The AFL-CIO says:

[CARLHAYDEN]

Thursday June 21, 2007 8:31 AM

By JESSE J. HOLLAND

AP Labor Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -

The AFL-CIO formally came out against the bill Wednesday, reflecting the distaste among manufacturing unions and others whose members have been displaced by overseas competition and would have to compete with an influx of cheaper workers who don't have labor rights.

Earlier this month, the AFL-CIO and its allies succeeded in getting the Senate to limit the temporary worker program to only five years. The bill's proponents vowed to try and make it permanent again in later negotiations with the House if the bill makes it that far.

That victory, however, didn't placate labor leaders still opposed to the bill.

``This bill is far from the kind of comprehensive immigration reform that would improve the status quo for either U.S.-born or immigrant workers or their families and, in fact, it is likely to make matters much worse,'' said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard L. Trumka.

Several unions see a real threat to American workers under the Senate bill because temporary foreign workers would for the first time be able to hold non-seasonal jobs.

Ana Avendano, an AFL-CIO attorney and director of its immigrant worker program, said that would give employers like Wal-Mart and owners of meatpacking and poultry plants a lower-wage source of year-round workers that could be exploited.

Unions spent more than $66 million in the midterm election cycle, most of that money going to Democratic candidates. That makes them a player in the debate in the Senate and the House, although the differing opinions may blunt their impact.

The Senate bill died earlier this month but was resurrected after pressure from President Bush, who has made it a top domestic priority. The bill is widely regarded as the last and best chance for Congress to take action on immigration - possibly for years to come.