WFI: Obama administration set to deliver “payback” for unions

In addition to supplying campaign contributions to Democratic political campaigns, unions provide volunteers to these endeavors, such as phone bank staffers, door bell ringers, and sign placers.

As the Workforce Fairness Institute informs us in the below press release, the unions believe it's time for payback. Or as they say in Chicago, "Where's mine?"

Union Boss Contributions To Be Rewarded With Radical, Anti-Worker, Anti-Business National Labor Relations Board Nominee

The Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI) today released the following statement in response to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis telling members of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) at their annual meeting in Disney World that they will receive "positive news" concerning the nomination of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in spite of the fact that the U.S. Senate rejected his nomination in a bipartisan vote:

"Just as its revealed union bosses will spend millions of dollars during the 2010 election cycle in support of pro-labor candidates, the Obama Administration appears to be yielding to the demands of Big Labor and will announce a recess appointment of Craig Becker," said Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute. "Despite the fact that both Republicans and Democrats rejected Becker's nomination, it looks like labor bosses will receive the 'payback' they have desperately been seeking. Just weeks ago, President Obama stood before the nation in his first State of the Union address and told American citizens that the economy was his top priority, yet his embrace of a radical nominee who supports job-killing policies is an affront to our country's small businesses."

BACKGROUND:

Hilda Solis Tells AFL-CIO Labor Bosses They Will Receive "Positive News" Concerning The Nomination Of Craig Becker:

"The Obama administration is hinting at a possible recess appointment for a controversial nominee to the National Labor Relations Board. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis told AFL-CIO officials at their annual meeting Wednesday there will soon be positive news on the long-stalled nomination of union lawyer Craig Becker. Solis then told reporters the unions will be 'very pleased' with how the issue is resolved." (Sam Hananel, "Solis Hints Of Recess Appointment For Labor board," The Associated Press, 3/3/10)

"AFL-CIO Is Planning Its Biggest Political Campaign Ever This Year":

"The AFL-CIO is planning its biggest political campaign ever this year, surpassing the $53 million spent in 2008 to help elect President Barack Obama. Trying to avert a Republican takeover of both the House and Senate in the November midterm elections, the labor federation is focusing on a 'firewall' of six states with key congressional elections and relatively high numbers of union households: California, New York, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania." (Kris Maher, "AFL-CIO Readies 'Firewall' Strategy For Fall Elections," The Wall Street Journal, 3/2/10)

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka Demanded A Recess Appointment Of Becker To NLRB:

"So today and every day through the congressional recess, union members and other activists from working America will be calling the White House and demanding a recess appointment now for Craig Becker and Mark Pearce." (Richard Trumka, "No Deal!," The Huffington Post, 2/12/10)

Union Bosses Expect Becker To Use "Administrative Action" To Enact Portions Of EFCA:

"We are very close to the 60 votes we need. It [sic] we aren't able to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, we will work with President Obama and Vice President Biden and their appointees to the National Labor Relations Board to change the rules governing forming a union through administrative action..." (Stewart Acuff, "Restoring The Right To Form Unions And Bargain Collectively," The Huffington Post, 2/3/10)

Senate – In Bi-Partisan Fashion – Votes Down Becker:

"The nomination of union lawyer Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board fell short of the 60 votes needed to end a Republican filibuster Monday, with just 52 senators voting to support his appointment. Mr. Becker's defeat was a sharp setback for the big labor unions that championed his nomination. He was strongly opposed by business interests and his prospects dimmed when Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson came out against him. Mr. Nelson said Monday that the nominee’s past statements 'strongly indicate' he would ‘pursue a personal agenda’ at the NLRB, 'rather than that of the administration.' Arkansas Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln also voted no." (Melanie Trottman And Kris Maher, "Union-Backed Nominee Blocked In Senate," The Wall Street Journal, 2/10/10)

Big Labor Spent Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars To Elect Current Administration & Congressional Leadership:

"There has been nothing coy about the Democratic presidential candidates' courtship of Big Labor. After all, union endorsements come with armies of door-knocking, phone-calling, sign-waving foot soldiers; union leaders will spend about half a billion dollars on political campaigns this election cycle." (Tim Miller, "Giving Away The Store," New York Post, 12/17/07)

Union Bosses Expect 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)

Related post:

WFI video: Unions bosses converge on Disney World

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