Card Check

No Questions Please. Just Sign the Card

Patrick Semmens — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:38:12 -0400

Here's an interesting story (via EIA) from Nevada where teacher union officials are gathering signatures to put a massive tax increase on the ballot in November.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, union political operatives, who need to collect tens of thousands of signatures in order to put the tax hike on the ballot, are having trouble getting people to sign because "blockers" who oppose the tax increase are voicing their opposition to prospective signers during the collection process.

Kennedy: Having no election is "Simple and Fair"

Justin Hakes — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:34:19 -0400

Senator Ted Kennedy responds to the Wall Street Journal's recent piece that among other things, exposed the coercive nature of "card check" union organizing. He brands the process "simple and fair," but maybe he should watch the video below, which we posted a few weeks back. The only thing simple about such campaigns is how unfair to employees they are. Read more in this letter to the editor from today.

The Union Boss Mindset

Patrick Semmens — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:46:32 -0400

AFL-CIO top boss John Sweeney and Virginia AFL-CIO chief James Leaman recently had an article in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star that shows just how union officials view the workers they claim to represent.

The headline of the article rhetorically asks: "Without labor unions, who speaks for the worker?"

The implication is that workers are incapable of representing themselves. This also implies that workers who reject union membership are too stupid to know what is best for them.

That contemptuous view of workers and their ability to look after their own best interests explains why Big Labor is constantly claiming to have employees' best interests in mind while trying to limit the ability of those very employees to exercise free choice when it comes to unionization.

The Union Bosses' Goal: More Forced Dues Dollars

Patrick Semmens — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:28:29 -0400

Carl Horowitz has an article up today at National Review Online about the SEIU union and its top boss, Andy Stern. The article plays up the supposed split in organized labor between the so-called “Change to Win” coalition (led by Stern’s SEIU) and the AFL-CIO over whether to emphasize politics and lobbying or more aggressive organizing through the abusive card check scheme.

Unionization Elections Whether Employees Want Them or Not?

Justin Hakes — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:23:57 -0400

That's just one of many propsed rule changes being suggested at the National Labor Relations Board. Late last week, the National Right to Work Foundation filed comments opposing the changes which would further undermine employees' freedom to choose whether or not to unionize.

Under the proposed rules, colluding union officials and company officials could trigger a quick-snap unionization election even when no employees have expressed any interest. The proposed changes would also severely undermine employees' ability to challenge any misconduct or unfair labor practices.

Additionally, an NLRB rubber stamp could be obtained despite strategic gerrymandering of bargaining units and even where no advance notice of the election is provided to employees.

Sounds like the proposed changes a real loser for employee free choice.

Lead Advocate of Coercive "Card Check" Union Organizing Consolidating Power?

Justin Hakes — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:46:11 -0400

Following up on the internal power struggle within the SEIU union, the gnashing of teeth continues. Today's San Francisco Chronicle says that a new letter from SEIU chief Andy Stern accuses his lead critic Sal Rosseli of misconduct. The article cites Rosseli and others:

"...said the allegations appear to be a prelude to a trusteeship, under which Stern would replace the union's elected leaders with his own appointees."

read more

Hot Off the Presses: Read All About National Right to Work's Upcoming 14th Trip to U.S. Supreme Court

Justin Hakes — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:36:35 -0400

Read all about the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation's upcoming 14th U.S. Supreme Court battle on behalf State of Maine employees led by Mr. Dan Locke (pictured) in the March/April edition of Foundation Action, available first here today.

To sign up for a free hard copy version of this bi-monthly newsletter, sign up here. And to sign up for regular email updates on the battle against compulsory unionism, sign up on our home page.

Finally, don't forget to check out all the latest videos on the Right to Work YouTube channel.

U.S. Supreme Court Reviews Ruling Endorsing Coercive Union Organizing Today

Justin Hakes — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:57:08 -0400

Oral arguments take place this morning at the U.S. Supreme Court in a key case in which the Ninth Circuit reversed two of its earlier rulings and found that employers that receive state funds can be forced to implement coercive union organizing, including "card check" drives.

When the Supreme Court took up the case in November, National Right to Work Foundation Vice President Stefan Gleason had this to say:

“California officials are using the heavy hand of government to trample upon workers’ rights. Because union hierarchies seem to be having difficulties persuading employees to join unions voluntarily, they have resorted to coercive tactics in
order to maintain the flow of forced union dues."

"Card Check" Deception Targets College Students

Justin Hakes — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:12:37 -0400

Speaking of "card check," a Washington State University student is calling out the United Auto Workers union on its recent use of a deceptive "card check" drive to forcibly unionize academic student employees. The student writes:

Several students were led to believe they were signing to get
information or support exploring the efficacy of students unionizing.
With a sense of urgency and high pressure tactics, many students filled
out cards.

In addition to noting that students would be forced to pay dues if the UAW was installed, the student adds:

We find it insulting to our intelligence and levels of educational
achievement to mislead, misrepresent and misinform us to gain student
support.

As Karen Mayhew, a National Right to Work Foundation-aided employee from Portland, Oregon, told Congress last year:

...union abuses of a wide variety are the rule in 'card check' campaigns, not the exception.

All the more reason that employees should be aware of their rights during a "card check" drive.

New Video: Coercive "Card Check" Union Organizing Victims Speak Out

Justin Hakes — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:45:39 -0500

A group of Dana Corporation employees from Albion, Indiana, recently fought their way free of the unwanted United Auto Workers union capitalizing on a ruling won by the National Right to Work Foundation.