Posted on 02/18/2014 4:42:56 PM PST by jazusamo
Labor: Union bosses have contended for some time that a secret ballot isn't needed to unionize a workplace. All that's needed, they said, was employees' signatures on cards. But Chattanooga proved them wrong.
For months the United Auto Workers have said a majority of workers at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee had signed cards expressing their interest in unionizing. Why bother with a secret ballot when the workers had already spoken through the "card check" approval process?
Before a much-anticipated and widely followed union-representation vote held last week, the AP reported that Gary Casteel, Tennessee-based regional director for the UAW, was saying a "solid majority" of workers had signed cards favoring certification. Reuters reported a similar story, with UAW President Bob King insisting, "Yes, we have a majority."
As it turned out, the union's claim of majority support was wrong. Workers at the Chattanooga plant used secret ballots to reject union representation 53-47.
The vote showed two things. One, unions continue to lose power and influence — they are relics in today's private-sector workplace. UAW membership is down 75% since the late 1980 while only 6.7% of the entire private-sector workforce belongs to unions.
In Chattanooga, the UAW couldn't even win an election when the employer was on its side. It had a built-in advantage with Volkswagen trying to trap its employees in a German-style works council, and it still failed.
Two, the secret ballot is important — and card check is dangerous. Card check is an idea that's been around a while. Under the practice, a company can, if it wishes, recognize a union when a majority of employees voluntarily sign cards that designate that union to represent them.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
Just to be clear that is 53% to 47%.
about 1400 votes were cast.
It was the unions that fought for secret ballots and they were right to do so. Management has no right to intimidate employees into voting against unionization. But the union is so transparently hypocritical to NOW want to do away with the secret ballot so they can rig the elections with thuggery. There’s no legitimate reason for anyone on either side to oppose secret ballots, and you can tell who the sleazebags are at any given moment by checking who’s against them.
The VW vote is precisely why the unions want unionization accepted just based on the card check to be in effect as soon as there is a majority of signatures. Strongarmery can get signatures but is ineffective for secret balloting.
Thanks, I noticed that too.
bump
Never have, never will like what Unions are today. That said, another angle here in the dramatic drop in Union membership is that there has been a similar drop in the type of jobs available that attract the Unions.
Well said and dead on the mark.
Amen.
Card check is a totalitarian gangsterish tactic of course.
But a works council isn’t a bad idea, if a German or Japanese style one can work in the US. German unions aren’t as corrupt and gangsterish as US ones, and are often even assets. Part of all this is that Germans and Japanese feel social pressure to behave themselves and maintain their reputations.
Americans are much less likely to care what other people think of them. This can be a good thing; it can also lead to a leadership of companies and unions, or of workers, who behave in ways that the Japanese or Germans would find very self serving.
Thanks jazusamo.
The voting went on for 3 days ...
about 89% of the workers at the Chattanooga VW plant voted..
yes it was 53% those who voted were against unionizing to 47% for..
BTW 89% is much better than the average POTUS election...
While no party has no right to intimidate, there are avenues that provide the same outcome while remaining legal. Thankfully, these have not generally been in the union's favor.
Generally, but where there is will there is way.
Consider the live polling by an "independent pollster" prior to a "secret" election of a 'Rat versus a pubbie. There are LOTS Of things that "independent pollster" can do with the results during the campaign, at GOTV time, on election day... and perhaps beyond as well.
... when "independent pollster" is an arm of the union, of course.
Card check is a way to bully people into forming a union they do not want. That is why Obastard wants to do away with it.
Bwahahaha! Deceiving the parasites?
Yes, they (United Socialists of America) do have a majority. Small victory in a larger war BUMP!
HOORAY 712!
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