No Concessions for the Employee Free Choice Act
In January of this year the Economic Polity Institute issued a report called “The Employee Free Choice Act/ Questions and Answers.” The authors, Ross Eisenbrey and David Kusnet started the paper by stating, “For more than 70 years, the nation’s labor laws have proclaimed that working Americans’ right to join a union is a fundamental freedom, just like the rights to speak or worship. Indeed the freedoms to form unions and bargain with employers follow from other basic American rights – freedom of association and petitioning for the redress of grievances.” This is why the proposed labor bill that retail giants Whole Foods, Costco and Starbucks put out over the weekend under a newly formed (out of nowhere) group called the “Committee for a Level Playing Field for Union Elections” got zero legs on Capitol Hill. Perhaps working people in this country are finally being heard – we don’t want a concessionary Employee Free Choice Act, we really truly want the Employee Free Choice Act, as it was introduced to Congress (again) earlier this month. “This proposal is unacceptable. It was written by CEOs for CEOs. It is not a serious attempt at labor law reform because it fails to fundamentally address key problems that currently prevent workers from being able to join together and bargain for a better life,” they wrote. “Unions are an essential part of a strong democracy and play a crucial role in America’s public and community life. Not only do they give workers a voice on the job and help negotiate fair benefits and wages for their members, but they also use their political and economic resources to raise the floor for everyone who works for a living. “Unions, by fighting for higher standards for workers, businesses, families, the environment, and public health and safety, have helped to build the middle class and make sure the economy works for everyone.” The other day, in another blog entry, I wrote, “If ever there was a time for folks to see how anti-union this country is, it would be now. All one needs to do is tune into the Employee Free Choice Act online. Corporations are obviously dropping millions – if not billions – into fighting this legislation, swaying the general public, and doing so to the point of outright lying about what the Employee Free Choice does and does not do.” Today I can say that there is no better time for labor activists, progressive bloggers and all around working people to mobilize around this one ultimate goal of getting the Employee Free Choice Act passed, without Whole Foods, Starbucks and Costco concessions. Bookmark/Search this post with: |
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Thanks for the update and
Thanks for the update and great summary of the situation today. Really well done,
BG
You're welcome - and thanks for being here with us
you're welcome ... and thanks for being here with us.
Memories...
Wholefoods, Costco, and Starbucks....these outfits remind me of Fleetwood Motorhomes....I was employed there a few years ago and many of us signed cards whether we wanted a union or not....evidently, the majority of us Fleetwood workers wanted a union, because after we voted with the cards, SUDDENLY there was an emergency company meeting. We employees had to sit through a few hours....it seemed endless....of anti-union propaganda. We had to listen to some Fleetwood wheels give their BS speeches on how their company could not function with Union workers....which, of course, is a veiled threat to lose our jobs if unioniziation would happen. Then, we had to sit through a loooooooooooooooooooong and boring film describing the evils of unions and how great it is to be union-free. Sadly, most of my fellow working buddies believed the corporate's lies and backed down from forming a union and became quiet little mice. Personally, I could not believe that they backed down and actually BELIEVED management??? After we went to the forced anti-worker emergency propaganda meeting, we went back to work, but suddenly we were being scrutinized and treated like kindergarteners instead of fellow employees. If we questioned anything about changes in work procedure, our line bosses would just tell us to quit complaining and be part of the team. Even if the work procedure may have had a safety issue or productivity issue....we just had to be quiet little church mice and keep working. Also, after the card signing and company brainwash/job threat meeting, management began firing people for NO VALID REASON. Evidently, corporate must have threatened management and forced them to
start chopping heads because the idea of forming a UNION was actually mentioned!!!
This is a glaring and real example of why the EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT needs to be enacted as Federal Law for all work places.
Quiet Little Church Mice -- that s..t has to stop
Sorry you had to sit through the long videos. I had to once - a long time ago, and almost pissed myself laughing out the door.
This news with these retail stores is outrageous. The first thing that came to mind over the weekend when I first heard the news was this: How the hell do these retail stores have any idea what is a fair and just labor law? It is absurd. They are not in your shoes, and if they ever were, that is long forgotten.
You are right, we need to get this Employee Free Choice Act passed into law. What we could do now is keep talking about it, telling our own stories, and being the proof of why we need it, want it, will get it.
Amen, Brother!
I encourage all USA working people to grow some balls and/or spines and start sharing their personal experiences with work intimidation and anti-worker brainwashing from "yes" management and corporate Bullshit. The more we share our real life encounters pertaining to anti-union propaganda, the more equipped all USA workers will be to fight a winning battle against mistreatment. My God!!!! Wouldn't it be devastating if greedy corporate bastards would have to sacrifice a yacht or limo or three of their houses so their employees would be treated justly???? These worthless pricks are willing to spend millions/billions to promote their anti-union/EFCA lies....if they can afford to blow money on lies, why can't they afford to pay their workers fair wages and affordable benefits???? Something is not right with the corporate picture. Today's corporate remind me of leeches that can't seem to get enough blood to satisfy their greed.
Hitting the nail on the head
You know, you are 100% right ... there is absolutely no corporate responsibility or consciousness to speak of ... it is all greed, and that is all it ever probably was. The idea that we can sit glued to our television sets to hear about groups like AIG paying these monster bonuses out to high-level employees that are not not still with the company mixed with businesses like the three mentioned in the story -- it is intense. Corporate America is a very well-funded machine, make no bones about it, they are spending billions on fighting the Employee Free Choice Act because apparently their movies didn't work on everyone.
Shit, am I glad you are here!