LaborPains.org

In a fiery debate on CNBC Thursday, Center for Union Facts Managing Director J. Justin Wilson went up against Thea Lee of the AFL-CIO to discuss the toxicity of the union brand and the need for unions to appeal to members in right-to-work states, including newly-minted Michigan, and not simply take them for granted. Wilson noted that if not for politics, even Democrats would be opposed to membership-by-compulsion.

But instead of confronting these problems, Lee passed the buck and blamed everyone but unions. She blamed billionaires, employers and “attacks.” But even taking her word for it, it’s impossible to account for the complete collapse of labor unionism in the workforce without considering the failure by labor in holding membership.

Lee also noted that labor laws are “antiquated,” something that we’ve been saying for a while as well. The Employee Rights Act (ERA) would greatly improve labor law and help to bring it out of the 1950s. But, somehow, we don’t think that’s the type of law she is looking for.

UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times reports that on late Tuesday, a deal was reached and that the strike will end today.

A second commercial, “Student Safety,” notes that criminal background checks might also be on the bargaining table, which would not allow school districts to ensure that felons are not on the payroll. The commercial specifically highlights allegations of teachers sexually abusing children.

Just add this to the growing list of problems with Prop 2.

The Moving Picture Institute, in conjunction with Reason.tv, has a great new video out explaining “The Machine” that keeps teachers unions alive. It’s definitely one you should share on social media.

With the Chicago Teachers Union going on strike this morning—or better stated by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, “a strike of choice”—it’s important to recognize how these organizations can continue to operate despite the continued deterioration of the American educational system.

The video speaks for itself, but, briefly: Teachers are paid by school districts, which are funded by taxpayer dollars. Those same school districts must, by law, take union dues out of the paychecks of teachers and give them to unions. In turn, unions use those dues-dollars to support politicians that keep pro-union policies. And so “The Machine” churns on.

The SEIU infomercial “Labor Day” came out this weekend. Here’s what a few people had to say.

By far the most honest review for the film comes from The New York Times. The rest vacillate between sappy and pandering. Read the New York Times one first.

Last things first: a credit at the end of “Labor Day” reads, “The film was partly financed by SEIU who cooperated fully with the filmmakers.” And how.

Glenn Silber was producing videos for the Service Employees International Union in 2007 when he decided to make a film about the union and its role in the presidential campaign. The result is, more than anything else, a slickly produced 76-minute commercial for the union; to call it a documentary is to stretch the term almost beyond meaning.

Not everyone caught the “financed by SEIU” note at the end apparently. From GapersBlock.com:

In fact, if you told me that the SEIU personally financed the making of this film, I’d have no trouble believing you.

Image Courtesy of Laurie :: Liquid Paper.

Here’s a great video explaining EFCA in under 4 minutes.

I came across this video today on YouTube. I can’t say it’s Oscar quality, but it does provide a pretty concise description of the deceptively-named Employee Free Choice Act. Check it out.