Marathon Pundit: From the WFI: NLRB sides with Big Labor once again

Friday, June 03, 2011

From the WFI: NLRB sides with Big Labor once again

More news from a major front in the struggle against Big Labor. From the Workforce Fairness Institute:

NLRB Sides With Big Labor Once Again

Union Boss Hypocrisy On Full Display; Obama Regulatory Agency Sides With Big Labor Over Workers

NLRB Rules That UAW Did Not Violate Federal Labor Law By Requiring Employees Who Objected To Paying Full Agency Fees For Nonrepresentational Purposes To Renew Annually:

"The National Labor Relations Board May 27 held that the United Auto Workers [UAW] did not violate federal labor law by requiring that employees who objected to paying full agency fees for nonrepresentational purposes renew their objections annually in order to qualify for a reduced obligation under the union's procedures (United Auto Workers Local 376 (Colt's Mfg. Co.), 356 N.L.R.B. No. 164, 5/27/11)." (Website, National Labor Relations Board, Accessed 6/1/11)

Big Labor Protests Wisconsin Budget Plan Over Annual Renewal Of Contracts

Wisconsin Governor Walker's Budget Proposal Would Require Unions To Re-Negotiate Contracts Annually:

"Mr. Walker made several proposals that will weaken not just unions' ability to bargain contracts, but also their finances and political clout. His proposal would make it harder for unions to collect dues because the state would stop collecting the money from employee paychecks. He would further weaken union treasuries by giving members of public-sector unions the right not to pay dues. In an unusual move, he would require secret-ballot votes each year at every public-sector union to determine whether a majority of workers still want to be unionized. He would require public-employee unions to negotiate new contracts every year, an often lengthy process. And he would limit the raises of state employees and teachers to the consumer price index, unless the public approves higher raises through a referendum. Exempted from those changes would be firefighters and law enforcement personnel." (Monica Davey & Steven Greenhouse, Wisconsin May Take An Ax To State Workers' Benefits And Their Unions,” The New York Times, 2/11/11)

"To stay alive, the unions under Walker's legislation would have to get 51% of the vote of all the potential union members in their bargaining unit, not just the ones who actually cast ballots. They also will have to win the vote again every year or their union will lose its official status and be unable to reconstitute itself for at least a year after that." (Jason Stein, "Unions Might Drop State Status," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/26/11)

Union Bosses Protest Governor Walker's Budget Proposal:

"Families in town for college graduation ceremonies this weekend can check out or join protests at the State Capitol, where a big 'We Are Wisconsin' rally is set for Saturday afternoon. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is calling on its union members to rally again against Gov. Scott Walker, the Republican-dominated Legislature and legislation drastically limiting collective bargaining for public workers … Busloads of protestors are scheduled to come to Madison for the Saturday rally, according to the AFL-CIO. Buses are coming from all corners of Wisconsin, including Eau Claire, Wausau, Racine, Manitowoc and Milwaukee . An email advisory from the AFL-CIO said the rally will show that the people want to deliver 'a resounding message to stop the attacks on the middle class.'" (Bill Novak, "Big Union Rally Planned On Capitol Square On Saturday,” Capital Times, 5/13/11)

"More than 10,000 union public employees and supporters packed the Capitol Square and the inside of the statehouse on Tuesday to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s budget plan to strip many bargaining rights from state and local government workers … Protesters chanted and held signs while the Joint Finance Committee heard testimony on the bill. The committee planned to go into the night to hear from hundreds signed up to speak." (Jeff Mayers, "Thousands Of Wisconsin Union Workers Protest Budget Plan," Reuters, 2/15/11)

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.