Talks continue between AFL-CIO, Chamber on immigration reform

The AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are continuing their negotiations over immigration reform.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the point people on immigration for the business group and the labor federation said they remain committed to improving the immigration process.

“We are continuing to talk and remain committed to comprehensive immigration reform,” said the Chamber’s Randy Johnson and the AFL-CIO's Ana Avendano in a joint statement.

The Chamber and the labor union group have been trying to resolve differences over temporary worker programs in hopes of reaching consensus on legislation. Business wants access to foreign labor for jobs they can’t find U.S. workers to fill, but labor worries that such programs create poor working conditions and low wages for foreign workers coming to the United States.

Disagreement over temporary worker programs, which split unions, helped scuttle the last major push for immigration reform in 2007.

Last week, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said the talks with the Chamber were “going well.” 

On Wednesday, Politico reported that negotiations between the Chamber and the AFL-CIO had stalled.

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