Marathon Pundit: Workforce Fairness Institute press release: What did Senator Bennet promise SEIU?

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Workforce Fairness Institute press release: What did Senator Bennet promise SEIU?

The Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI) today released the following statement in response to U.S. Senator Michael Bennet receiving the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU):

"Senator Michael Bennet has clearly made the decision that kowtowing to union bosses like Andy Stern who believe U.S. Senators are 'terrorists' takes precedence to standing up for small businesses and workers in Colorado struggling to survive during a challenging economic environment. The question though is, what did Bennet promise Stern and his fellow labor bosses in return for their support?" asked Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute. "While Senator Bennet has failed to publicly state a position on the job-killing Employee 'Forced' Choice Act, we know Big Labor expects 'payback' from Congress and it appears Bennet intends to deliver. Should Bennet be the Democratic nominee in Colorado, his decision to stand with union bosses in Washington, D.C. over the employers and employees in his state will come back to haunt him on the campaign trail."

BACKGROUND:

SEIU Endorses Senator Michael Bennet:

"The Service Employees International Union has endorsed Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) for reelection, giving Bennet a boost of support heading into the March 16 precinct caucuses, the winner of which is listed first on the primary ballot in August." (Chris Good, "SEIU Endorses Bennet," The Atlantic, 2/24/10)

SEIU Chief Calls U.S. Senators "Terrorists"

"'There are a lot of terrorists in the Senate who think we are supposed to negotiate with them when they have their particular needs that they want met,' [SEIU President Andy] Stern said." (Holly Rosenkrantz, "Campaign Finance Ruling A 'Disaster,' Labor Leader Stern Says, Bloomberg News, 1/26/10)

"SEIU President Andy Stern also charged that the reason Senate Democrats find themselves in their current predicament on health care is because some senators (read: Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman) 'acted like terrorists.'" (David Chalian, “Labor Chief: Senators 'Acted Like Terrorists' On Health Care," ABC News, 1/26/10)

Employee 'Forced' Choice Act (EFCA) Is Political "Payback":

"Gerald McEntee, president of the influential American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, told The Washington Times in an interview that EFCA was ‘payback’ for the labor movement’s massive campaign effort for Mr. Obama and the Democrats." (David R. Sands, "Labor's 'Priority' On Back Burner," The Washington Times, 12/29/08)

Senator Michael Bennet Fails To Take A Position On EFCA:

"A half-dozen union-friendly senators have apparently decided to drop the 'card check' provision from the so-called card check bill. It's too bad the most destructive part of the Employee Free Choice Act remains intact. Card check would have made it easier for labor to organize workers by requiring employers to recognize unions once a majority of workers publicly sign cards saying they want to unionize. Some business owners fear that could lead to pro-union workers intimidating their brethren into signing. Under current law, employers can demand a secret-ballot election. But EFCA may not have made it past some moderate Democrats in the Senate with card check in place. Instead, The New York Times reported Friday, some moderate Democrats want to insert a clause that pushes for shorter unionization campaigns and faster elections. Still, EFCA is a bad bill, and we hope it's upended in the Senate …

If so, it puts Colorado's Sen. Michael Bennet in a rather precarious position – again. Having been appointed to fill out Ken Salazar’s Senate term, Bennet faces election next year and has been trying to court both business and labor. He has been hoping the issue wouldn't even come up this year, saying earlier this spring that he didn’t think there were 60 votes in the Senate to pass it. He has mostly stayed mum on the issue, saying he 'would like to help workers and business.' These proposed changes, intended to get moderate Democrats on board with EFCA, make it harder for him to stay silent. We still think Bennet needs to come out strongly against EFCA and work with the administration to ensure current labor protections are fairly enforced. We understand the political tightrope he's trying to walk, but this one is a no-brainer – card check or not." (Editorial, "Revised EFCA Still Dangerous," The Denver Post, 7/18/09)