Posted on 11/17/2008 12:19:19 PM PST by Fred
A card-check law would give union bosses an unfair advantage in organizing the workplace
THE ISSUE: A card-check law would give union bosses an unfair advantage in turning workplaces into union shops.
Probably no group celebrated the election of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama as president more than organized labor.
For decades, labor unions have watched membership rolls dwindle. In 1983, union members made up 20.1 percent of employed wage and salary workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Today, the union membership rate is down to about 12 percent.
In Alabama, union membership is even lower, about 9.5 percent. The coal and steel industry have strong union membership, but the state's automobile-manufacturing industry has stayed mostly union free.
Organized labor is licking its chops at the chance to organize workers at Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai, along with the thousands of men and women employed by the companies that supply the assembly plants.
Union bosses know they can't raise their numbers the old-fashioned way - pointing toward bad management and lousy working conditions. That's just not the case these days.
But organized labor doesn't give up. It's looking to gain an unfair advantage in the workplace if Congress and Obama go along. With stronger Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, and Obama in the White House, organized labor's No. 1 legislative priority may become law next year.
The misguided and misnamed Employee Free Choice Act would do away with the secret ballot to certify a union in the workplace. Instead, a union could be certified simply by a majority of workers signing cards favoring the effort.
Imagine a colleague coming up, sticking a card in your face and telling you to sign it. Colleagues gather around, to watch what you do. Voting a secret ballot gives a worker a chance to vote his conscience; being forced to make a decision about signing a card in front of friends and co-workers is another thing altogether.
A few disgruntled workers could drastically change not only the workplace, but the landscape across the state for attracting new industry and businesses.
While industry observers say the so-called "card-check" law wouldn't guarantee unions a sure path to success in the nonunion plants in Alabama - those workers are generally satisfied with their wages and working conditions - it would make organizing much easier and more likely.
Let's hope Obama abandons his support of the Employee (not-so-) Free Choice Act. With the current economic environment, this isn't the time to make our state's automobile-manufacturing industry more jittery.
In the interest of accurately naming bills, I recommend the following name for this legislation:
“Beating Union Opponents into Submission”
Buy more Chinese made crap. Even doing that is better for the USA than buying anything made by a union.
The Card Check slogan: "Let unions do for Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai what they already did in Detroit and the Rust Belt." Thank you, but no.
If I had employees who "organized" by card check, I'd coincidentally shut down the company, never saying it was because of the union, and fire everybody. Then I'd re-open after changing my mind in 3 months, and I'd re-hire every good worker who hadn't signed the card check.
If a union thug tried to get me to sign for card check, I'd be displeased. This is a freedom issue, and any thug who threatened me would be done with that line of work - permanently. I classify the union thugs who intimidate workers (note that this does not apply to union organizers who limit their methods to ethical means) with other terrorists, and I would respond to them identically. Let's just say I had a bad experience with union thugs - once - and that is more than enough.
If the Employee Free Choice Act passes you can bet your sweet bippy the unions will immediately head south of the Mason Dixon line and start signing up non-union automobile plants.
No wonder Detroit is dying because the unions have killed the automotive industry.
The card check process can continue for years or even decades until the Union has signed up 51%. Signing the card is a trap door. Once you sign it you can not unsign it. If you signed the card five years ago but have now changed your mind - tough.
The card check process is anything but democratic but is clearly loved by the Democrats.
I have already had a “training” class warning employees not to sign anything pushed by a union, and I don’t even work in a manufacturing related business. The unions will try to unionize just about every business they can infiltrate. Watch out for lots of closures and downsizings once the unions start trying to get established in service industries, retail and even fast food. Can you imagine how bad service will be at the local burger joint if a union member is taking your order? How many union members does it take to make a Big Mac? Thirty nine-YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?
Transparency, Obama-style.
Knock knock knock (on your front door)
“Hey, nice house, nice family. Youse forgot to sign you’s Union Card.”
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