Mano Frey Executive President Alaska State AFL-CIO.

• Author: KANE, ROGER
• Position: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations - Interview

As the summer construction season gets under way, local union halls are preparing for a busy season. While the immediate concerns of most union craftsmen are jobsite related, their local unions' business agents, managers and representatives are hard at work protecting their rights on and off the job. Interviews with the 13 representatives in the Western Alaska Building and Construction Trades Council delved into some of the issues facing organized labor.

While all trades will have their work cut out for them keeping up with construction projects this summer, perhaps the busiest will be the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. The following interview with Mano Frey, executive president of the Alaska State AFL-CIO, addresses some of the concerns voiced by the Building and Trades Council representatives.

ABM: Labor unions in the early part of the 20th Century championed the 40-hour workweek, safer working conditions, prohibitions against child labor and the right to organize. What causes do you think will define organized labor early in this century?

Frey: Unions have always strived to help people that do not have a collective voice, not just union members and their families. Right now, unions in Alaska that comprise the AFL-CIO are starting to collect signatures to increase the minimum wage in Alaska. This will help the most needy workers in the state. This is typical of the "causes" that we many times support, issues that will benefit society as a whole, not necessarily the members we represent. Another issue we are supporting during this legislative session includes an increase in unemployment compensation. Currently Alaska ranks 50th in average weekly unemployment compensation.

ABM: While one of the responsibilities of labor unions is to protect its laboring members from being taken advantage of by management, is there any danger of unions becoming too powerful?

Frey: No! There is a great deal of balance and respect in Alaska between labor and management. We rely on the employers for work and they rely on our members for the skill and work ethic that make their companies profitable, or in the case of the public sector, the quality of service provided to the public. In every sector, both private and public, there is tremendous balance.

ABM: What is a collective bargaining agreement? Do collective bargaining agreements affect wages and fringe benefits? Who profits from collective bargaining agreements?

Frey...