Two union activists enter: One union activist leaves. That seems to be the story of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500’s attempt to organize left-wing media criticism outfit Media Matters for America. David Brock, the CEO of the aggressively pro-union group, isn’t too eager to have his staff unionized. He has refused a card check with “no reply” and lawyered up, taking the matter to the National Labor Relations Board.

Now the SEIU is hitting back. The “Media Matters Organizing Committee”—made up of Media Matters staff and SEIU flacks trying to unionize the group—released a statement to the Huffington Post. Cue the world’s tiniest violin:

The actions of Media Matters executives have placed employees in the impossible position of continuing to produce content espousing pro-labor values for an employer who is challenging our right to unionize. Not only is management subjecting Media Matters employees to arduous NLRB procedures, the actions of their attorneys indicate Media Matters executives object so tenaciously to our union that they appear willing to prevent employees from ever having the opportunity to vote on the matter.

It’s a delicious irony of Media Matters’ betrayal of its $735,000 benefactors.  Despite making a massive push for the card check bill (largely by denying that it would effectively end secret ballots, which is false), when a union came knocking on Media Matters’ door, Brock gave “no reply.”

While we agree with Brock on the merits of requesting a secret ballot vote, we feel for the employees who thought they didn’t work for a hypocrite. Either way, pass the popcorn.