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None of the laborers cleaning up the gulf coast are even under a union contract in the first place, and despite the enormous growth under Andy Stern’s leadership, current president Mary Kay Henry says that the SEIU is still fighting for paid sick days. After the labor movement poured millions into a battle they ultimately lost in Arkansas, trying to remove Blanche Lincoln, one of the senators who helped kill the Employee Free Choice Act, is the long-term alliance with the Democratic party in trouble? Max Fraser of The Nation Magazine and Michael Whitney of Firedoglake join us in studio to deconstruct these present and potential future dilemmas of the labor movement in both their political and practical forms.

"It was a Sister Souljah moment," says Bill Fletcher Jr. of Bill Clinton's support for Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln in her primary battle against insurgent Bill Halter. Lincoln, of course, is one of the Democrats whose refusal to support the Employee Free Choice Act keeps labor from expanding its base. Labor came out for Bill Halter, but the party elites supported Lincoln and helped her keep her seat. Bill Fletcher joins us via Skype to break down the Arkansas primary as well as other Democratic and Republican primaries around the country, including the victories of Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman in California.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art security guards have been caught in a labor struggle for years, dating back to the subcontracting out of what were formerly union jobs. They finally held--and won--a union election earlier this fall, but AlliedBarton, the contractor the guards work for, has so far refused to negotiate a contract. Fabricio Rodriguez, Executive Director of Jobs With Justice Philadelphia and Dynnita Bryant, shop steward with the Philadelphia Security Officers' Union, join Laura in the studio to tell the story of their struggle and how it fits into the larger picture of union organizing now.

President Obama gave a speech this week touting weatherization as a "sexy" way to save money and make the world a greener place. His audience included Senators, mayors, and labor leaders, and he cracked jokes in between serious discussion of insulation, job creation, and clean energy. All well and good, right? But the backdrop for Obama's "sexy" discussion? Home Depot. Yes, THAT Home Depot, the big-box home goods store famous for its union-busting bosses. Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus once referred to the Employee Free Choice Act, the bill that would make it easier for employees to unionize, as ?the demise of civilization.? Robert Nardelli, former CEO of Home Depot, was a Pioneer fundraiser for George W. Bush. Just a few days before jetting to Copenhagen, Obama couldn't find a small business to tout while pushing his green agenda? Home Depot wasn't just his backdrop, after all--he gave them several shout-outs, saying he was "with folks who play a vital role in helping America's families build strong homes." Imagine, this is the same president who spoke out on behalf of Republic Windows and Doors employees whose occupation of the factory kept the place open. How about holidng the presser there? He could have praised their energy-efficient windows and doors -- and their union while he was about it. Obama sent a message by supporting the union workers' fight a year ago, and as recently as April, Vice-President Joe Biden made a speech with the Serious Materials factory as a backdrop. I can't help but think that Obama was also sending a message by choosing Home Depot this time. -- Laura Flanders