An Uncertain Economy Highlights The Value Of Unions | Opinion

By Andy Sanchez, The Kansas Reflector

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Sept. 3, 2020

The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Andy Sanchez is executive secretary-treasurer of the Kansas State AFL-CIO.

A booming economy can create all sorts of new organizing opportunities for unions, but not always for the reasons unions came about to take their place as the very fabric of American society.

Unions created and grew the middle-class. The pandemic has created dangerous working conditions for workers performing essential job functions — the same reasons that inspired passionate union membership in the past. Today’s unions are also organizing around dignity and respect.

In this unique time of our lives and the world, more than ever, the labor movement is on point. Like you, I witnessed the bravery of wage-earners going to work every day with a lot of uncertainty and risking their safety and the safety of their family and everyone they are around. It seemed unjust when some could work from home while others had little choice but to go to work. We all have had to make some tough decisions: “Should I work in a hazardous work environment?” “How will the bills be paid because my job has disappeared?”

We are providing answers and help.

The AFL-CIO has been vigilant about the social issues that persist in our country and the immediate economic and employment issues of today. The AFL-CIO is focused on five essentials:

• Keep front-line workers safe and secure.
• Keep workers employed and protect earned pension checks.
• Keep state and local governments, public schools and the U.S. Postal Service solvent and working.
• Keep America healthy — protect and expand health insurance for all workers.
• Keep America competitive — hire people to build Infrastructure.

Expanding Medicaid in Kansas is in line with this Keep Working Families Safe agenda.

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that unions who represent government employees can’t require those workers to pay union dues or fees — a decision we strongly oppose. In response, we have seen big business lobbyists and others with a far right-wing agenda try to decrease union membership, reduce benefits to injured workers, reduce unemployment benefits and keep wages stagnate.

The Kansas Legislature adopted American Medical Association’s 6th Edition Guide to evaluating a worker’s permanent impairment, which limited the amount of settlements injured workers could receive. Additionally, workers are unable to choose their own physician when injured. In 2018 the Kansas Court of Appeals said the Kansas workers compensation system is no longer adequate, and the issue currently sits before the Kansas Supreme Court.

We have also seen legislative efforts to prevent local governments from using prevailing wage standards for local contracts, seizing control from county commissioners and city councils. Kansas maintains a lower than federal minimum wage for tip earners such as restaurant servers, and business organizations are quick to suggest no minimum wage when advocates bring up initiatives to raise the minimum wage.

Only this year were the maximum number of weeks of eligibility for unemployment benefits raised back up to 26 weeks and the “waiting week” before receiving benefits removed. It took a pandemic for this change, which will sunset in April.

Instead of eliminating unions, efforts to weaken them have ignited the labor movement. Young people see the need for unions and are mobilizing for change. It is easy to engage people when injustices are blatantly wrong, when your voice is being suppressed and your family, friends and neighbors are all affected.

The AFL-CIO has long recognized the inequality of wages and opportunities for women and people of color. Women make up 46% of all union members in the United States and 36% of all union members are of people of color. Absent a union contract, the inequalities are more profound.

Our executive board, too, is diverse, growing in people of color and the number of women who are leaders in their own unions. The AFL-CIO developed the Workers’ Bill of Rights to emphasize what we hope will guide not only state federations like the Kansas AFL-CIO, but also appeal to elected officials at all levels.

These are important messages that unions wish the media would pick up on more and help be a voice for democracy.

We at the Kansas AFL-CIO are about building stronger communities and I think young people see this. We are going to be on the right side of history by recognizing the importance of immigrant contributions to our country and we are going to partner in the community to help each other in a rigged economy.

The AFL-CIO is also urging policy for properly trained law enforcement that include de-escalation tactics and community input. Finally, we must build a voting block that serves the interests of the working families.

Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. For information, including how to submit your own commentary, click here.

The Kansas Reflector seeks to increase people's awareness of how decisions made by elected representatives and other public servants affect our day-to-day lives. We hope to empower and inspire greater participation in democracy throughout Kansas.