LaborPains.org

We’ve written previously on how much money labor unions are raising to compete in local, state and national elections this presidential cycle, but now we have a better idea of how much unions are planning to spend to maintain their political clout – $400 million.

“People are digging deeper,” Larry Scanlon, political director of the country’s largest public workers union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, told the Associated Press. “If Republicans take over the presidency, Congress and enough state legislatures, unions will be out of business, pure and simple.”

What Scanlon should have said is that unions are digging deeper into their members’ paychecks to fund their counter-assault on labor reform.

While labor leaders may be tapping their own bank accounts, a substantial amount of union political cash will come from hard-working, dues-paying members.

Last year, at the National Education Association’s annual convention, delegates passed a motion to assess a $10 per member fee to fund the union’s “Ballot Measure/Legislative Crisis Fund.”

In 2010, exit polls showed that 42 percent of union households voted for Republican candidates, but over 93 percent of union political support went to Democratic candidates.

Terry Bowman, a member of the United Auto Workers union, testified before the House Oversight Committee about union leaders taking his dues to fund political candidates he doesn’t support and policy positions he doesn’t share.

Considering that unions spent over $40 million last year to repeal an Ohio law that restricted collective bargaining rights and to recall Wisconsin lawmakers who backed a similar measure in their state, the financial toll on individual union members has not been insubstantial.

In addition to general election spending, unions are pouring millions more into Wisconsin for yet another recall election, this time to oust Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

“Part of the Republican strategy is to try to bleed us,” Mike Podhorzer, political director of the AFL-CIO, told the Associated Press.

One wonders how much unions can bleed their membership before workers fight back.

In a bizarre twist of events, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Union – yes, the agency responsible for remaining neutral in employer-union disputes is staffed by unionized employees – is accusing the Board of “declaring war on NLRB employees.”

In a flyer, the union urges NLRB Chairman Mark Pearce and Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon to “practice what they preach,” and stop trying to destroy worker’s rights.

After being appointed, Pearce publically proclaimed his plans to push for new rules that would give unions a boost in organizing members. So, what are these ‘rights’ that the NLRB is denying its union?

For one, the NLRB has decided to cut “official time” by 85 percent. “Official time” is time used to conduct union business at taxpayer expense. The NLRB also wants to have the decision to cut “incentive pay”, if managers deem necessary.

If the dispute isn’t resolved, it will most likely be taken up with the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

While Republicans and Business groups have found issue with Pearce’s obvious bias in favor of unions, it will be interesting to see if the Chair has a change of heart after his own run-in with unreasonable union demands. Don’t hold your breath.

Although over half of Ohio’s electorate favors right-to-work legislation, according to a new Quinnipiac Poll, the state isn’t likely to see any this year.

Unfortunately, after the dismal failure to pass a ballot initiative last year, Republicans aren’t gearing up for another battle. The loss could be due to the $30 million that unions pumped into the state, or the fact that the messaging got mangled in a feud between Republican Governor John Kasich and state GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine.

Regardless of what went wrong, Republicans in the state are still a little shell shocked and Gov. Kasich has no plans to introduce right-to-work legislation any time soon.  It’s unfortunate that Ohio will be sitting 2012 out, considering that many other states have viewed Indian’s passage of labor reform as a green light and worked off of that momentum.

In Michigan, Rep. Mike Shirkey is planning to debut a right-to-work bill that has Speaker Jase Bolger welcoming the debate. Minnesota’s Rep. Steve Drazkowski and Missouri’s Senate President Pro Tem, Rob Mayer, are both advancing similar pieces of legislation.

While Gov. Kasich’s political capital may not be as plentiful as it once was, hopefully he will invest the remainder into passing labor reform – giving business more confidence, employees more freedom, and Ohio a brighter future.

In New York, the head of the Elmira’s teachers’ union has admitted to plagiarism. The Star-Gazette reports that Ric Lombardini’s opinion piece “Teachers are held to unrealistic standards,” which was published in the Star-Gazette, was plagiarized nearly word for word. Students in the district found guilty of plagiarism could be suspended, but Lombardini will face no disciplinary action from the district since, according to the superintendent, the issue is a union matter. The irony of the headline shouldn’t go unnoticed, and it’s worth asking to what standards if any this sixth-grade teacher and union president will be held.

In another example of union leadership run amuck, last week the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) leadership endorsed Kathleen Falk as the Democratic challenger to Gov. Scott Walker (R). Should a recall election take place, the WEAC endorsed Falk on the condition that she promises to veto the budget reforms instituted by Gov. Scott Walker. Just hours after the endorsement was announced a petition on change.org was posted demanding that the union rescind its endorsement. Liberty News Network reported WEAC members were not pleased with the endorsement, because Falk has previously lost two statewide elections, finishing dead last in one and telling blatant lies about her opponent in the other. According to petition comments WEAC members also were upset that a candidate was endorsed so early and that they did not have a voice in the decision.

Members of the Hartford County Education Association (HCEA) in Maryland also have a good reason to be upset with their union leaders. According to The Baltimore Sun, County Executive David R. Craig offered a $1,250 bonus to each county employee after finding a surplus in the FY12 budget. Eight of the county’s employee unions quickly accepted the offer, but the HCEA rejected the offer because Craig did not run it by the union first, undermining the union’s collective bargaining rights according to the HCEA’s president. Craig said he is willing to negotiate the bonus with HCEA, but that if an agreement is not reached by March 1 the money will be returned to the general fund and the teachers’ union members will not receive their bonuses. In a union-free environment an employee would be happy to receive a bonus. The same is probably true in a unionized job as well, but at the end of the day it’s the union’s, not the employee’s or employer’s decision.

An article in the Republic Report recently attacked Rick Berman, the executive director of the Center for Union Facts (CUF), for playing a cameo in our own commercial.

“If you’re wondering why I fit so naturally into the ad, it’s because I worked as a mechanic at my father’s garage all through high school and college,” said Mr. Berman in response.

While unions have tried to assassinate Berman’s character, take notice that they never address the substance of the bill itself.

“Their core objective is to silence the voice of working people on the job,” said AFL-CIO spokesman Josh Goldstein. “I think it’s a tactic by the corporate interests to bust the unions.”

The Employee Rights Act (ERA) does just the opposite. It gives much more authority and control to individual employees. The ERA would bring long-overdue changes to labor law — including greater freedom of choice for employees, greater accountability for union leaders, an end to workplace coercion and more control for employees’  over their own money.

According to an analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Labor Relations Board, more than 90 percent of union members are represented by unions they didn’t vote for. The research, which was verified as “correct” by the Washington Post fact checkers, makes it unsurprising that 83 percent of union households would favor requiring unions to recertify every three years by secret ballot.

Additionally, the ERA would also ensure that unions secure the approval of their members before spending dues money for the benefit of specific candidates or political parties. Exit polling from 2010 showed that 42 percent of union households voted for Republican candidates, yet more than 93 percent of union political support went to Democratic candidates. This obvious disconnect between the unions’ political agenda and their members’ personal ideology can be seen in Big Labor’s opposition to the bill.

If you’re planning to attend Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend, you might have some unpleasant company. The local AFL-CIO has planned to ‘Occupy’ the conference and protest the greed of the wealthy 1%. The union has organized an official joint event between member and Occupy DC to protest the conservative activist.

There have also been reports that the AFL-CIO has booked rooms for Occupiers at the Marriott hotel, allowing them to bypass security measures at the door. This is extra nice of the union considering Occupiers recently lost their home in McPherson Square. The AFL-CIO has also helped Occupy DC by  storing their belongings at its headquarters in advance of the National Park Service’s enforcement actions.

With workshops like “Return of Big Labor: What Can We Learn from Wisconsin & Ohio,” and “Taking back Wall Street: The Tea Party vs. Occupy Wall Street,” it’s obvious why unions would want to disrupt the conference, but how just how far will they go?

On Sunday, the Center for Union Facts (CUF) aired a high-profile television ad in Washington, D.C. promoting the Employee Rights Act (ERA) during the Super Bowl. The ad airs as labor law reforms are being advanced from Minnesota to Indiana, where Governor Mitch Daniels enacted legislation that was fast-tracked to prevent disruptive union-organized protests and threats to “Occupy” the Super Bowl.

“An overwhelming number of employees in private sector unions have never had a say in whether or not to join the union they’re in,” said CUF Executive Director Rick Berman.

Under current law, employees are grandfathered into an archaic system where mandatory dues are automatically deducted from their paychecks, some of which are passed along to politicians the employee may not support. In fact, fewer than 10 percent of employees in private sector unions have actually voted to join their union.

Did You See It?! Group Airs Super Bowl Ad Promoting the Employee Rights Act

Center for Union Facts Amps Up $10 Million Nationwide Campaign

Washington, D.C. – Sunday, the Center for Union Facts (CUF) aired a high-profile television ad in Washington, D.C. promoting the Employee Rights Act (ERA) during the Super Bowl. The ad airs as labor law reforms are being advanced from Minnesota to Indiana, where Governor Mitch Daniels enacted legislation fast-tracked to prevent disruptive union-organized protests and threats to “Occupy” the Super Bowl.

The ad depicts a group of union members complaining about the dues coming out of their paychecks, and trying to figure out whom among them actually voted for the union. It turns out, the ad reveals, that none of the workers currently subjected to the union’s rules had actually voted for the union.

“An overwhelming number of employees in private sector unions have never had a say in whether or not to join the union they’re in,” said CUF Executive Director Rick Berman.

In addition to requiring secret ballot elections for unionization and recertification, the ERA guarantees paycheck protection. Current labor law allows unions to trap workers as cash cows, using their dues to fund the campaigns of elected officials who ensure the scheme remains legal. Meanwhile, less than 10 percent of employees in private sector unions have actually voted to join their union.

In addition to airing the ad, CUF is educating the public with the launch of www.EmployeeRightsAct.com and the release of the results of a poll conducted by ORC International on CUF’s behalf. The poll shows strong support in both union and non-union households for measures in the bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and U.S. Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC). Eighty-three percent of union households, for example, agreed that workers should have the right to an election every three years to determine if they still want union representation.

To see the polling data or speak with a CUF representative, you can reach Michael Moroney at 202-463-7106 or by email at Moroney@unionfacts.com. To view the ad, visit www.EmployeeRightsAct.com.

The Center for Union Facts is a non-profit organization supported by foundations, businesses, union members, and the general public. We are dedicated to showing Americans the facts about today’s union leadership.

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