Perez Talks Up The “Alternative Labor” Movement

In a speech before a liberal think tank, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez laid out his views on the alternative labor movement, which he described as “new groups of workers beginning to organize at the grass roots level.” These groups, separate from but sometimes allied with established unions, have made significant headway in recent months in some low-wage industries, including fast-food, taxi driving and domestic help. In the same speech, Perez cited recent examples of cooperative “win-win” partnership arrangements between major employers and unions in the Las Vegas hospitality industry, the building trades, and in health and homecare training programs involving SEIU.