In a White House ceremony on January 30, 2009 International President Bob Scardelletti and other union leaders witnessed President Barack Obama sign executive orders reversing three Bush-era anti-worker orders. The series of orders govern the way federal contractors deal with unionized workers. “The inclusion of the labor movement in this administration is a welcome change from the prior eight years of anti-labor practices,” said Scardelletti.
The executive orders:
• Require federal service contractors to offer jobs to current workers when contracts change.
• Reverse a Bush order requiring federal contractors to post notice that workers can limit financial support of unions serving as their exclusive bargaining representatives.
• Prevent federal contractors from being reimbursed for expenses meant to influence workers deciding whether to form a union and engage in collective bargaining.
Obama also announced creation of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families to develop and coordinate policies to rebuild the nation’s middle class and lift the poor out of poverty. Vice President Joe Biden will chair the task force.
Click here to view the White House press release.
Visit the task force website at www.strongmiddleclass.gov.
Click here to view the AFL-CIO blog.
Posted January 30, 2009