The Communication Workers of America, the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, have announced that they will work together to develop common strategies and share resources to elect pro-union political candidates.
The new alliance, born out of desperation, is determined to invest millions of dollars to achieve its goals, which include not only electing pro-union politicians, but also passing the Employee Free Choice Act (i.e., card checks that violate the sanctity of secret ballot elections) and the re-negotiation of NAFTA, which would have a deleterious effect on our economy,
This alliance is indicative of organized labor’s intent to win new members, increase pro-union representation in both houses of Congress, and to hurt both Corporate America and consumers by eliminating the manifold benefits that have resulted from NAFTA. Organized labor’s self interest is short-sighted and not in the long-term interests of the United States.
In Times Square, the cross roads of the world, there is a seven-story billboard, put up by Union Facts, that informs tourists and New Yorkers of the Ten Worst Union-Protected Teachers.
Typical of those noted is one teacher who, while drunk, drove to a drive-thru window of a fast-food restaurant. He ordered what he wanted, but then became frustrated that his food was not served as quickly as he expected. Rather than complaining to management, he pulled out a gun and waved it at restaurant employees. Someone fortunately called the police, who subsequently arrested the angry patron. He was jailed and pleaded nolo contendere.
Rather than informing his students and their parents of what had happened, the administration told his students that their teacher was caring for a sick relative. Out of jail, he returned to his classroom, sanction free. His career is intact.
It is fortunate that Union Facts has alerted New Yorkers of the egregious power and influence of a mighty teachers union. It is an example to all Americans of what can happen when a union controls a profession. Unions should not be permitted to operate as monopolies.
The AFL-CIO has earmarked more than $53-million to pursue Senator John McCain at all of his presidential campaign stops.
The union believes that Senator John McCain is anti-union, and it wants to make sure that he is not our next president. Every organization and individual has the right to support or oppose any candidate running for office. However, to spend more than $53-million of union dues to effect a political result demonstrates what is wrong with the labor movement.
With fewer than 10% of private sector employees belonging to unions, organized labor is desperate to increase the number of workers in its ranks.
Organized labor, frustrated by ever diminishing returns and unable to convince many workers to join its ranks, has decided that the only way it can make progress is to elect politicians who will enact laws that are pro-union and anti-management. They feel that with a Democratic president, card checks (The Employee Free Choice Act) and other pro-union legislation will be enacted.
It’s no wonder that the McCain campaign has denounced the plans of the AFL-CIO. As one of Senator McCain’s spokespeople said, “The [union] campaign against John McCain isn’t about working families, it’s about partisan politics.” It is too bad for Corporate America, too bad for all Americans.
Unions have become increasingly aggressive in their efforts to organize non-union employees across the country. Many corporations feel as if they have had their backs pushed against an economic wall beyond which they cannot move.
Now Cintas Corporation, based in Ohio, has filed a lawsuit against labor unions, alleging that the unions engaged in racketeering. Cintas filed suit in the U. S. District Court for the Southern District in New York against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, UNITE HERE, and Change to Win. The company has alleged that those unions engaged in extortion.
Cintas operates more than 400 facilities in the United States and Canada, including eleven manufacturing plants and employs more than 34,000 workers.
If citizens want Corporate America to remain vital and not export jobs to factories in other countries, they cannot permit unions to drive up labor costs so that corporate bottom lines sink into a sea of red ink. It would be a shame if the 34,000 workers of Cintas found themselves replaced by foreign workers, all because several unions forced the company to find a way to reduce costs.