Marathon Pundit: California allows union thugs to stalk too

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

California allows union thugs to stalk too

From Katie Packer Gage in the Orange County Register (paid subscription required):

The first and most important responsibility of any elected official is to protect constituents. It is an unwritten rule, meaning it is so well understood and established that it need not be etched in stone. Yet – for some reason – this seems to be lost upon California's representatives in Sacramento.

It is relatively unknown among the state's citizens that the Legislature has actually passed a bill exempting union bosses and their organizers from prosecution when engaging in acts which fall under the stalking statute. If Big Labor's actions take place during a labor dispute, California law has authorized them to stalk workers, their employers or families.

It is long known that union bosses have an outsized presence and influence in the Golden State, but no one should be provided license to harass and intimidate another person. Government's primary role is to serve the interests of the public at large, not to give special treatment to one interest group.

But California does not stand alone. According to a recent report issued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce titled, "Sabotage, Stalking & Stealth Exemptions: Special State Laws for Labor Unions," Illinois, Nevada and Pennsylvania have also issued this carve out for organized labor. Forty-six other states have refused to sanction stalking during labor disputes, and it is past time they are joined by the Golden State.