Obama, Speaking to AFL-CIO, Calls for Dumping Secret Ballots in Union Elections

CNSNews ^ | August 5, 2010 | Fred Lucas

[jazusamo]

Washington (CNSNews.com) – President Barack Obama, seeking to rally support for embattled Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections, on Wednesday pledged his support for a card check bill, which would eliminate secret ballots in elections to unionize workplaces.
 
Obama told the AFL-CIO Executive Council that his administration has taken many measures to help union workers and move the beleaguered economy in the right direction.
 
“We passed the Fair Pay Act to help put a stop to pay discrimination,” Obama told the union leaders gathered in Washington on Wednesday. “We’ve reversed the executive orders of the last administration that were designed to undermine organized labor. I’ve appointed folks who actually are fulfilling their responsibilities to make sure our workplaces are safe, whether in a mine or in an office, a factory or anyplace else.”
 
Then he promised, “And we are going to keep on fighting to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.”
 
The Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the card check bill, replaces the secret ballot by allowing union organizers to publicly ask workers to sign a card in favor of unionizing. If a simple majority of employees approve, then an employer would have to recognize the union.
 
Supporters say that card-check organizing makes it easier for employees to organize. "Too few workers are able to form unions and bargain because companies routinely block their efforts—and our current legal system is too broken and dominated by corporations to help them," the AFL-CIO Web site says.

But opponents of the legislation – including former Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern – warn that the legislation, by doing away with the secret ballot, would subject workers to coercion from pro-union groups. Everyone would know whether a worker said yes or no to forming a union.
 
The AFL-CIO and other labor groups contend that management controls -- and often blocks -- union elections.  It also arguers that "nearly 60 million (workers) would form a union tomorrow if given the chance." Further, the organization contends that some companies already have instituted a card check system voluntarily.
 
Under the card check proposal, if parties can’t settle a dispute within 120 days, the dispute would go to an arbitration panel that could impose a contract that is binding for two years. Opponents of the bill say that provision would take away any incentive for either side to negotiate.
 
The Workforce Fairness Institute, an organization opposed to card check, calls the bill the “Employee Forced Choice Act.”
 
“While President Obama continues to claim out of one side of his mouth that the economy and job-creation are his top priorities, in the next breath he states support for legislation which will result in lost jobs and closed businesses," said Katie Packer, executive director of the WFI, in a statement Wednesday. “It is hard to take seriously Obama's claims concerning his commitment to getting America’s economy hiring again when he has decided to stand with big labor bosses over job creators.”
 
With unemployment hovering just below 10 percent, Obama acknowledged the economy is not improving as quickly as he would have liked.
 
“It took us nearly a decade to dig ourselves into the hole that we’re in,” the president said told union leaders. “It’s going to take a lot longer than any of us would like to climb out of that hole. And I’d be lying to you if I thought that all these changes are going to be happening overnight. We’ve still got some tough times ahead. And your members obviously are bearing the brunt of a lot of those tough times.”
 
Obama said it is important to re-elect Democrats to keep the economy moving forward.
 
“Somebody pointed out to me that when you’re in a car and you want to go forward, you put it in D,” the president said, referencing D for Democrats and R for Republicans. “You want to go back in the ditch, you put it on R.”

[jazusamo]

"Too few workers are able to form unions and bargain because companies routinely block their efforts—and our current legal system is too broken and dominated by corporations to help them,"

I'd like our Liar-in-Chief to explain how the secret ballot enables companies to block employees from forming unions.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

Obama, Speaking to AFL-CIO, Calls for Dumping Secret Ballots in Union Elections

---

Duh.

He sure doesn’t hide it

does he ???

[CORedneck]

Of course they succeed in this, the next thing is taking away secret ballots in our elections for gov’t officials. Don’t vote the politically correct way, lose your job, get harassed and arrested on a trumped up charge !

[dalebert]

obama”Lets crush some skulls”

[stubernx98]

Or, how to get more companies to move off shore.

[Graybeard58]

I'd like our Liar-in-Chief to explain how the secret ballot enables companies to block employees from forming unions.

It doesn't. He can't.

This was shot down at a time when the rats had absolute rule in congress. I doubt very much that it will be brought up again before Jan. 2011, at which time Republicans will rule.

He's blowing smoke up the unions asses and knows it.

The unions abandoned Blanch Lincoln in Arkansas and this is one of the reasons. Even so called "moderate" democrats know "card check" stinks to high heaven.

[jazusamo]

Nope, he doesn't even begin to try to hide it.

Notice this sentence at the end:

Obama said it is important to re-elect Democrats to keep the economy moving forward.

It should read:

Obama said it is important to re-elect Democrats to keep unions bailed out.

[MrB]

Most libs get physically aroused by the thought of “compulsory” anything...

[McGavin999]

But opponents of the legislation – including former Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern – warn that the legislation, by doing away with the secret ballot, would subject workers to coercion from pro-union groups. Everyone would know whether a worker said yes or no to forming a union.

Awwwww, but what ever made you think this was for the workers? No no no, this is about enriching the unions so they can constinue to contribute to those who are destroying our country.

[jazusamo]

He's blowing smoke up the unions asses and knows it.

Agreed...He's pandering to make sure the Dems get the union vote this coming election and the thug union bosses know it too.

[Venturer]

>>>>>>> I’ve appointed folks who actually are fulfilling their responsibilities to make sure our workplaces are safe, whether in a mine or in an office, a factory or anyplace else.”<<<<<<<<

MMMMMM mmmmmm mMMMMMMM

That worked out well in the Gulf , didn't it.
He blamed Bush
Next time a Mine goes sour, He will blame Bush again.

>>>>>former Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern – warn that the legislation, by doing away with the secret ballot, would subject workers to coercion from pro-union groups. Everyone would know whether a worker said yes or no to forming a union.<<<<<<

Duh -—George, I believe that is the point. It would allow Unions to put pressure on those who do not wish to Unionize.
Threats and acts of violence if you don't sign up.
You know what I mean-—the Chicago way.

>>>>>“Somebody pointed out to me that when you’re in a car and you want to go forward, you put it in D,” the president said, referencing D for Democrats and R for Republicans. “You want to go back in the ditch, you put it on R.”<<<<<<<<<<<

There are a lot of uses for that R other than having an idiot like Obama driving and backing into a ditch. When you have stopped on the edge of a Cliff you don't need to be putting the lever into D and driving over the edge.

[supremedoctrine]

I’d love to see the ‘workers’ form their OWN unions.
Enlightened unions, unions unlike any that now exist today.

[KarlInOhio]

Vincent Curatola (Johnny Sack from the Sopranos) had a great commercial opposing the card check (i.e. public ballot).

[jazusamo]

Yep, more union members equal more dues to not only fund those destroying our country but to fund their corrupt selves.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Of course. Union organizers will always want to know who to beat the crap out of when they are opposed by rank and file.
Can't always count on stool pigeons so let's get rid of the secret balloting.

[jazusamo]

The passage of card check would bolster the Chicago way and make it nationwide.

[LibLieSlayer]

The ****ing punk kenyan had to have someone tell him about automatic transmissions because his effeminate marxist ass has always had someone to chaufer him around.
D is for DRAG and R is for RACE... stupid pos kenyan!

LLS

[jazusamo]

Great video, and true!

[exit82]

The Muslim Marxist usurper proves once asgaim that he is an enemy fo the country.

Nothing is more sacred to a free people than the right to vote, and the tright to vote insecret, without fear.

This non natural born President would attempt to throw away even that right.

We now know exactly what the Founders meant when Thomas Jefferson wrote “When in the course of human events...”