Despite past differences, the labor movement is willing and eager to work with the new George W. Bush administration, if the president and the GOP-controlled Congress work to promote the goals of working Americans and their families, AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney pledged at a National Press Club luncheon.

Starting his address with a tongue-in-cheek reference to reports that departing Clinton staffers removed the letter "W" from White House computer keyboards as a protest to Bush's election, Sweeney advised that "members of our press corps have your 'W' keys in working order" to write about topics important to America's working families.

"We want you to be writing about a few other 'w's working families, the wages they earn, the world economy where too few are prospering, and how we are helping workers win a voice in their workplaces."

Citing calls for bipartisanship and cooperation in Washington, Sweeney stated: "Let me stress that our movement is willing to work with anyone, regardless of party, who wants to take our nation forward instead of backwards.

"But consensus and cooperation are meaningful only after every segment of society has spoken. And bipartisanship is productive only if public officials from both parties have heard the voices of the working families who elected them."

Sweeney reviewed the Nov. 7 election and noted that union members accounted for 26 percent of the total vote, up from 23 percent in the 1996 elections.

"Our post-election analysis showed that without union voters and the edge we gave progressive candidates, we would now have a Senate with 39 Democrats instead of 50, a House with two fewer Democrats, and George Bush wouldn't have had to worry about Florida because he would have won by 363 electoral votes to 175."

Sweeney went on to cite public opinion surveys that show the AFL-CIO's working families agenda "struck a responsive chord among the entire electorate." On issues such as prescription drug coverage for seniors through Medicare, helping patients hold HMOs accountable, and "targeting responsible tax relief to working families" the public favored labor's position.

During his campaign, Bush embraced many of the reforms unions had been urging lawmakers to pass for many years. He voiced support for a patient's bill of rights, making prescription drugs available and affordable to seniors, and keeping Social Security's promise to older Americans.

"Now that candidate Bush is President Bush, we will spare no effort to work with him to make good those commitments to advance the interests of working families," Sweeney said. "We will be the first to applaud him when he does right by the people who do the work that keeps our country going – and we will be the first to hold him responsible when he does not."

To this end, the AFL-CIO president announced the launching of a new program, called "Respect Work/Strengthen Families" to acquaint the public with the aims of working families through a series of two dozen town hall meetings in communities across the country.

"We are inviting community leaders, business people, and public officials to attend, so that we can exchange ideas, seek solutions, and eventually compare the commitments that those in public office make with the actions they take and the results they achieve.

"Through this 'Respect Work/Strengthen Families' initiative, we will hold members of Congress, as well as President Bush, accountable for their commitments. And we will build towards an even greater mobilization of union voters in 2002 and 2004," Sweeney explained.

He suggested four "tests" for union members and working families to evaluate the new President and Congress:

• "Will they respect work?" and act to protect workers from the inherent dangers on the job?

• "Will they strengthen families?" and work to continue supports such as schools, health coverage and a reliable retirement income?

• "Will they advance democracy at home?" and act to guarantee that every citizen can have his or her vote counted and "reform the political process that allows corporations to outspend working families and our unions 15 to 1?"

• "Will the new administration and Congress fight for fairness in the global economy?" and act to protect the "rights of workers" and human rights throughout the world?

"When the president and the Congress support these goals, we will support them. When they oppose these goals, we will oppose them," Sweeney declared.