Since 1935, federal law has prohibited supervisors from joining unions, and since the NLRB affirmed that rule, unions have been vigorously lobbying to have it overturned or amended.
Organized labor has convinced its Democratic allies in Congress to pass the Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Construction Tradeworkers act (H.R. 1644, S. 969) (a.k.a. RESPECT) as something that will help the average worker. In fact, the backers of RESPECT are no respecters of truth. Rather than helping workers, the Act will create expensive and restrictive work rules that will only serve to disadvantage American companies which must compete in a global economy.
The ACT would alter the definition of what is a supervisor and permit many employees who perform supervisory functions to join unions, thus significantly increasing labor costs for Corporate America.
In addition to driving up labor costs, RESPECT will dramatically increase union dues, thus giving organized labor more leverage when it comes to supporting political candidates.
If Congress does not want to see Corporate America operate at a competitive disadvantage, it will not pass RESPECT, which is no respecter of our free enterprise system.
