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R.I.P.: William F. Buckley Jr. - Foe of Forced Unionism

Justin Hakes — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:16:12 -0500

Today's regretful passing of commentator William F. Buckley Jr. reminds us of how Mr. Buckley stood up to compulsory unionism with help from the National Right to Work Foundation several decades back. George Leef details the fight in pages 160-162 of Free Choice for Workers: A History of the Right to Work Movement.

After American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union officials told Mr. Buckley to join the union and pay up if he wanted to voice his opinions over the airwaves, he fought back in the form of a Foundation-aided lawsuit.

Though the case was batted between the courts and National Labor Relations Board, it ultimately led the AFTRA union to stop requiring formal membership from employees. (However, it could still compel dues from employees.)

Despite this, Mr. Buckley voiced satisfaction at his case's achievement. Mr. Leef cites:

Summing up his case, William F. Buckley Jr. wrote in his sydicated column, 'Thanks to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which funded this case...employees are precisely not bound to obey the union's rules any long, and the First Amendment has won a significant victory.'

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Colorado Executive Order Leaves Door Open for Forced Union Dues

Justin Hakes — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:58:23 -0500

Following up on last week's post, Stan Greer of the National Institute for Labor Relations Research spoke out last week against a recent executive order in Colorado extending union monopoly bargaining over state employees. (NRTW Foundation Vice President and Legal Director Raymond J. LaJeunesse, Jr. spoke at the event.)

According to an article in the Denver Business Journal:

Greer also said that even if legislators approve a law prohibiting
government workers from striking -- and Ritter signs it -- 48 percent
of public sector strikes are technically illegal, meaning that
legislation is not an effective deterrent against strikes.

"By all economic measures, Colorado would be better off without
forced dues and fees and everyone would be better off with right to
work laws."

How true- if strike prohibitions work, how did union officials shut down New York City just before Christmas in 2005" They didn't seem to mind the illegality of that strike. The imposition of forced union dues has also prompted state employees in Washington and Maine to fight back.

Merry Christmas- You're Indicted

Justin Hakes — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:19:15 -0500

A high-level Teamsters official from New York yesterday was indicted on federal embezzlement and extortion charges for demanding among other things:

"...that his employees mow his lawn, clean his gutters and chauffeur his family."

Sounds like quite the life. According to the article:

"The indictment said the employees complied with Rumore's demands because they feared they would suffer economic harm or even lose their jobs if they did not."

Rumore was released on $250,000 bond, I wonder where he got all that cash. He also faces up to 25 years in prison.

As noted by the late Senator John McClellan, "Compulsory unionism and corruption go hand-in-hand." These are the sorts of misdeeds union officials perpetrate at the expense of rank-and-file workers when the do not face the accountability instilled by a Right to Work law.

That Carpenters Union Local is a ‘Mismanaged Mess’

John Powell — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:50:25 -0500

Over 4,500 rank-and-file workers have been hung out to dry by their union local in New York City.

The Village Voice had an intriguing editorial about the Carpenters Local 157 union. Apparently the local is infested with corruption, and not just recently either. The editorial reports:

“…the Carpenters union has been unable to climb out of a 30-year-long quagmire of corruption.”

But just as troubling, William Callahan, the union's court-appointed independent investigator, had this to say to Carpenters union chief, Douglas McCarron:

“…Local 157 as ‘a mismanaged mess where [business agents] come and go as they please, following few, if any, rules.’”

Sadly, in an instance like this when the union hierarchy turned its back on its own, it goes to show that union bosses are more concerned about their own well-being than actually respecting the rights of the workers they claim to “represent.”

Rat Attack!

John Powell — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:17:57 -0400

Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 91 is no stranger when it comes to using threats, coercion and intimidation on the picket line.

But despite court appearances, federal investigations and even beatings throughout the 1990s, Local 91 union officials have brought out their newest scare-tactic weapon…a 10-ft inflatable rat, paid for in full with $4,000 of union dues, much of which is taken from workers as a condition of employment.

(Photo by Charles Lewis/Buffalo News)

The rat, union officials claim, is a peaceful message to workers who choose not to toe the union line.

According to The Buffalo News, most agree that the giant rat planted outside a Holiday Inn at a Niagara Falls construction site is a not-so-subtle sign of some of this LIUNA Local’s violent past. The giant rat is inflated for about four hours every morning, and during that time, Local 91 picketers intimidate truck drivers entering the site.

In fact, one Local 91 operative, Michael Godzisz, even tried to justify the intimidation:

The picketing laborers also stop construction vehicles as they enter the site but do so for only three of five minutes at a time, he said.

And the union local’s business manager supported the bullying tactic:

“We can’t hold them up, and if we keep walking they can’t run us over,” said Rob Connolly, Local 91’s business manager. “After about five minutes, we let them go out of courtesy.” [Emphasis added]

Despite LIUNA Local 91’s claim to reform and anger management control, the use of the giant rat is just another type of terror used to intimidate those employees who refuse to walk off the job. In fact, other locals have used the rat trap up and down the east coast.

But giving truckers a “courtesy” to get through the picket line leaves you questioning: what exactly happens after the five minute window is up"

Teachers Hit WEA Union with Statewide Class-Action Suit to Reclaim $200,000 in Dues Seized for Politics

Webmaster — Mon, 19 Mar 2001 00:00:00 -0500

Teamsters Union to be Prosecuted for Violating Employees' Rights

Webmaster — Fri, 09 Mar 2001 00:00:00 -0500

Lockheed Martin Employee Socks Union with Federal Charges

Webmaster — Mon, 05 Mar 2001 00:00:00 -0500

Employee Rights Advocate Says Union Dues Executive Order Is "Only a Small, Symbolic First Step"

Webmaster — Fri, 16 Feb 2001 00:00:00 -0500

Deferiet Paper Employee Hits Union with Federal Charges

Webmaster — Mon, 12 Feb 2001 00:00:00 -0500