But in spite of these roadblocks, Bush managed to ram through Congress a massive tax cut for the rich, with the help of business-friendly Democrats. The corporate agenda regressive education, budget, energy, and trade bills is moving ahead. The recent passage of the Bush-Cheney energy scheme is a case in point. When corporate forces are able to coax sections of the labor movement to support Republican legislation, losses are inevitable. These national and state political action conferences and visits have evolved into a key component of UE political action work, helping to focus our union s energies on specific legislation and lawmakers.
Many challenges lie ahead in our increasingly dangerous political environment.
Battles on the trade and jobs front loom in Congress as President Bush looks to move the corporate agenda forward. On the state level, budget shortfalls and anti-labor forces are combining to assault manufacturing and public sector workers alike. In both cases, maximum education and mobilization are necessary. Maximum unity of labor and our allies is also needed now more than ever to resist these attacks, and to expand the ranks of those rising to confront the growing threat of corporate power.