LaborPains.org

A recent column by David Reinhard in the Oregonian highlights the problems behind the grossly mis-named “Employee Free Choice Act”.  This piece of legislation would strip workers of their right to a private ballot in the workplace when it comes to unionization.  Instead, workers would be subject to harassment, coercion and intimidation from union organizers who could come to their houses to “persuade” them to support union representation.

The article says it well enough but doesn’t point out that Jeff Merkley, candidate for U.S. Senate, supports this deceptive piece of legislation wholeheartedly.  What’s worse, when confronted about the issue, he tries to either steer the conversation away from answering the question or avoid the question entirely.

When will Jeff Merkley honestly answer why he wants to take away a worker’s right to a private ballot?  Until he does, we can only assume that it’s because Big Labor Union Bosses, who are funding his campaign, know that it’s a bad bill and don’t want him to say anything.  Putting money in their own pockets seems to be the most important thing.

Read part of the article for yourself:

OK, you want to talk issues. You’re tired of talking personalities, character, experience and Sarah Palin’s eyewear. You’ve had it contemplating whether Barack Obama’s or John McCain’s campaign ads are more full of lies and distortions. You’re above all this bunkum. You want to talk about some substantive difference between the two presidential candidates that could shape the way we live — that could alter some basic American value — in the decades to come.

So here’s the issue. It’s a big one that’s below the surface and not getting a lot of attention, and it’s not the racial issue. It’s called card check.

Read more…………..

If only it were so easy for us to get straight answers from Elwyn Tinklenberg and Al Franken.  Recently, the AFL-CIO “asked” Al and Elwyn their positions on EFCA.  The two obsequiously obediently willingly provided the AFL-CIO talking points in response.

As with Ashwin Madia earlier this year, the Tinklenberg video isn’t exactly the stuff of ease and spontaneity.  It doesn’t quite meet the level of Madia’s hostage video, though it’s on that continuum.  I especially like the editing job.  Perhaps they had to stop the taping a few times and “remind” Elwyn of his lines.

Here, Elwyn.  Here, boy.

On Thursday, August 28, 2008, Jeff Crouere of Ringside Politics with a Punch, had guest Mark Zelden accompany him on the show to discuss the Employee Free Choice Act. Mr. Zelden explains how the EFCA would affect the current unionization process, employees, unions, small businesses, and the economy.

Union bosses, the main supporters of the Act, claim that the act will provide a quick and easy process for employees to utilize when unionizing. However, as Mr. Zelden explains quick and easy do not translate into fair and good. The legislation is too premature, drastic, and quick to think of passing. The Act would eliminate the federally-supervised private ballot election and replace it with a process known as “card check.” Under card check, union organizers would only need 50% plus 1 person of employees to sign authorization cards. This would be the biggest change to labor relations since the Labor Relations Act of 1935. 

Allowing for a public decision leaves employees vulnerable to intimidation, coercion and misinformation from union organizers. Businesses are very concerned about the issue because if the Act is passed, it will upset the balance amongst employees and employers that has been established for over 60 years. Over 80% of people who participated in the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry poll believe employees should be able to choose whether they want to belong to a union through a private ballot.

The legislation is an attempt by unions to gain new members. Their membership has been declining consistently since the mid-70′s. As Zelden points out, “Altering the rules in the middle of the game when your losing is unfair.” The current process allows for fair process. In the past unions have abused their power by requesting unnecessary strikes. If this were to occur again, the economy would most definitely not survive. In addition, the dues paid by the employees are not going to help the union itself but political candidates the union supports. 

Contact Mary Landrieu and tell her to support Louisiana workers.

There’s an interesting post about the Employee Free Choice Act on American Thinker that was just posted today.

In it, we are reminded that “According to Big Labor’s logic, employees can only have a “free choice” when union officials stand over them and pressure them to sign the cards.   Employees who have been subjected to card check union drives have complained they have signed the cards as a result of coercion and deceptive practices.”

Jeff Merkley is running on a platform of supposedly helping the working man but what help is it really going to be when he has promised to help pass this deceptively-named piece of legislation?

How can Jeff Merkley run for office in an election where his supporters will have anonymity and protection of privacy to vote for whomever they choose and yet still support an act that would strip workers of their rights to a private ballot in the workplace?

Jeff Merkley has been wrong about a lot of things this campaign season including the Employee Free Choice Act, his opponent, and the State of Georgia.

What Jeff Merkley really needs apparently, is more time to look into his support for an issue that strips workers of their rights when he supports those same rights for people voting for him. 

As labor unions intensify their efforts to try to elect their crony, Bruce Lunsford shows that he either doesn’t understand what the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) really is or he is intentionally lying to Kentucky workers about what the EFCA would really do.

In fact, his latest statement confirms that he is indeed supportive of the EFCA, but also states “I oppose intimidation in the workplace and support open dialogue between workers and management. That’s what the EFCA would accomplish.”

Clearly Bruce has taken the union boss’s money and drank their Kool-Aid because that is exactly the opposite of what would occur should this bill become law. Here’s what would really happen…..

What Bruce Says: “I oppose intimidation in the workplace.”

The Truth: The EFCA will take away the private ballot vote and replace it with a forced unionization system, making workers publicly declare their support for a union or sign a binding contract in public. With union bosses standing over their shoulders and knocking on their doors at home I’m sure workers won’t feel intimidated….right Bruce?

What Bruce Says: “I support an open dialogue between workers and management. That’s what the EFCA would accomplish.”

The Truth: Basically how this bill would work is that if a majority of the employees can be intimidated, deceived or cajoled into signing cards the unions get to collect forced dues payments from everyone. Does this sound like “open dialogue” to you?

It’s getting stranger and stranger to chronicle our dealings with Al Franken.  One minute, according to Politico, he’s back writing skits for Saturday Night Live attacking John McCain; the next, he’s ducking us, or having his handlers run interference, on his support for EFCA and Death to Democracy.

Then again, maybe the Grim Reaper stalking Franken over his support for EFCA is more of a metaphor and explains Al’s renewed interest in SNL. 

By supporting the special interest EFCA and killing workplace democracy, Franken makes it more likely that he’ll be available for the SNL gig full-time come January.

Popular talk show host Mike Rosen of Denver’s 850 KOA has done an excellent job informing his audience on the Employee Free Choice Act this election cycle.  In Colorado, where 18 separate ballot issues including 5 labor-related initiatives have been clogging up the airwaves, Rosen has continued to emphasize the importance of this federal issue above all others.  

Recently he interviewed Steve Law, chief legal officer and general counsel for the US Chamber of Commerce, and they discussed exactly what this deceptively-named legislation will and will not do.  Big Labor and the Democrat politicians that support it have not entered into these discussions, because as the voting public learns the facts of this legislation, including the deception and massive funding involved, they will never support it.  Listen as Steven Law Discusses Employee Free Choice Act .

In the course of the clip, you may have heard them mention the YouTube debate in which Bob Schaffer plainly discusses the Employee Free Choice Act and Mark Udall dances around the facts.  This is a recurring theme concerning EFCA, as Democrats and labor advocates of the bill are not honest about its provisions .

EFCA will not only take away workers right to a private ballot, but it also weakens the National Labor Relations Board, an arbiter that is in place between unions and business to protect workers.  Under the Act, these protections will be eliminated, essentially opening employees to LEGAL intimidation by BOTH unions AND business.  Listen as Law discusses how EFCA legalizes worker intimidation .

With all of this in mind, it is no surprise that Big Labor and their Democrat friends in the halls of Congress do not want you to know what this bill is really about.  Coloradans for Employee Freedom will continue to encourage voters to fight this Big Labor power grab to protect the American worker…

Listen to the Musgrove Blunder!!!

U.S. Senate candidate Ronnie Musgrove is openly flouting Mississippi’s right to work principles by supporting a bill that would strip workers of their fundamental right to a private ballot vote on the job. Musgrove has publicly endorsed the deceptively-named Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) that can force more workers into unions without a vote and collect more dues.

Recently on Paul Gallo’s “Supertalk Mississippi” radio show, former Gov. Musgrove again pledged his support for EFCA and erroneously stated that workers will still have an option for a private ballot when considering union representation under the new law. This is untrue. Only the union organizers have the option to choose an election if EFCA becomes law, not individual employees. It’s an option no union organizer would ever choose if they want to keep their own jobs.

Ronnie Musgrove has accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from labor unions and pledged to support a bill he clearly doesn’t understand. The repercussions to Mississippi’s economy and the potential job loss to our citizens could be severe if EFCA becomes law. Candidates who support EFCA don’t support manufacturing jobs and industries in Mississippi.