Business, unions, church ally over concerns for immigration bills

Published: 2006-01-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Economic interests of business and health care organizations are aligning with the worker and human rights concerns of labor unions and churches as attention in Washington turns to immigration legislation. The presidents of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union joined with representatives of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the American Healthcare Association and the Laborers' International Union Jan. 19 to pledge their cooperation in pushing for immigration legislation that addresses their common concerns. The organizations are united in agreeing that an immigration bill passed by the House in December is "an unworkable enforcement bill that fails to recognize the contributions of immigrants and our growing need for them in the future," according to Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He noted that although unions and business interests tend to agree only on topics such as transportation and national security "we have decided that this is a fundamental and essential issue for the future of our economy and our society."

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