Stories-of-the-day concerning Organized Labor's #1 priority.




• Too bad that working people do not benefit ... SEIU is a Marxist Political Machine posing as a Labor Union. SEIU takes membership dues and wages world revolution. It’s President in Andy Stern is poised, with the aid of the kittenish Democratic Leadership, to emasculate real Trades Unions through SEIU’s destruction of the ‘secret ballot’ and Card Check Legislation. (cdobs.com)
• Leftist politicians set to deliver workers to unions ... Businesses and workers should be alarmed by the prospect of the enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act, sometimes called, "card check," which would, in union elections, end the secret ballot. The secret ballot is something Americans hold dear and is necessary for a healthy democracy. This would greatly strengthen the hand of labor unions, a core constituency of leftist politicians. It would also hurt the freedom of employees who oppose unions and may be subject to intimidation. (washingtontimes.com)
• Obama Labor Agenda Transcends Card-Check ... Obama also is calling for new legislation banning the use of permanent replacements for striking workers. A ban on replacement workers would be as, or if not more, controversial than card check because it would effectively neutralize most employers’ ability to block potentially crippling strikes. Most employers try to be fair with their employees’ unions, figuring the bill for strife is usually the same or higher than meeting contract demands. However, as in the case of card check, which allows unions to organize workers into a union without an on-site vote supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, a number of employers have preferred confrontation. Card check and striker replacement legislation are basically efforts by the AFL-CIO and other unions to punish employers for abusing the existing system. The unions also might even ask for bolder legislation that would prohibit employers from bringing in outside consultants to organize anti-union campaigns. Obama’s agenda, however, is even broader than card check and striker replacement. (theoaklandpress.com)
• Stealth labor campaigns coming to RTW states ... SEIU President Andy Stern claims EFCA could quickly add up to 20 million new union members. While this may be good news for unions and the politicians they influence through campaign donations obtained from union-membership dues, the outlook for the rest of us is much more grim. Unionization results in lower productivity, lower job growth and lower wage growth. Unionization causes business relocation to more business-friendly environments. States such as Texas have benefited from remaining a right-to-work state. Coupled with the state's favorable tax laws, Texas remains an attractive place for businesses to locate. EFCA will change that, as unions infiltrate all types of businesses, including hotels, restaurants, auto dealerships and hospitals. Texas will become a less favorable place for businesses to locate, and without domestic union-free safe havens, business relocation and outsourcing to foreign countries will increase. (chron.com)
• Obama's Job-Killer Act ... opponents call it the forced choice act, arguing the legislation would give labor a disproportionately heavy hand in organizing - would bring sweeping change to the 73-year-old National Labor Relations Act. It would spell hope for labor and anathema to many business interests. "This battle will be a firestorm," said Randel Johnson, vice president of labor policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (sfgate.com)
• Secret ballot is essential ... Gone would be the secret ballot in which you can vote in private without the fear of intimidation or retaliation from the union or management. They just stare you down, hand you the card and watch you vote. I don't care if you are a Democrat or a Republican, the secret ballot is sacred! We fly around the world promoting it and send election officials to the corners of the globe to protect it. I certainly believe that our own work force deserves as much! (billingsgazette.net)
• Pro-union Denver Post now wants it both ways ... Obama and the Democratic majority should resist the urge to pay off organized labor by passing the divisive and unnecessary law known as "card check." If Obama or congressional Democrats now put a card-check bill high on their agenda, they will risk a "Ritter moment" that would damage their relations with moderates and the business community. That's what happened to Gov. Bill Ritter in 2007 when a bill gutting long-standing rules limiting "union shops" in the Colorado Peace Act hurtled through the legislature with little public input. (denverpost.com)
Related video: "Employee Forced Choice Act"