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Rebekah Friend "Let's face it: What public employees need in this state is collective bargaining."

Business

Labor official: All employees are welcome in state's unions

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.16.2007
Rebekah Friend took over earlier this month as the secretary-treasurer of the Arizona AFL-CIO. She sat down with Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services to answer a few questions.
Q State lawmakers are looking at various measures designed to curb illegal immigration. What do you think they should approve?
A I think it's a federal issue.
Q But Rep. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) believes that state sanctions are necessary to stop companies from hiring undocumented workers.
A You probably will find this amazing to hear from the AFL-CIO, but I believe most employers practice "due diligence" when they're hiring. I believe most employers are trying to do the right thing.
Q Does the presence of workers in this country illegally depress wages for everyone else?
A I've seen no evidence of that.
Q Does it affect the ability to organize workers?
A No. Our position is this: These are workers; they're working somewhere. So we believe that because no employer would knowingly violate state and federal laws, we can only assume that they're a legal, documented worker.
Q But aren't people who want to stay below the radar afraid to sign cards supporting a union?
A We have not seen the situation where a worker says, "I will not join a union because I am not here legally.''
Q Arizona has changed from a state with copper mines and manufacturing to one of service industries. Does that harm organizing?
A There's still things that have to be done out there — building homes, working at restaurants, working at commercial laundries. We are looking at new populations to organize.
Q Where is the next big effort going to be?
A I think the hotel industry here is ripe. I think the laundry industry here, which supports the hotel industry, of course, is ripe.
Q Why are government-employee unions so much weaker here than in some other states?
A Let's face it: What public employees need in this state is collective bargaining. They need the same right as any other worker to negotiate a fair salary.
Q But that's not likely to be approved by the Legislature. So why should a state worker enroll in a union?
A The reason you would join a union now is the advocacy and the representation. Is it difficult to negotiate with 90 people every year for your salary, benefit, wages, working conditions? Absolutely. But that's the situation you're in, and I think you have to have advocates down there.
Q What started your own union involvement?
A About 30 years ago I went to work for Arizona Public Service. I was a single mom with two kids. I went into the union craft jobs because of the better pay. I became a union steward, then a "bull'' steward who oversees other stewards, and eventually became the business rep for IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers).
Q You've said you try to buy only American-made products. How difficult is that?
A Not so much for men's clothing. More difficult for women's wear. And it's virtually impossible to find things like sneakers for children.
Q What about larger items like cars?
A I drive a Dodge van. It's American, right down to its tires.
Q Are there times that just isn't possible?
A I had to take the van in for repairs. They wanted to give me a foreign rental car. I refused and stayed there until they found me a big sport-utility vehicle that probably got eight miles to the gallon.
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