This morning’s New York Times is reporting (subscription required) that key US Senators have reached a compromise with labor unions that will have the 60 votes needed to pass. The key provisions include a 5 to 10 day election period, providing union organizers access to company property, and banning employee meetings held by employers. The article reports:
“Though some details remain to be worked out, under the expected revisions, union elections would have to be held within five or 10 days after 30 percent of workers signed cards favoring having a union. Currently, the campaigns often run two months.
To further address labor’s concerns that the election process is tilted in favor of employers, key senators are considering several measures. One would require employers to give union organizers access to company property. Another would bar employers from requiring workers to attend anti-union sessions that labor supporters deride as “captive audience meetings.”
They anticipate a vote in September. We are releasing a new white paper on strategies for dealing with quick elections next week. Stay tuned – we will let you know as things develop.
Alright, it is not the best legislation but it is a decent compromise. It keeps the employers from just crucifying union supporters and brow beating the rest until they have fired, intimidated or exhausted the employees. It is a pretty good day for workers everywhere in the US and long overdue.
The deck has always been stacked against the workers right to organize. And at least the scales of justice are finally tipping a little in our favor. It has always been uneven when the employer can bar any information and keep the workers locked out of their own process by captive audience meetings and not allowing workers access to information.Maybe there is hope for fairness and justice after all.
What about the secret ballot?
No mention of that one
I know that most of the people that could read this would potentially disagree, but this sounds fair. It IS, after all, the employee’s election. If I don’t pay them enough, and they are willing to take the chance, so what? Here in Charlotte, NC, the NECA (IBEW Signatory)Electrical Contractors have so far weathered this recession better than anyone else. What is it, I wonder, that gives them the abiity to retain their considerable market share whilst most other Electrical Contractors are scaling way back, or even failing? There is something to this, and I for one intend to find out.
Where is the level playing field with that “compromise?” How can they eliminate the educational meetings yet require access to the facility for union organizers. The shortened election period gets to election much quicker, but the companies can do nothing to educate employees on the realities of unionization.
WOW!
Unions are Killing AMERICA, People who are worth 1/2 of what they make are forced into jobs by the unions ,people who steal from Company,other employees , customers keep their jobs & on and on.
Then when they kill the Golden Goose (Auto for an example) They get the Government to spend Billions to keep the mess going, why shold I pay for them I have NEVER worked union and never will.
I take PRIDE in my work and am very well paid . I look at unions as what they are lackluster employee’s EXTORTING $ from a business. Now they say it is not our fault . Bull . Oh, the upside is yours and the downside is upper management.
I don’t care if you want a union but trying to take an AMERICAN RIGHT away is NOT GOING to fly.
If unions are such a great thing for America, why are all the big ones spending LOBBY $ in DC to get the government (like the majority of the stimulus $ earmarked for unions) to change laws for them to get more than the fair market decides ? GREED . Unions are what % of US workforce ? Now look at % of Govt. Contracts .
Public welfare when all are not allowed to BID.
By the way where did you put Jimmy Hoffa ?
By the way where is Jimmy Hoffa ?
i started with near nothing many years ago, i worked and saved and worked and saved til i had enough money to by a franchise, i now own three stores. i am doing ok do to my hard work and always being in my stores, it is insane that some union (THEIF) can come in and tell me what to pay my employees,how to run my business etc. not only is that insane it is down right criminal !!!