Obama administration hopes to help unions in Haiti. (SacBee)
On Thursday Obama Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced a $2.2 million grant to strengthen labor unions in Haiti and Peru. The taxpayer money will fund projects organized by the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center.
It’s the Obama Administrations special way to say “Thank You” for the union’s support during the election.
CNS News reported, via Free Republic:
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on Thursday announced a $2.2 million grant that will be used to strengthen budding labor unions in Haiti and Peru.
The taxpayer money will fund projects organized by the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center, which aims to build a global labor union movement.
“Supporting the ability to organize and protect their rights is important to leveling the playing field for all workers,” Solis said in a news release. “This grant will help organizations in Haiti and Peru engage in productive, effective negotiations with governments and employers on behalf of vulnerable workers.”
In Haiti, the Solidarity Center will work with the apparel export sector, focusing particularly on issues related to freedom of association (the right to unionize), sexual harassment and forced overtime.
In Peru, the project will focus on the needs of temporary and fixed-term contract workers.