Viewpoint: Employers put legal obstacles in path of workers’ union efforts

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/dec/21/1221_Cole/

By Paul F. Cole

The United States is facing the worst economic times since the Great Depression with working families being hit the hardest. In the past eight years, corporate profits have doubled, productivity has increased by 15 percent, yet the average household income has dropped by more than $2,000. Unemployment is skyrocketing, health care coverage dwindling and pensions are being depleted.

So what does Carl Strock propose in his Dec. 14 column as his number one priority for the incoming Obama Administration? Veto the Employee Free Choice Act that would reform America’s one-sided labor law.

Strock says, “If a majority of employees could be intimidated by union organizers into signing cards, the union would prevail.”

“Could be,” Mr. Strock? “The Labor Union Strongarm Act,” Mr. Strock?

Strock does not cite one bit of evidence for his assertion. In fact, there have already been a number of voluntary “card check” elections and there has been no evidence of “intimidation” by unions.
Employer tactics

Intimidation and “strongarm” tactics are the chosen modus operandi of many employers.

A study by the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations points out that employers illegally fire at least one worker for union activity during organizing campaigns 25 percent of the time, hire consultants or union-busters to help the fight union organizing drives 75 percent of the time, force employees to attend one-on -one meetings with their own supervisors against the union 78 percent of the time and force employees to attend mandatory, closed-door meetings against the union 92 percent of the time.

FULL story at link.

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1. I hope the new admin tells Strock and the GOP...

I hope the new Obama administration tells Strock and the GOP exactly where they can go and exactly how they can get there. The Republicans need to understand their day is over, it's the American people's day now.