Statement from the American Federation of Government Employees on the Bush Immigration Amnesty

U.S. Newswire ^

[Happy2BMe]

Statement from the American Federation of Government Employees on the Bush Immigration Amnesty Plan

1/16/04 9:06:00 AM

---

To: National Desk

Contact: Enid Doggett of the American Federation of Government Employees, 202-639-6419

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement from the American Federation of Government Employees on the Bush Immigration Amnesty Plan:

"The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) condemns President Bush's immigration plan as a proposal that will overtly exploit some of the poorest workers in America and grant amnesty for millions of people who have illegally entered the country.

"The plan does nothing to strengthen protections for wages, benefits and other immigrant rights, while insuring a steady pool of low-wage, disenfranchised workers to maximize profits for American companies.

"And while in the President's words it would, "offer legal status, as temporary workers, to the millions of undocumented men and women now employed in the United States," it would unjustly reward those who illegally entered the U.S. and encourage millions of others to break our laws in the hope of yet another amnesty. After all, Congress granted amnesty to nearly three million illegal aliens in 1986, and has never taken any meaningful steps to stem the tide of illegal immigration.

"Further the plan will hurt the American economy. It will allow employers to pay substandard wages to people who entered this country illegally and take jobs from American workers.

"Our nation needs to enforce existing immigration laws designed to monitor and control the flow of people into and out of the U.S. This is critical to our national security and the only fair way to control our borders. This plan does nothing but encourage the flow of illegal immigrants."

------

The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, is the largest union for government employees, representing some 600,000 federal workers in the United States and overseas, as well as employees of the District of Columbia. For more information about AFGE, visit http://www.afge.org.

[Happy2BMe]

"After all, Congress granted amnesty to nearly three million illegal aliens in 1986, and has never taken any meaningful steps to stem the tide of illegal immigration."

Your congressman cares about immigration reform - just ask him.

[MissouriForBush]

Illegal immigration is the most serious issue facing our country today. Why? While most Americans recognize the terrorist threat, they do not seem to realize that the long-term, explosive consequences of unchecked illegal immigration are disastrous for the USA.

If we allow illegal immigration to continue "as usual," our children and grandchildren will pay the price for our inaction. I am a lifelong Republican who believes that Bush's "plan" on illegal immigration borders on treason by openly rewarding lawbreakers. Our lack of control of our borders is a national disgrace and joke, and Bush's pandering over principle only makes it worse. Americans must realize that unfriendly nations around the world are ready to take advantage of the chaos that will most surely result.

[PhiKapMom]

Not too crazy about the Immigration deal but when AFGE comes out like this, must be something I am missing. AFGE is as leftist as you can get and they defend civil service employees that don't want to work.

Have first hand experience with those lowlifes and if they tell me the sky is blue, I will go check. We had worthless employees that took us three years to get them fired because of AFGE and all of their stooges that hold Civil Service appointments but all they do is union business.

Some of the grievances I saw would blow your mind away but better than working for their union stewards. BTW the way several were GS-12's -- tell me how that happened. What is someone making that kind of money be a union steward -- can tell you why -- he didn't want to work for a living. Better to cause problems for management when there were none.

[MonroeDNA]

If the unions hate this, it has to be good.

[TBall]

"The plan does nothing to strengthen protections for wages, benefits and other immigrant rights, while insuring a steady pool of low-wage, disenfranchised workers to maximize profits for American companies." This has me thinking that maybe Bush will offer something else to the other side. Maybe we will soon see an announcement that the boarder will be sealed.

[Zipporah]

I am absolutely shocked!! The unions have supported the proposal.. this is very good.

[deport]

Good Post......

[Zipporah]

Wrong.. most unions came out in favor which surprised me.. as this will hurt American workers.. the proposal is SO bad I don't know how any thinking person could support it.

[Zipporah]

Did you listen to Hannity today? It was a call re immigartion, a call from the guy who said it was okay for Hannity to admit he is wrong re Bush?

[Shermy]

AFGE, like non-corporate right, see the "supply-demand" agenda about wages.

[Shermy]

Wrong.. most unions came out in favor which surprised me

The Cheap Labor business lobby has worked and "partnered" over years to get "labor" on its side...often labeling alternative views as reacist, coopting racial identity lobby groups.

Quite a web of money. Check out the board members of the National Immigration Forum. Quite a group.

[Happy2BMe]

Missed Hannity today - have great respect for him though.

The caller is just as amazed as we are that the farm is up for grabs.

[international american]

""And while in the President's words it would, "offer legal status, as temporary workers, to the millions of undocumented men and women now employed in the United States," it would unjustly reward those who illegally entered the U.S. and encourage millions of others to break our laws in the hope of yet another amnesty. After all, Congress granted amnesty to nearly three million illegal aliens in 1986, and has never taken any meaningful steps to stem the tide of illegal immigration."

There you are!!

[Happy2BMe]

President Bush - stand before us an tell us the truth

[JoeBob]

Setting aside your dislike of unions (and AFGE in particular)the statement that have made is right on the money. Why the other unions can't see this as plainly as AFGE does is beyond me.