[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens to Labor: Dems have failed working people; help us send Greens to Congress

[Green Party of California Updates]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, September 7, 2009



The Green Party appeals to Labor: Democrats have failed working people
-- help elect Greens to Congress


WASHINGTON, DC -- Calling organized labor's support for Democrats an
"investment that hasn't paid off," Green Party leaders appealed to
unions and all working Americans, calling for support for the election
of Green candidates to Congress in the 2010 election.

On Labor Day 2009, Greens expressed their solidarity with working
people with a call to "come home to the Green Party."

Quotes from Greens:

• Howie Hawkins, Teamster (Local 317), Green candidate for Syracuse
City Council in 2009 (http://www.howiehawkins.com), and 2008 candidate
for Congress in New York, District 25: "The Democrats' attitude
towards unions has been 'you have to support us, you have nowhere else
to turn.'  That's no longer true.  Unions and working people have a
home in the Green Party."

• Matt Reichel, Green candidate for the US House in Illinois, District
5, who will join a Labor Day march sponsored by the AFL-CIO and picket
with laid-off public truck drivers next Wednesday at Daley Plaza
(http://www.mattreichel.us): "The continued loyalty of unions to
Democratic candidates, regardless of Democrats' actions while in
office, has proven a disaster for working Americans.  The Democratic
Party has consistently favored the demands of corporations over the
needs of workers.  Despite a Democrat in the White House and control
over Congress, Democrats have refused to make good on campaign
promises."

"Democrats have sent trillions of dollars in bailouts to Wall Street,
while offering minimal help to workers, homeowners, poor people, and
others affected by the economic meltdown.  The Obama Administration,
under the influence of pro-Wall Street White House staff like
[economic advisor] Lawrence H. Summers, has retreated from the
Employee Free Choice Act [EFCA] and from plans for public works
projects that would employ millions.  Living wages, anti-labor 'free
trade' pacts, and the Taft-Hartley Act's curb on union power aren't
even on the table.  How much more abuse and neglect can labor take?

• Morning Sunday, candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in
2002, the first Green to run for public office in Baltimore: "We're
sending this message to union leaders and members: vote your future,
help us send some Greens in Congress in 2010.  With a few Green
Representatives and Senators, we'll accomplish two things.  First,
working Americans will have real representatives in Congress, since
Greens do not accept contributions from corporations.  Second, the
presence of Greens will show Democrats that Republicans are no longer
their sole competition.  Democrats will have to follow through on
their promises or get replaced by pro-labor Greens."

"A few Greens in Congress will change America's political landscape,
marginalizing Republicans and 'blue dog' Democrats, and strengthening
the political power of unions."

• Sanda Everette, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States,
retired teacher, former delegate to California Teachers Association
and National Education Association meetings: "Unions, progressive
organizations, and progressive Democrats will all benefit from the
election of Greens to Congress and state legislatures.  The Green
Party supports EFCA, living wages, and the repeal of Taft-Hartley
restrictions on workplace organizing.  We have protested against
international trade authorities like NAFTA, because of their veto
power over labor and environmental protections, and we support the
enactment of fair trade agreements.  We're firmly behind single-payer
national health care (HR 676), which would relieve business of the
economic burden of providing health care benefits, end management's
use of such benefits as leverage over employees, and create more jobs.
  We've called for a massive public works program to put millions of
Americans to work, with new jobs in conservation, retrofitting,
expansion of public transportation, and other ways to adapt our
country to global warming and other 21st century realities.

"And we continue to invite labor activists and working people to run
for Congress, state legislatures, and other public office as Greens."
[See Illinois Green Party press release, September 5, 2009,
http://www.ilgp.org/groups/media/ILGPpress-releasses/green-party-to-laid-off-workers-consider-running-for-office]

"Labor's investment in the Democratic Party hasn't paid off.  Instead,
unions have lost power and membership over the past half century.  In
the past decade, union locals have endorsed Green candidates.  If
national union leadership joined us in our efforts to seat a few
Greens in Congress, we'd see an end to politics limited to two
pro-corporate parties."


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Green candidate database and campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus

"Labor's Lost Love"
By Jonathan Tasini, president emeritus of the National Writers Union
and president of the Economic Future Group, in The Los Angeles Times,
February 20, 2005
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/feb/20/opinion/op-labor20

Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of
the United States
Summer 2009 issue now online
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog


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