USA Today: Union chief predicts win on 'card check' law

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2009-02-25-labor-law_N.htm

By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The head of the country's largest labor union says he expects victory by August on one of labor's top priorities in Congress: legislation designed to make union organizing easier.

Andrew Stern, president of the 2 million-member Service Employees International Union, said Wednesday he thinks there are enough votes in the House and Senate to approve the bill known as "card check." The measure would allow workers to form a union by gathering signed cards from a majority of employees, rather than the current method of winning a secret-ballot election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.

Stern, in an interview with USA TODAY, cast the issue as a way to help workers during hard economic times and change the balance "between big business and people who work."

"It's not about unions. It's about how America is going to rebuild the middle class," Stern said.

Opponents of card check such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce say it would allow union organizers to coerce or intimidate workers and would lead to higher costs that could drive some companies out of business.

FULL story at link.

[ogneopasno]

1. They're going to wait until Franken is seated until they bring it, though.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. 2012?

:banghead:

[ogneopasno]

3. Heh.

[bluestateguy]

4. Yes

And as much as we may not like it, we need to keep Ray Burris in the Illinois seat for that reason too. He may be a jackass, but he's a solid Democratic vote when we need him.

[w4rma]

8. Burris may not vote for it. He hasn't said he would. (nt)

[lonestarnot]

11. Isn't he gone yet?

[Earth Bound Misfit]

5. Jeebus, I hope he's right...

But I "seriesly" doubt it. I've read that Blue Dog Democrats are asking House Dem leaders to postpone a vote on the EFCA until after the Senate votes on it because they're afraid they’ll end up having to vote for two different versions of the bill, and they fear this will cause them problems in their districts (more likely their CORPORATE MASTERS). The Blue Dogs don’t want to end up voting on something that won’t even become law.

Wal-mart, I mean, Arkansas Dem Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor haven't signaled that they will vote for the bill. A quote from Lincoln “The question is, is there a need for this legislation right now? And for multiple reasons, I don’t think there is,” Those two, along with Sen. Nelson (NE) did not co-sponsor the bill in '07, but voted for cloture. Nelson said he’s likely to support cloture on the bill but hasn’t decided whether he’ll back the actual legislation.

Business groups, who are fiercely lobbying other Democratic moderates, believe that Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and new Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall could also be persuaded to oppose the bill, according to Politico.

I can see this passing as it is presently written only if Harry Reid forces a filibuster, and we all know how (un)likely that is. Otherwise I see some forn of "compromise" bill being passed (IOW, Labor & WORKERS get SCREWED...AGAIN).

Edit NE abbrev.

[lonestarnot]

6. So why no rec?

[Earth Bound Misfit]

9. DUUUUHHHH...

:silly:

K & R

[lonestarnot]

10. Thank you!

[Earth Bound Misfit]

12. No, No, Thank YOU!!

[lonestarnot]

7. dupededooo!

[Earth Bound Misfit]

13. BTW, I don't like to quote Politici, but this one was actually decent

[teamster633]

14. K & R

[Earth Bound Misfit]

15. Steve, have you seen any indication from Sen Nelson on where he stands?

[Omaha Steve]

17. I believe he will vote for it when it comes up

He has voted with labor around 70% of the time according to the AFL-CIO.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

18. TY n/t

[XOKCowboy]

16. That's funny I know it as the Employee Free Choice Act

I wonder who refers to it as "card check"? Liberal media my ass.

[KamaAina]

19. Good, solid liberals like Mickey Kaus

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

This has been the new bee in his bonnet ever since the immigration issue passed its sell-by date.

Free sample: (warning: not USDA-approved)

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/kausfiles/archive/2009/02/23/kf-resorts-to-homespun-metaphors.aspx

My main dispute with Tom concerns his fierce defense of traditional American labor unionism--he supports "card check"--which is why I'm not completely distressed that his biggest obstacle seems to be the support of Andy Stern's Blagojevichist Service Employees International Union for one of his more conventional opponents, state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz.

"Blagojevichist"?! Yet he still considers himself a liberal. :eyes: