Unions may not have the physical size they used to, but they remain able to pack a huge punch with influence. For example, in the 2008 election unions donated over $400 million dollars to help elect Democratic candidates and President Obama. While Obama and Big Labor allies have not been able to deliver the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), he has nominated political appointees at the NMB, NLRB and DOL who have already taken steps to make it easier for unions to organize. The administration has already gone a long way toward paying back the donations received by the unions with labor friendly policies. In fact, “Obama asked Congress for another $50 billion, on top of what the stimulus already provided, to prevent states from firing employees.” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is still the leading supporter for EFCA and claims it will pass during the lame duck session if Democrats lose control of the House in Congress.
