Free Republic

I believe every citizen deserves the right to work and the right to organize and I don't believe these rights should be mutually exclusive I come from a union family. I grew up in a union home. The good pay and benefits gained by one of America’s greatest unions provided for my room and board every day that I lived at home. My father and my uncles were all proud union members. My brother and some of my best friends spent their entire careers as union workers and the unions are providing them with generous pensions and great benefits. I...

The National Labor Relations Board issued a final rule on Friday aimed at modernizing and streamlining the union election process. The new rule will shorten the time between when an election is ordered and the election is held, eliminating a previous 25-day waiting period. And it seeks to reduce litigation that can be used to stall elections. It will also require employers to furnish union organizers with email addresses and phone numbers of workers. […] AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said the NLRB’s “modest but important reforms” will help reduce delays and make it easier for workers to vote on forming...

The chairman of the National Labor Relations Board plans to push for new rules that would give unions a boost in organizing members, despite an outcry from Republicans and business groups who say the board is going too far. Mark Pearce said he hopes the board will propose the rules soon, now that it has a full component of five members. President Barack Obama bypassed the Senate earlier this month to fill three vacancies...

Hillary Rodham Clinton also addressed a hotel and casino workers Wednesday morning in Las Vegas. Senator Clinton told members of the Culinary union that corporate America was trying to pull the rug out from under the middle class. She said, "I have nothing against rich people... but what made America great is the middle class." Clinton credited the union movement with building the middle class. She said she thinks it should be easier to join unions and said she supports a union-supported method of organizing called "card check." The union is negotiating its contract with MGM Mirage, Harrah's Entertainment and...

Body to be independent of Catholic hierarchy A gathering of about 80 priests from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee voted Thursday to form an alliance that could be both a support network and an independent voice as they strive to meet the needs of the faithful amid a priest shortage and a changing church. Details of the alliance's structure, purpose, and activities remained to be worked out, but its formation would place Milwaukee among a handful of dioceses around the nation that have such formal organizations. The organizers will meet Tuesday to begin that process. "There was an overwhelming yes and...