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American Morning

Workers' Rights in America

Aired August 30, 2001 - 10:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Many of us see the approach of Labor Day weekend as the unofficial end of summer, but the holiday, as the name implies, was first intended to honor the American worker.

To underline that intent, the AFL-CIO has conducted its own survey of labor attitudes and what some see as issues of workers' rights -- and wrongs as well.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us now from Washington. She has got more -- good morning, Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

And the headline from that survey: A lot of workers don't trust employers.

Joining me here this morning is Richard Trumka, secretary- treasurer of the AFL-CIO.

Thanks a lot for coming in.

RICHARD TRUMKA, SECRETARY-TREASURER, AFL-CIO: Thanks for having me on.

MESERVE: Before we get into the survey results, let me ask you about the economy: statistics this morning indicating that consumer spending slowed in July. What is your forecast for the economy and what it means for American workers?

TRUMKA: Well, unfortunately, we think it is going to continue to slow.

We've lost over a million manufacturing jobs in the last 18-20 months. We see that continuing. Manufacturing is in recession. We hope the rest of the economy doesn't go that way, because workers are the last to feel the benefits of an up economy and the first the feel the downside of a down economy. So it actually hurts worker.

MESERVE: Do you think that the economic slowdown might have had an impact on your survey's results?

TRUMKA: I don't think so because they've had a five-year survey. It went over five-year span. So I don't think it had that kind of an effect on it. It didn't skew it one way or the other. MESERVE: I mentioned the headline, which is that workers distrust their employers.

TRUMKA: That's right.

MESERVE: Why is that?

TRUMKA: Well, two-thirds of them believe that they need more protection on the job. They think management has too much power, that workers have too little power. They don't trust their employers to provide fair treatment for them. And they're looking for a voice on the job.

We did the most extensive survey of workers on this subject. And it's sort of a sad commentary. And it gives politicians and corporate America a lot to think about.

MESERVE: And why do you think you came up with that result?

TRUMKA: Well, because they're insecure right now. They're seeing more discrimination on the job. They're seeing more harassment on the job. Employers get the lowest mark for providing a living wage. And they see the trend going against them.

MESERVE: This sounds like a rationalization for unionization. But let me ask you about a counter number. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has come out with some numbers which indicate that the pay for nonunion workers is rising faster than the pay for union workers. What does that say about the vitality of the American union movement?

TRUMKA: First of all, they start with a lower base. That's why. Union workers makes about 30-35 percent than nonunion workers. If you're an African-America, the percentage is higher. If you're a Latino, the percentage is higher. And if you're a woman, the percentage is higher.

So they start from a lower base. And the lower base is actually creeping up. And we're happy it's doing that. We are helping a lot them with the living-wage campaigns that we have and minimum wage increase that we are trying to get. That helps a lot of those nonunion workers.

MESERVE: Richard Trumka, we have to leave it there. Thanks a lot for joining us.

TRUMKA: Thanks for having me on.

MESERVE: And next hour, we are going to get the other perspective. We'll be talking to the National Association of Manufacturers.

And now, Leon, Daryn, back to you in Atlanta.

HARRIS: All right, thanks, Jeanne. We'll see you in just a bit, then.

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