WFI Issues Responses To Individual NLRB Decisions

Obama Administration “August Massacre” Kills Jobs, Pays Off Labor Bosses

 

Washington, D.C. (August 31, 2011) – The Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI) today released the following statements in response to the individual job-killing decisions reached yesterday by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB):

 

In response to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision concerning Specialty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center of Mobile, WFI Spokesperson Fred Wszolek stated:

 

“The decision by Obama’s labor board concerning Specialty Healthcare radically alters how collective bargaining units are defined in every industry despite the dishonest claim made by the NLRB stating they ‘did not create new criteria for determining appropriate bargaining units outside of health care facilities.’  The new standard mandates that the only requirement to form a unit is a ‘community of interest’ meaning the tight ends on a football team could constitute a unit, while the offensive linemen or wide receivers would constitute separate units.  Going further, the regulatory agency makes it nearly impossible for employers to expand the pool of individuals in the ‘community of interest’ as the employees outside the unit would need to meet an arbitrary threshold classified as an ‘overwhelming community of interest.’  The practical effect of this is that under one business’ roof, multiple mini-units could be formed resulting in dramatically increased labor relations costs due to the employer having to bargain with multiple units negotiating against one another.  As this unfolds in one of the worst economies in recent memory, the end result will be more job loss and pain among America’s working class.  The decision by the Obama Administration in Specialty Healthcare is an affront to job creators and hardworking citizens and shreds any credibility the president maintained on the economy.”

 

In response to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision concerning Lamons Gasket, WFI Spokesperson Fred Wszolek stated:

 

“The NLRB’s decision to disallow workers the right to challenge their employer’s recognition of a union through card check is stunning.  Despite its request, no empirical evidence supporting the agency’s reversal of this precedent surfaced.  To the contrary, according to the regulatory agency’s own statistics, since the right was created in 2007, the union lost only 25% of the employee challenges.  Congress recently refused to consider the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act (EFCA), which would have instituted card check and done away with the secret ballot, yet an agency within the executive branch stacked with unelected bureaucrats doing the bidding of labor bosses is completely undermining the will of the legislative branch.  It is clear from this decision by Obama’s labor board that the Congress must step forward and pass legislation that protects employee free choice with a secret ballot in workplace elections and removes card check as a means to force workers into unions.”

 

In response to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision concerning UGL-UNICCO, WFI Spokesperson Fred Wszolek stated:

 

“Once again seeking to force unionization any way it can, the decision by President Obama’s labor board overturns what has been NLRB law for most of its history and it does so without justification.  The regulatory agency bars any employee challenge to an incumbent union when there is a change in ownership.  While the board claims such a bar is necessary to preserve labor relations stability, elsewhere it becomes clear that the old law was too threatening to Big Labor because there has been an increase in mergers and acquisitions.  As more workers voluntarily decide against joining unions, this is yet another effort by government to promote the interests of labor bosses above employees.”

 

The Workforce Fairness Institute is an organization committed to educating voters, employers, employees and citizens about issues affecting the workplace. To learn more, please visit: http://www.workforcefairness.com.

NRN - Must Reads for September 24, 2010

Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson's quote of the day in reference to the defeat Sen. Isakson's resolution against labor union organization by plurality rule: "First it was the EPA with its carbon endangerment finding, and then the National Labor Relations Board moving in the direction of card check. This is rule by bureaucracy, not by representation."

• Democrats are ready to hit the road
• Congress punts on taxes
• A pledge to cut spending
• GOP's new Senate class could be conservative vanguard
• Cartoon of the day, "Jimmy Carter's Hostage Crisis"
• Coburn: For the GOP, the moment for reform has arrived
• Obama's problem goes far deeper than his insolent style…
• Chatigny nomination on pause in Senate
• Don't heckle Chris Christie
• Stephen Colbert to testify before Congress today…
• Rep. Zack Space violates his own anti-lobbyist campaign donation pledge
• Three-ring circus at GMU not funny

 

 

Read more at NetRightDaily.com.

AFP - Another Obama Outrage

Just when you think this president cannot act more arrogantly, he proves us wrong.

President Obama waited for Congress to adjourn for Easter and then he used a recess appointment to put Big Labor lawyer Craig Becker on the board that is supposed to be a fair and honest broker between unions and employers. 

Becker was a top lawyer for SEIU (Service Employees International Union), one of the most liberal and thuggish public employee unions in the nation.  Now, thanks to President Obama, he's on the National Labor Relations Board. 

Becker is so radical on labor issues that the Democrat-controlled Senate REFUSED to approve his nomination!  Senator Ben Nelson (of "Cornhusker Kickback" infamy) even said Becker's record indicates he will "pursue a personal agenda." 

Remember the outrageous Card Check legislation President Obama pushed last year that would effectively take the right to a secret ballot away from Americans when they decide whether or not to join a union? Well, Becker is going to try and use his position on the National Labor Relations Board to push it through without Congress. This is just the latest instance of democracy denied - the administration's continued push around Congress and the American people. Check out AFP's www.ObamaChart.com to see how this fits together with other moves on Internet regulation, energy taxes and more.

Actions like the recess appointment of Craig Becker drive home just how liberal and arrogant the Obama administration really is.  I just read an advance copy of Sean Hannity's upcoming book entitled "Conservative Victory: Defeating Obama's Radical Agenda," which drives home this point with power and precision.

I'm glad someone with Sean Hannity's intellect and energy has detailed exactly what we're facing in taking on President Obama's agenda - especially on the economic front.  For more details about Sean's upcoming book tour, CLICK HERE.

Coming on the heels of the parliamentary tricks that rammed through the health care takeover despite the clear opposition of the American people, the Becker recess appointment just emphasizes how important our work is to defend our economic freedoms and our American way of life. 

It can get awfully frustrating at times, but we've got to keep up our fight for freedom.   

Tim Phillips

P.S.:  All of the bottom bubbles on the interactive chart at www.ObamaChart.com are action items that give you an opportunity to fight back against these power grabs. On card check, we must urge Congress now more than ever to pass the Secret Ballot Protection Act to guarantee the NLRB, now with the SEIU's Craig Becker on board, cannot deny workers their rights. You can go directly to that action alert by clicking here.

Like what Americans for Prosperity is doing? Invest in our work by clicking here. We're supported by our more than one million citizen-activists nationwide. Your contribution in any amount will go a long way in promoting free-market policies at all levels of government - local, state and federal. Thanks!

Ashooh For Congress - Union Ad is Payback for Shea-Porter Vote on Health Care, Card Check

MANCHESTER – Today, Rich Ashooh, Republican candidate in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District, made the following statement regarding AFSCME’s new political ad for Carol Shea-Porter.
 
“It’s no surprise that the unions are already forced to prop up their liberal choice for Congress with political ads.  Big Labor recognizes that incumbents like Shea-Porter are in trouble, and these ads are certainly payback for her vote to exclude unions from the tax on high-end health plans and her support for “card check” legislation.
 
“Shea-Porter is going to need much more than special interest TV ads to distract from her abysmal voting record.  Her support for Obama’s enormously expensive and intrusive health insurance bill will raise premiums for working families and penalize small businesses.  All the TV ads in the world will not lessen the economic pain that will be felt by New Hampshire’s taxpayers as this law is implemented.
 
“Shea-Porter is the most reliable vote for Big Labor’s effort to end secret ballots for union elections, and she proved her worth to them again by supporting a special eight-year exemption for unions from a new 40% tax on high-end insurance plans.
 
“The Obama-Pelosi health insurance bill is bad medicine for New Hampshire, and, if elected, I will vote to repeal it. The concerns of New Hampshire’s voters were ignored by their Congresswoman, and these new political ads will only remind them of that.”

AFP - A Big Victory; Card Check to be Put on Hold

Dear Friend,

Ever wonder if we can win tough public policy battles like health care and cap-and-trade?

Well, today we scored a big victory on a crucial issue that looked impossible just a few months ago.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the outrageously mis-named Employee Free Choice Act -- or Card Check -- is NOT going to be brought to a vote this year!

Card Check would effectively take the secret ballot away from American workers when it comes to deciding whether or not they want to join a union. It would take a cherished freedom away from millions of Americans, and at Americans for Prosperity we've been fighting it tooth-and-nail throughout the year.

A few months ago, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and their Big Labor allies were confident of passing this legislation, which would dramatically expand the power of unions by giving them millions of new union members along with their "forced dues."

We launched a "Save Our Secret Ballot" effort with rallies in key states like Pennsylvania (where union organizers aggressively attacked us), North Carolina, Arkansas and Virginia. We urged grassroots activists like you to call and email your Senators and House members. AFP was one of several free-market groups who took up the fight to stop this union power grab. TO SEE PHOTOS AND COVERAGE OF OUR GRASSROOTS EVENTS CLICK HERE.

ernment side had to back away -- and today they did.

So, we should take heart! Yes, we face a big challenge on stopping the health care takeover. Sure, the cap-and-trade battle is not easy. But, if we fight aggressively, fight hard and remain committed we can win -- just like we won the Card Check battle.

Today, I was in Wisconsin where Americans for Prosperity Foundation hosted a series of Town Hall meetings across this great state with special guest John Stossel of ABC's "20/20". AFP Foundation provided citizens with a forum to discuss a government takeover of health care. The crowds were huge and energetic: 1,900 in Madison (last night), 500 in La Crosse today and over 1,200 earlier this evening in Wausau, which is the home district of House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, who has refused to hold town hall meetings with his constituents.

You could feel the electricity in the room from seniors, small business owners, young couples, students, all committed to making sure the government keeps its "hands off our health care." CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND COVERAGE OF THE EVENTS.

We've got a long way to go on the health care and cap-and-trade battles. Several Senators are now saying Congress will stay in session deep into December in an attempt to wear us down.

While we gird for the long road ahead, let's take a moment to savor a victory for freedom today on the Card Check issue.

Then, let's get up and back to the fight for freedom!