Welcome Robin Anderson, Candidate for Labor Commissioner
Join us Wednesday evening for a live-blog with Robin Anderson who is running for Labor Commissioner in North Carolina. We are still tentatively scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Please stay tuned for time changes. Robin has a television interview sometime that evening.
As always, please use this post to ask whatever questions you may have about Ms. Anderson and her ideas about serving as our next Commissioner.
From her website:
I am running for North Carolina Labor Commissioner because I am committed to protecting the health and safety of each worker across the state. A healthy, safe work force is good for business and good for North Carolina. The office must protect workers' rights while ensuring that we encourage economic growth.
To make a difference in North Carolina we need a Labor Commissioner who will fulfill the obligations and duties of her job and will be fearless and just in her pursuit of the mission of the Department of Labor.
Thanks, in advance, for joining us Robin. I look forward to the conversation.
Please go here to donate to Robin Anderson.
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First impressions
Ms. Anderson,
I expect to be moving to your state in late May/early June for job-related purposes. I'm a white-collar worker (at a large technology company) so I can't organize with my peers.
Given that, what will be the first thing you think I will encounter that reflects the impact of the state Labor Commissioner's office?
How might your answer change if were moving to the state next year, after you've been in office for several months?
--
relocating from Indianapolis, IN to RTP, NC soon; got any advice for me?
I wouldn't recommend drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me. -- Hunter S. Thompson
Sorry I'm late....
Well….as you enter the building on your first day of work and head to the HR Department to fill out every employee form imaginable – most likely you will ride the elevator. As you go to press the button – take a look at the picture in front of you. That… is the incumbent in her shameless self-promotion photo. Obviously, next year it will look different. As the new Commissioner of Labor, I will be too busy working to have a glamour shot.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
Heh
In Indiana, the elevator operation certificate is often "on file in office", so the passengers can't even read when the elevator was last inspected or what its maximum capacity is.
I already work for said firm, so I won't have to fill out as many forms. State withholding tax form, for sure.
Thanks for your response!
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relocating from Indianapolis, IN to RTP, NC soon; got any advice for me?
I wouldn't recommend drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me. -- Hunter S. Thompson
We need you!
Donate here!
"Keep the Faith"
What is your plan for defeating Berry?
We've got to get rid of her!
Blood and sweat (and no tears)
Work harder – get out and talk to every voter I can and to raise a boatload of money.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
I'll help as much as I can in Union County
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
I plan on holding you to that...
"Keep the Faith"
Other than putting your picture in the elevators....
what good will a Democrat do in this office? What can your day-to-day impact be on labor in North Carolina?
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Besides a better picture......
The big difference is how I view the job. The past 7 years there has been a focus on kowtowing to the business community. For me the focus would be to protect working families and make sure that honest businesses have a chance to be successful by ensuring a level playing field.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
DOL has been kowtowing to business for years
As someone who filed a REDA complaint with the state's OSH/WORD office back in 1995, I can tell you that the Department of Labor under Harry Payne's office also kowtowed to businesses.
I attended an OSH rules hearing back in the late 90s when Harry Payne was Commissioner, and the DOL lawyers where treating the NC CBI mouthpiece like he was some kind of rock-star. Perhaps they wanted to keep their options open for a job in the private sector? I got the distinct impression that WORD personnel were there for appearances. Before Cherry Berry got into office - there was not one single important REDA case taken to court so that precedents could be set.
All I do know is that, in the wake of the Hamlet fire, the state passed the REDA law and there is precious little precedent on the books based on state actions for private lawyers to use in handling cases, since REDA gives employees the right to sue.
After the FEDs pased the laws that created the EEOC, they filed suits on the first complaints and then had some precedents set so private lawyers could file suit. There were many 11(c) cases filed by the DOL under Poppy Bush and even under Bill Clinton (Reich v. Hoy and the Chrysler case) that should have provided guidelines for the NC DOL to figure out how to cut through the excuses offered for firing employees to prove those proffered reasons were really pretext. But DOL staffers under Harry Payne didn't know or didn't care.
I also know that there are many people who are treated as independent contractors who are really working as employees with no benefits or protection. The Wage and Hour Division under Payne had some chances to draw a line in the sand, but chose not to.
You think it was bad that OSHA inspectors couldn't report fire and building code violations when they were doing their jobs? With the influx of illegal immigrants into the US and especially into NC, where there is smoke (employers breaking the law by hiring illegal aliens) there is fire (chances are good there are other violations of the law including health, safety and wage/hour).
So I am know Cherry Berry has not protected NC workers, I was not impressed with Harry Payne's administration of the DOL either. I want to know what all the candidates who are running for Labor Commissioner will do to protect working people in NC - and enforce the REDA law and provide the means for employers to know that they can't fire or threaten people who are trying to protect their own health and safety on the job. These workers should also know that they can be proactive and that the NC DOL will watch their backs and not have its head stuck in the sand.
The DOL needs to be working for the working people of NC - not functioning as a subcommittee of the NC Citizens for Business and Industry.
What would you do to fix the problems cited in the Observer's
recent editorial?
Some of my friends got together and started a blog about technology and change. IT is pretty good.
yeah!
What will you do about this, this, and this?
And, as a separate issue, have you signed the HOPE open letter yet?
Thanks for running.
- - - - -
Simply....
Inspect. Berry claimed that ‘we can’t just go in and inspect factories,’ and she said that fines don’t work and she isn’t in the ‘collection business.’ Not only is that not true, the Labor Commissioner is specifically charged with the duty to inspect factories. As we all know… fines do work if they have teeth and are justly applied. Some companies want to fix problems, we should work with them, and some don’t.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
That sounds good!
Sorry I couldn't be here on time, kids and all. I like the idea of a labor commissioner with a little teddy roosevelt, a little robert kennedy, and a little upton sinclair.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Thanks....
Wow! That's a lot to live up to.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
Two questions
1) As head of the Department of Labor, would you adopt a departmental non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity?
2) You are currently a member of the State Personnel Commission. Will you immediately and publicly encourage departments, chancellors, and agency heads to adopt fully inclusive language protecting workers irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity?
I've got an easy one
What does a labor commissioner do?
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Thanks for the soft ball.....
The short answer is that the Commissioner's duty is protecting the health and safety of every worker. The more detailed response is that the Commissioner of Labor has many responsibilities including enforcing compliance of workplace law such as: Wage & Hour (overtime; wage payment; youth employment); Safety & Health on the job (OSHA); Retaliation and discrimination for protected activities such as filing workers’ compensation claim, filing a wage & hour complaint, National Guard service and victims of domestic violence.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
bought and paid for Berry probably has some fundraising capacity
Given that Berry seems willing to carry water for corporate interests, how will you raise enough money to beat her?
How do you compete with someone who is willing to throw North Carolina workers under the bus in order to win?
- - - - -
Where has Berry done the most damage?
What is broken and how will you fix it? What has Cherie Berry ignored that should have been tended to?
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Hello Everybody!
Im sitting next to Robin, and she is starting.
"Keep the Faith"
Hi Will
pretend we all said that in unison. :D
Welcome Robin! We're so excited you are here.
Hi all!
Sorry to be late, too. But it looks like you're off to a great start without me.
I SO WANT YOU TO BEAT THE BERRY IN THIS RACE.
Links for sending money? (I'm sure they're already here . . . but you can never have too many links . . . or too much money.)
Welcome!
Donate to Robin Anderson
Go here to donate to Robin Anderson.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
My favorite oxymoron
Too much money....
I need as much help building up skirmish chest before May 6th.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
What sets you apart from the other Dems running
I'm not trying to be negative, but what experience do you have that makes you more qualified to do this job?
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
It's not negative...
This is what the democratic process is all about. For the past 18 years I have worked as an employment lawyer fighting for working families -- litigating wage and hour claims, discrimination and retaliation matters -- the exact issues the Commissioner of Labor is responsible for. Also, I am Chair of the State Personnel Commission – and for the past 9 years I have shaped workplace policy for almost 100,000 state employees. While Berry has been in office for the past 7 years I have not been sitting on the side lines. Instead, I have rolled up my sleeves and been on the front lines. I am the only candidate who can say that.
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
Wow, Robin
You are amazingly qualified for this job.
Sorry, I wasn't here as you typed this. Had to do the mom/dinner/stop talking to the boyfriend on the phone thing.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
public financing
For the first time this year three council of state races are partcipating in the public financing program that has been very succesful in our judge races.
When you win in November and this program is expanded to cover all our council races, will you partcipate in it when you run for re-election in four years?
"jump in where you can and hang on"
Briscoe Darling to Sheriff Andy
Sign me up!
I'm brand new to politics but anything to avoid fundraising phone calls would be great!
Robin Anderson for Labor Commissioner
Good question.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
I like this person a lot
Sharp, smart, decent, clear. What a breath of fresh air. Sending money now.
Done
Why this job?
what makes you want a job like this?
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Progressive Discussions
Thank you for joining us Robin
and for answering so many of our questions. Let us know what we can do to help.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
bradford OK, I'm impressed.
bradford
OK, I'm impressed. I liked the elevator answer, and I liked this:
"Inspect. Berry claimed that ‘we can’t just go in and inspect factories,’ and she said that fines don’t work and she isn’t in the ‘collection business.’ Not only is that not true, the Labor Commissioner is specifically charged with the duty to inspect factories."
That's the perfect answer, the antidote to the do-nothing Repblicanism we've seen result in things as hideous as N'orleans and food-borne illnesses. Repubs hate taxes and government, so they make sure government doesn't work by putting into positions of power people who, at best, don't give a crap, and who, at worst, work at cross-purposes.
Then they can say more emphatically that government doesn't work. And they appear correct.
We, on the other hand, want to make sure government DOES work. We want it to be pro-active, to give people their tax dollars' worth by making those tax dollars pay for things of value. Even low taxes are wasteful if you get nothing of value for what you pay. Better to pay more and get value.
Inspections save lives AND save money. In fact, almost all pro-active government saves money when compared to bullshit, sit-on-your-ass and hope-it-fails Republicanism.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO SELL. GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS AND GIVES VALUE.
Nail, meet the hammer.
This is the problem with government haters (a.k.a. right-wing Republicans):
[edited: I thought I missed a live blog this week but now I see I missed it two weeks ago. :( Oh, well. I enjoyed the thread so much I just couldn't resist a comment.]
"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman
I know I'm late to the party
Would the Labor Commissioner know, are the people who work for Blackwater employees or contract labor? Blackwater considers them self employed but I'm not so sure they are.
I had an employer in the past who was taking advantage of those working for him by calling us self employed workers which we were clearly not. He payed no benefits nor did he deduct for social security but held us to specific hours and insisted the work be accomplished in his building.
Or would the Labor Commissioner
be willing to take a stand that certain kinds of labor - that is, the training of mercenary armies using military weapons - should be outlawed in North Carolina?
I'm disappointed that Robin didn't answer
the gender/orientation questions.
I would have liked to have read answer on that.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Sorry
#1 Its a complicated question, and she ran out of time. (We dont have public financing yet)
#2 The issue is currently under consideration by the Commission, and it would be improper for her to discuss it at this time.
"Keep the Faith"
Well, I guess I'll have to be satisfied with that.
That's a pretty political non-answer, but I suppose it will have to do. I think a candidate for Commissioner of Labor should be willing to take a stand on these issues - and it's too bad that it's not appropriate for her to talk about it now, before the primary, so that those of to whom it's important can know where she stands.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Nice try, but she knows what she is backing away from
1) Nothing complicated about the first question. Some Council of State members already have similar policies in place.
2) As Chair of the State Personnel Commission, she is heading a body that has been steadily moving backward on this issue since January. Her work (or lack thereof) as a member of the executive branch is more than fair game as she seeks another office in the executive branch. I asked the question because this topic was once again removed from the State Personnel Commission's agenda for this past Tuesday's meeting.
In my mind, she would get great leadership points by standing up to the folks that appointed her to the State Personnel Commission (Senators Basnight and Rand) and urge the Senators to get their Senate appointees on the Rules Review Commission to support the State Personnel Commission original rule for anti-discrimination.
Robin, here's the path to success. Please use it!
Yup.
That's it, exactly.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi