AFL-CIO Demands `Second Bill of Rights'

By Gabriella Hoffman
July 17, 2012
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/afl-cio-demands-second-bill-rights-including-rights-full-employment-living-wage-healthy

(CNSNews.com) - AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says
his organization is pushing for a 'Second Bill of
Rights" for the United States of America.

The first Bill of Rights, sponsored by Jamed Madison in
the U.S. House of Representatives, protected, among
other things, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly,
freedom of the press, the free exercisie of religion,
the right to keep and bear arms, the right to be free
from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right
not to have one's private property taken by the
government unless for a public use and with just
compensation.

Trumka and the AFL-CIO are calling for a new bill of
rights that would guarantee "full employment," a "living
wage," and a "healthy future."

Under the current system, Americans are free to create
businesses, and thus jobs, and to freely compete for
workers with the wages and benefits they can afford and
wish to offer. As America is currently constituted,
Americans who do not start their own businessess but
nonetheless want to work are free to work for any
business that will hire them, or not work for a business
they do no wish to work for. Americans are also free to
negotiate--including collectively in labor unions--for
whatever wages and benefits they can get.

Under a "Second Bill of Rigths" as proposed by the AFL-
CIO, it is unclear how the government would guarantee a
"right" to "full employment," a "living wage" and a
"healthy future."

Trumka intends to push both the Democrats and
Republicans "the Second Bill of Rights" at their
national conventions this summer.

"America's Second Bill of Rights is a broad-based
statement of what the American people need and what they
deserve. If some of it sounds redundant, it is because
we once took many of these rights for granted," Trumka
said last Thursday at the National Press Club.

Trumka was joined by Edwin D. Hill, president of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, to
announce the "Workers Stand with America" rally in
Philadelphia, Pa., on August 11. The event is intended
to "refocus attention on the needs of middle class
working Americans and to urge elected officials and
leaders from both parties and every part of the nation
to stand with them."

"We plan to put new energy behind insisting that the
power structure in America pay attention to the needs of
the men and women whose labor drives this country,"
Trumka said.

He outlined five main tenets of the Second Bill of
Rights, which, in addition to the "right to full
employment and a living wage," and "the right to a
secure and healthy future," also includes the "right to
full participation in the electoral process," the "right
to a quality education"; and the "right to a voice at
work."

The idea of a Second Bill of Rights was inspired by
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1944 State of the
Union address, which called for greater "economic
rights" including employment through a living wage,
collective bargaining, housing, education, medical care,
among many things.

Hill said that Big Labor will pressure both major
political parties to add this Second Bill of Rights to
their respective party platforms.

"Republicans and Democrats need to hear what people are
saying, and to break through the gridlock and the
attacks on the rights of workers at all levels of the
government," Hill said.

He added: "We want to hold all the leadership positions,
hold everyone in leadership positions and that includes
private and both public sectors, accountable to the
American people."

Trumka, meanwhile, tried to downplay the fact that the
"movement" is union-led, saying he welcomes non-union
participants who share the same goals as the union
organizers.

"This is not a union bill of rights. And our campaign
and our rally on August 11 is not just for union
members," said Trumka. "Are you with us? Are you with
the Second Bill of Rights?"

Earlier that morning, Hill met with Democratic National
Committee Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-
Fla.), who agreed to speak at the August 11 event and
support the cause. No Republican has agreed to support
the Second Bill of Rights or speak at the "Workers Stand
with America" event at this time.

___________________________________________

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