Wednesday, February 02 2011 @ 09:11 PM MST
Contributed by: Admin
To the editor:
In this time of high unemployment and political posturing, it is
refreshing to see legislation that addresses the first and avoids the
second. Senator Jon Tester's Forest Jobs and Recreation Act provides a
promising collaborative model to create forest jobs and to protect more
of Montana's exceptional hunting and fishing opportunities.
Delegates representing construction workers, teachers, health care
workers, postal workers, musicians, office workers, former
Smurfit-Stone workers and others on the Missoula Area Central Labor
Council (MACLC) recently voted to support Sen. Tester's bill.
Before our decision, the delegates of the MACLC heard both proponents
and opponents of the bill. In addition, we weighed in to get some key
changes to the bill that would strengthen the chances of creating good
sustainable jobs. The bill now includes "best value contracting"
language and it requires that prevailing wages be paid to Montana
workers.
Now, with these changes, we see this bill as good for our economy, good
for recreation, good for our environment, and good for our politics.
On the other hand, it's been frustrating to see Representative Denny
Rehberg take an extremist position against new jobs instead of rolling
up his sleeves to help get this bill passed. Rep. Rehberg needs to show
leadership like Senator Tester has shown by working to bring good
sustainable jobs to Montana.
By his out-of-touch political posturing, Rehberg is interfering with
passage of a bill that is a win for all of Montana; a bill that has
garnered support from Republicans and Democrats, employers and workers.
Mark Anderlik, President, Missoula Area Central Labor Council
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The Missoula Area Central Labor Council, in Granite, Mineral, Missoula,
and Ravalli Counties, is affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).