A recently released Gallup survey shows that only 52% of Americans approve of unions.  Another 41% indicated that they disapproved of unions.  The approval number is up from 2009, however, when only 48% approved of unions.  The survey has asked the same question since 1936.  This year’s result was the second worst result for unions since the poll began, behind only last year’s result.

Opinion surveys like this one clearly help employers understand what Americans generally feel about unions.  However, employers should keep in mind that union formation usually begins with issues that are specific to a workplace.  These issues can be anything from an employee feelin unfairly treated, disresptected, or in general not having a voice.   

Thus, it would be a mistake to read the Gallup results and conclude that the possibility of a union organizing drive at any given business is remote.  Keep vigilant and treat your employees with respect!

Check out this video:

President Barack Obama last week reaffirmed his support for this piece of job-killing legislation, declaring that federal agencies would implement Big Labor’s agenda. While Obama continues to claim out of one side of his mouth that the economy and job creation are his top priorities, in the next breath he states his support for legislation that will result in lost jobs and closed businesses. Appearing on CSPAN’s Newsmakers, AFL-CIO boss Richard Trumka promised a vote on EFCA before the end of the year.

The ending comment alone is well worth watching this short 3 minute clip!

No matter how it is phrased the EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act) is anything but good for the American public.  Not to mention, that despite its name, it does not aid the employee and it most certainly does not give the employee choice.

Nearly two-thirds of economists surveyed believe Congress should not pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

When informed about EFCA’s binding arbitration clause, the percentage of economists in favor of the bill declined from 36% to just 27%.

58% percent of economists believe that increased unionization would have a negative effect on President Obama’s job creation program, while only 22% believe it would have a positive effect.

By a ratio of more than 3 to 1, economists surveyed believe that changes to the economy and business climate — rather than employer resistance — are likely to blame for the recent decline in union membership.

In the end, EFCA is not only a job killer – it will kill businesses, the backbone of this countries economy.  Listen to what business owner has to say about EFCA:

Video Direct From Heritage Center

Closing Thoughts

“As President Obama looks for ways to pull the country out of its economic downturn, he should heed the opinions of economic experts who overwhelmingly believe that increased unionization will only further hinder our economic condition,” said Richard Berman, Executive Director of the Center for Union Facts. “Legislation like the curiously named Employee Free Choice Act, with its illogical binding arbitration clause, will only make things worse for American businesses and their employees.”

The DISCLOSE Act exempts unions and very large special interest groups!! And the little guy is left without a voice.

For more information on what this bill is all about, take a look at this site, it will give you the general statements and an understanding of how this will effect you.

What This Means To You

Even if somehow the speech restrictions in this bill were constitutional, their uneven application would be a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection under the law. Even the left-leaning Sierra Club has labeled the DISCLOSE Act a two-tiered system that is “unfair and undemocratic” and that smaller grass-roots organizations would be disadvantaged because they lack the resources to cope with “the additional disclosure burdens.” The unions and the big non-profit groups get to keep their free speech given to them in the January Supreme Court decision, but the corporations and small non-profits lose theirs under DISCLOSE.

In the end it is a bill that should be feared.  If you happen to be a small non-profit, or a corporation then you will quickly see the added expenditures of staying compliant with the Disclose Act.

Timeline

It all started when Congress passed the ICC Termination Act of 1995, it clearly expressed its intent to preserve all existing rights of both labor and covered employers.

Section 10501(c)(3)(B) of the ICC Termination Act expressly provides: “General Jurisdiction. The enactment of the ICC Termination Act of 1995 shall neither expand nor contract coverage of employees and employers by the Railway Labor Act.”

To see the complete timeline visit the Brown Bailout website.

Business Speaks Volumes

In the end, the most important thing is what people are saying, and in this case there are a lot of business owners speaking out about what is happening and making it known that the competion that exists is vital to thier continued success as a business owner.

To view some of the stories there is a special section on the Brown Bailout website.

The former president and business manager of United Brothers of Carpenters Local 608 admitted he sold out his members to line his own pockets.

The private sector must unite to oppose unfair union activism by elected officials and by public sector officials. We must make two big changes:

1.) The President has signed Executive Orders that can require businesses that want to contract with the federal government to unionize. And his appointed Secretary of Labor (a former executive with the Service Employees International Union-SEIU) has written rules to make it standard practice. There is no way that our government should be allowed to require any business to be unionized in order to get government contracts that are paid for with taxpayer money!

2.) There is NO WAY that the public sector employees, who are paid with taxpayer dollars, should be allowed to take the tax dollars we pay them and give it as dues to a union who then provides political contributions to elected officials who will agree to give them even more taxpayer dollars. It is a clear conflict of interest and must be stopped.

To fill out the petition <<<Click Here>>>

Friends:

Your help is urgently needed to block a devious attempt to include the misnamed “Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act” (PSEECA) in Supplemental Appropriations Bill, H.R. 4899, that is moving in Congress.

The PSEECA would tear constitutional federalism to shreds by using the power of the federal government to impose unionism on state and local public safety – police, fire, and rescue departments in states that have had the good sense to not give public sector unions monopoly bargaining powers.

Please immediately contact your U.S. Senators in opposition to this Union Boss power grab.

Visit http://www.psrconline.com/publicsafety.htm for more details about the legislation, including a list of the 23 states that would be adversely effected, and a link to information about how to contact your U.S. Senators.

Please forward this e-mail to anyone you think might be able to help mobilize opposition to this dangerous legislation.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

As we explore what the unions have done to shape the current economic crises it is organizations like Association of  Builders & Contractors (ABC) that continue to fight the power grabs.

“The Associated Builders and Contractors spearheaded a successful effort in two California cities to rein in rules that require union labor on state construction projects. Now the group is aiming to repeat its success statewide.”

There have been many wins, but there is still a long road to haul as only a handful of states have banned PLAs.  Moore wrote, “A handful of states have repealed such “project labor agreements.” PLAs have been banned by gubernatorial executive order in Minnesota and Arkansas. Legislatures in Utah, Missouri and Montana have also acted to ban or partially ban these pro-union agreements.”

ABC is putting up the good fight, and we need to come together and support thier efforts in our own states until the battle is won.