EEOC Call Center Opposed by Union

I was interested to read David Sims's article from today:

EEOC to Debut Controversial Call Center

The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) is opening a contact center to deal with the calls it receives, over a million a year, mostly just for general information. The American Federation of Government Employees' National Council of EEOC Locals (good night, is that really the organization's name?) objects to the call center, saying that as it will be operated by an outside contractor it would cost federal jobs.

It looks as if the call center will go ahead into operation on a pilot basis, operated by contractor Pearson Government Solutions.

But this article also brought to mind a story I heard on NPR's Morning Edition radio show this morning about the protests organized labor leaders have been conducting in opposition to President Bush's proposed reforms to Social Security. You can listen to the story at:

Labor Targets Wall Street on Private Accounts

Actually, labor leaders are directing their protests specifically at Wall Street firms like Charles Schwab, who they say are the real force behind Bush's push to establish private accounts for retirement savings. The story brings in the additional insight that organized labor sees this issue as one that can help get the movement back into the limelight in an era when its power has been steadily declining.

AB -- 4/1/05