Attack on US Workers Rights

By Bosswatch

While much of the public debate is focused on terrorism, the Bush administration has quietly busied itself attacking the nation's labor standards.

The president's latest move came on Dec. 27, when he rescinded a Clinton-era rule restricting the granting of government contracts to companies that repeatedly violate labor or environmental laws. The rule didn't ban violators from winning contracts, but merely ordered that such records be considered a factor.

Before that rule, tens of billions of dollars in federal contracts were given to law-breaking companies. The majority of contracting companies are law- abiding and thus receive no benefit from overturning the rule; instead, Bush's decision benefits only the minority that are lawbreakers.

Not surprisingly, critics smell a payoff to campaign contributors.

Last week, Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, wrote Bush demanding that he disclose records pertaining to the decision, such as a list of lobbyists with whom administration officials met.

Although Bush should accede to Miller's request, he is unlikely to do so. Instead, he has made patently clear his disregard for worker rights.

Last year, Bush signed legislation overturning Clinton's landmark regulations on ergonomics. He also banned project labor agreements, which require federal contractors to obey union work rules in exchange for a no- strike clause. (Despite a federal court ruling in November revoking Bush's decision, the administration continues to bar the agreements.)

And this year, the White House is expected to oppose a move in Congress to raise the federal minimum wage.

Bush's attack on worker rights could be seen as payback for labor unions' strong support of Al Gore in the 2000 elections. But his offensive goes way beyond unions, affecting millions of non-union workers -- surely including plenty of Bush voters as well.

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