Labor leader cites 'battle' with White House

John Sweeney

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The president of the AFL-CIO said Sunday that labor unions are "in battle" with President Bush, criticizing the administration for what he described as a "mean spirit" and a series of attacks on workers and their families.

"It's clear that the president is listening to the wealthy people who supported him and the corporate interests, and there are several areas in the short time that the president has been in office that have really been basic attacks on working families and their agenda," John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, said on CBS' "Face The Nation."

Sweeney cited Congress' move, which Bush supported, to rescind ergonomics workplace rules imposed by the Clinton administration during its final weeks in office. Labor leaders have also been angered by Bush's intervention in the mechanics' dispute with Northwest Airlines, preventing a strike.

Sweeney also opposes Bush's proposal, dubbed paycheck protection, to include a measure in campaign finance reform legislation that would mandate that union members be given a choice about whether their dues can be diverted to political candidates.

"There's a mean spirit behind some of these initiatives that are going on, and ergonomics is a classic example," Sweeney said. "This has never been done with occupational safety and health."

Asked to described labor's relationship with the new president, Sweeney said, "We're in battle."

"I mean, we're trying to protect the interests of working families and these attacks in several different areas have been directed at workers," Sweeney said.

Sweeney acknowledged that labor unions raised millions of dollars during the past election cycle and donated the bulk of that money to Democratic candidates.

"I mean, we have every right to take political positions and to support candidates for public office," Sweeney said, insisting that the president had an obligation to address "the issues of working families."

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