http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2008/08/15/obamas-dangerous-sop-to-unions/ Beating Them With Their Own Sickle And Hammer Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:24:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2008/08/15/obamas-dangerous-sop-to-unions/comment-page-1/#comment-94163 Hilary Smith Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:55:26 +0000 http://www.stoptheaclu.com/?p=10172#comment-94163 When it comes to unionization, the secret ballot sounds like it protects worker choice, but it really doesn't. In order for a secret ballot to occur, employers must be made aware that their employees are considering unionization. There is then a waiting period during which employers, in the vast majority of cases, hire union-busters, meet with employees one-on-one in order to intimidate and dissuade them from voting for the union, and frequently attempt to bribe employees with raises and other favors in order to secure "no" votes. Finally, after all of this, a secret ballot is held wherein the union effort is often defeated. Pro-union employees regularly lose their jobs. Many states prohibit this type of employer retaliation but rarely enforce penalties in any meaningful way. If this offends your sense of freedom and liberty, it should. Employees ought to be free to form unions without interference, and if the secret ballot were held off-site without employer meddling, the secret ballot would be great. But right now that's not how it works. The Employee Free Choice Act allows worker’s unions to be formed without threats or intimidation from employers. With the Employee Free Choice Act, if a majority of workers sign union cards during a given year, then they are free to form a union which must be recognized by their employer. This is the way it should be because this is America. Does anyone else find it interesting that conservatives, who consistently favor business interests, not working-class interests, are suddenly so concerned about a worker’s right to decide in private whether or not to form a union? The Employee Free Choice Act will give Americans real privacy when it comes to unionization. This is the sort of legislation that has been sorely missing from our political landscape over the last decade as New Deal programs have been dismantled and the everyman has fallen into destitution. If you are reading this post, do the American workingman a favor, pick up a pen and write to your congressperson encouraging him or her to vote “yes” on the Employee Free Choice Act. GO UNION LABOR! When it comes to unionization, the secret ballot sounds like it protects worker choice, but it really doesn’t. In order for a secret ballot to occur, employers must be made aware that their employees are considering unionization. There is then a waiting period during which employers, in the vast majority of cases, hire union-busters, meet with employees one-on-one in order to intimidate and dissuade them from voting for the union, and frequently attempt to bribe employees with raises and other favors in order to secure “no” votes. Finally, after all of this, a secret ballot is held wherein the union effort is often defeated. Pro-union employees regularly lose their jobs. Many states prohibit this type of employer retaliation but rarely enforce penalties in any meaningful way. If this offends your sense of freedom and liberty, it should.
Employees ought to be free to form unions without interference, and if the secret ballot were held off-site without employer meddling, the secret ballot would be great. But right now that’s not how it works.
The Employee Free Choice Act allows worker’s unions to be formed without threats or intimidation from employers. With the Employee Free Choice Act, if a majority of workers sign union cards during a given year, then they are free to form a union which must be recognized by their employer. This is the way it should be because this is America.
Does anyone else find it interesting that conservatives, who consistently favor business interests, not working-class interests, are suddenly so concerned about a worker’s right to decide in private whether or not to form a union? The Employee Free Choice Act will give Americans real privacy when it comes to unionization. This is the sort of legislation that has been sorely missing from our political landscape over the last decade as New Deal programs have been dismantled and the everyman has fallen into destitution.
If you are reading this post, do the American workingman a favor, pick up a pen and write to your congressperson encouraging him or her to vote “yes” on the Employee Free Choice Act. GO UNION LABOR!

]]> http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2008/08/15/obamas-dangerous-sop-to-unions/comment-page-1/#comment-94134 Aiken Blue Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:44:54 +0000 http://www.stoptheaclu.com/?p=10172#comment-94134 Obama has the better plan for the middle class, the working class hero. McCain on the other hand, is an elitist who spends $500 on his loafers! and he's blaming Obama for being Elitist! Please, vote for Obama! Visit WhyObama08.ORG!! Obama has the better plan for the middle class, the working class hero. McCain on the other hand, is an elitist who spends $500 on his loafers! and he’s blaming Obama for being Elitist! Please, vote for Obama! Visit WhyObama08.ORG!!

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