Unions disagree on guest-worker program's merits

By George Raine
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

The labor movement, founded on the principle of worker solidarity, is seriously divided over the "guest-worker" program proposed as part of immigration-reform legislation.

Guest-worker programs let foreigners enter the United States temporarily to take select jobs.

The idea is favored by the Service Employees International Union and other unions whose ranks include lots of immigrants. Support for the idea has become part of the drive to make the union movement relevant to new groups of workers.

"I think it is another example of old versus new, status quo versus progress and change," said Sal Rosselli, the president of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West. About 40 percent of the members of his union are immigrants.

But the idea is opposed by the AFL-CIO, labor's largest confederation, and other unions that say such programs cast workers into second-class status and depress wages.

"Guest-worker programs are a bad idea and harm all workers," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said. "Guest-worker programs encourage employers to turn good jobs into temporary jobs at reduced wages and diminished working conditions, and contribute to the growing class of workers laboring in poverty."