition to the Bush administration and his policies, and his response has been in kind,'' said Richard Hurd of Cornell University.

''He's not going to budge just because he doesn't have control; he has enough control to stop legislation.'' AP

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