Powerful union leaders from across the globe met in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to discuss what they claim is a growing threat of right-wing extremism.
AFL-CIO organized the event in coordination with the union’s political organizing group, Working America, and German political foundation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. The conference included union leaders, academics and activists from ten countries, with participants citing the minimum wage and border security as signs of rising right-wing extremism.
“It should not give rise to right wing extremism and building walls,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “We must come together to focus on common issues like raising wages and creating good jobs. Political tactics that scapegoat hardworking immigrants and refugees only serve to pit workers against one another, while ignoring the corporate excess that created these problems.”
Labor unions have made the minimum wage and immigration a central part of their political agenda but opposition to either isn’t inherently extremist. Union leaders, for instance, want a $15 minimum wage but only 12 percent of Americans agree, Rasmussen found in an April survey. Additionally, 59 percent of likely voters believe securing the border should be a top priority.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung declined to comment when asked by The Daily Caller News Foundation if there were other examples of right-wing extremism discussed at the conference. Research has found the minimum wage might not be the best way to address poverty. It could help the poor by lifting them out of poverty, but it might also hurt the poor by limiting job opportunities.
The University of California, Berkeley and the Economic Policy Institute have found in their research that the policy has a generally positive impact. The National Bureau of Economic Research and The Heritage Foundation determined employment opportunities for young and low-skilled workers are at risk of falling when the minimum wage goes up.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found both positive and negative results when it looked at minimum wage increases. Its research found any increase of the minimum wage could result in at least some job loss. The higher the increase, the more impact it will have on employment.
Working America cited Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as an example of how right-wing extremism is on the rise. Stopping illegal immigration has been a defining aspect of the Trump campaign. He has called for tougher immigration policies and even proposed a temporary ban on Muslims after a surge in Islamic terrorist attacks.
The AFL-CIO has utilized its substantial political influence and resources to oppose Trump on numerous occasions. It’s also one of the few major unions that has not yet endorsed anyone for president. The AFL-CIO declared the presidential candidate its loser of the week Feb. 22 over a labor dispute his Las Vegas hotel is having, and again Feb. 29 for saying he likes right-to-work.
Trumka has also accused Trump of trying to divide immigrant families. International Association of Machinists President Tom Buffenbarger stated Dec. 10 the business mogul’s campaign is based in fear mongering and racism. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has condemned him on numerous occasions, even calling his rhetoric extremist.
The Trump campaign, the AFL-CIO and Working America did not respond to requests for comment by TheDCNF.
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