Unions Pushing For Private-Sector Rule To Help Increase Membership

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Big Business, Big Unions, Big Government... they are all one in the same at the end of the day...

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hNpmL4HLUEmuylizlD6AXl6zgzrA?docId=e05f49ae215c45dfbed2d2f81d541db6

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most private employers would have to display posters informing workers about their right to form a union under a proposed federal rule that is bound to please unions and draw the ire of companies trying to resist labor organizers.

The planned rule, announced Tuesday by the National Labor Relations Board, would require businesses to post notices in employee break rooms or other prominent locations to explain a worker's rights to bargain collectively, distribute union literature or engage in other union activities without reprisal.

The move to issue a broad rule signals a more aggressive posture by the labor board, which usually makes policy on a case-by-case basis in individual labor-management disputes.

It comes less than a year after President Barack Obama made several recess appointments to give the board its first Democratic majority in a decade. Obama's appointments to the board were held up for months over GOP concerns that one nominee — former AFL-CIO counsel Craig Becker — would be too sympathetic to unions.

As unions struggle to pass pro-labor legislation in Congress, leaders are increasingly looking to the labor board and other federal agencies to help reverse what they view as an increasingly hostile atmosphere for organizing new members.

Unions are trying to reverse years of membership declines in the private sector, where just 7.2 percent of employees belong to a union.

In recent months, the labor board has expressed an interest in allowing electronic voting for union elections, a move that business groups fear could compromise secret ballots. The board is also speeding up its review of cases where employees are fired during union organizing drives.

The rule would not take effect for at least 60 days, during which the agency is taking comments.

In a statement, the board said it believes many employees protected by the National Labor Relations Act "are unaware of their rights" under the law. The notices make clear that workers don't have to join a union and outline other legal protections against union intimidation or misconduct.

Similar posters are already required to be displayed in the offices of government contractors and subcontractors under a White House executive order that took effect in June. The directive was one of the first executive orders Obama signed shortly after taking office last year.

Michael Lotito, a San Francisco labor attorney who represents employers, said the notices could make it appear that the government is sanctioning unions.

"It will stimulate interest and curiosity among employees as to why this happened, which will prompt them to make telephone calls to unions," Lotito said.

Michael Eastman, executive director of labor policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, questioned whether the board even has the legal authority to issue the rule. If it does go forward, he suggested the posters should be more balanced for those who don't want to join unions.

The AFL-CIO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Have you ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Paul? Sorry, I have no urge to return to the way things were then.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Have you ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Paul? Sorry, I have no urge to return to the way things were then.

Things aren't doom and gloom in RTW states as much as some want to try and make it out to be (political hack untion people).

[The_Dude 1,142]

Things aren't doom and gloom in RTW states as much as some want to try and make it out to be (political hack untion people).

Indeed, it's not all doom and gloom, as many RWN try to paint any union activity as.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Have you ever read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair Paul? Sorry, I have no urge to return to the way things were then.

Nice red herring. Since the days of Upton Sinclair there have been changes in the laws to prevent us from going back. Even if the unions disappeared there is no chance of that. Your attempt to instill the fear of sweat-houses returning isn't going to work.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Nice red herring. Since the days of Upton Sinclair there have been changes in the laws to prevent us from going back. Even if the unions disappeared there is no chance of that. Your attempt to instill the fear of sweat-houses returning isn't going to work.

You think the conditions detailed in The Jungle are a distant memory? There are still conditions like that in this world today. I realize that unions do take advantage at times, but they are nowhere near the villains that people like Paul make them out to be.

[lostinblue 1,989]

For you union supporters a question. What would life be like in the United States if everyone had to belong to a union?....Better off or worse?Productivity would go up or down? By what percent? Would the economy start to boom or not? Would your standard of living rise or fall?

[JohnSmith2007 353]

You think the conditions detailed in The Jungle are a distant memory? There are still conditions like that in this world today. I realize that unions do take advantage at times, but they are nowhere near the villains that people like Paul make them out to be.

In the world, yes. No doubt. But our unions have nothing to do with that. With health and safety laws and minimum wage laws the reason the unions were formed in the first place is moot. At this point all they do is hold companies hostage to work stoppages to demand things that years down the road ends up destroying their own jobs. There is nothing wrong with someone wanting a better wage or more benefits but the broad brush the unions paint things with just encourages mediocrity rather than excellence. You should know that I have been in unions all my life. My father was a union man all his working life. Having experienced the "union" way of life I can tell you it is one of the reasons our jobs are going else where. There is no good reasons for a union in this day and age. They did a tremendous good for workers on the first half of the 20th century and we have a lot to thank them for but they have eliminated their own reason for being.

[The_Dude 1,142]

In the world, yes. No doubt. But our unions have nothing to do with that. With health and safety laws and minimum wage laws the reason the unions were formed in the first place is moot. At this point all they do is hold companies hostage to work stoppages to demand things that years down the road ends up destroying their own jobs. There is nothing wrong with someone wanting a better wage or more benefits but the broad brush the unions paint things with just encourages mediocrity rather than excellence. You should know that I have been in unions all my life. My father was a union man all his working life. Having experienced the "union" way of life I can tell you it is one of the reasons our jobs are going else where. There is no good reasons for a union in this day and age. They did a tremendous good for workers on the first half of the 20th century and we have a lot to thank them for but they have eliminated their own reason for being.

There are plenty of reasons for unions. Just look at the working conditions found to be pervasive at Walmart. As in just about everything, there are good and bad elements to everything. The teachers union's shenanigans in some states shouldn't condemn those that actually do good work.

[The_Dude 1,142]

For you union supporters a question. What would life be like in the United States if everyone had to belong to a union?....Better off or worse?Productivity would go up or down? By what percent? Would the economy start to boom or not? Would your standard of living rise or fall?

That is a loaded question. I can say with confidence that for me, if it weren't for my union, I would make less and my benefits would be substantially cut. Are all unions good? No, not really, just look at how teachers unions drag their feet on anything as soon as you suggest merit based pay.

[lostinblue 1,989]

That is a loaded question. I can say with confidence that for me, if it weren't for my union, I would make less and my benefits would be substantially cut. Are all unions good? No, not really, just look at how teachers unions drag their feet on anything as soon as you suggest merit based pay.

So only a "select few" should belong to a union ?Why cannot everyone make more money and have more benefits? Is not this the reason mentioned in the article?Try to encourage everyone to be unionized. So again make believe it is a wonderfull life and describe a world where everyone is unionized.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

There are plenty of reasons for unions. Just look at the working conditions found to be pervasive at Walmart. As in just about everything, there are good and bad elements to everything. The teachers union's shenanigans in some states shouldn't condemn those that actually do good work.

Walmart? What is wrong with the working conditions at Walmart? Those conditions are sweet compared to a lot of the union factory jobs I have had. They even get health care, vacation and profit sharing. I have had many union jobs that didn't even give me that.

[BishopM 114]

There is no good reasons for a union in this day and age. They did a tremendous good for workers on the first half of the 20th century and we have a lot to thank them for but they have eliminated their own reason for being.

+1 After working in and against unions during my lifetime I can say from my experience that their useful life has passed. Plus, after living 10 years in Michigan (near Detroit) I can see that they've become a real detriment to American competitiveness.

There are plenty of reasons for unions. Just look at the working conditions found to be pervasive at Walmart. As in just about everything, there are good and bad elements to everything. The teachers union's shenanigans in some states shouldn't condemn those that actually do good work.

You're kidding right? They work at Walmart...they need to recognize that.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Walmart? What is wrong with the working conditions at Walmart? Those conditions are sweet compared to a lot of the union factory jobs I have had. They even get health care, vacation and profit sharing. I have had many union jobs that didn't even give me that.

Walmart gets beat up on because it makes profit. The left doesn't like profit.

[peejay 327]

I have no problem with requiring that workers be informed of their right to organize. I am against card check though. Workers should vote on unionization by private ballot rather than by union thugs pressuring them to fill out cards.