On Labor Day, Oppose Job-Killing Legislation

Katie Gage
September, 3, 2010
The Hill

America first celebrated Labor Day in 1882 as a sign of good will toward unions in New York City.  Shortly thereafter, Congress signed a bill making Labor Day a national holiday.
 
Our nation’s actions concerning Labor Day are still welcomed by many as an extra day off work and an excuse to light up barbeques one last time before summer is out.  Politicians take it as their cue to start campaigning in earnest, making sure to hit local parades and picnics.  Union bosses view Labor Day as the start of the spending season as they try to buy favor with as many politicians as possible.
 
What is Big Labor after?  The answer is simple, power and money.  They are demanding legislation like the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act (EFCA), which would essentially allow the government to take over America’s small businesses.  EFCA would serve as a windfall for labor bosses funneling billions of dollars into their coffers so they can afford to fund campaign tours and reward politicians who carry their water.
 
For Big Labor, political campaigns are big business.  The SEIU alone has pledged to spend $44 million on campaigns this year, despite its dangerously under-funded pensions and tens of millions of dollars worth of debt.  Union bosses can afford to throw this kind of money around because they run a ponzi scheme with their pension plans so devastating and far-reaching, it would make Bernie Madoff blush.
 
Union organizers attract recruits by promising them secure pensions and benefits.  Once the new recruits are signed up and paying dues, the bosses decide where those dollars go.  And predictably, the money ends up funding Big Labor’s favorite campaigns or lining the union boss’ pockets, instead of going to retirements.
 
However, Big Labor’s appetite is hard to satisfy and they usually find themselves spending more than they actually have.  Not one to be discouraged by things like ethics or common sense, union heads don’t think twice about dipping into worker pension funds for extra cash.  However, even this can’t last forever, and eventually the bill owed to workers will come due.
 
This is where Big Labor hopes that all those campaign donations will pay off.  Labor bosses are turning to Congress and demanding that EFCA become law so they can bail out their under-funded commitments.  EFCA would accomplish this by forcing workers into unions by eliminating the secret ballot and instituting a pubic card check process opening up individuals to coercion and intimidation.  Next, once a bargaining unit has been formed, unless a small business agrees to Big Labor’s terms, the government will mandate a contract on employees and employers alike without their consent.
 
Big Labor has been trying to push the Employee ‘Forced’ Choice Act with all their might.  But they have run into the reality that the legislation will increase unemployment costing America up to 600,000 jobs in just one year.
 
This Labor Day, Members of Congress and candidates for Federal office should keep the labor force in mind, not the union bosses desperate to compensate for their recklessness and mismanagement with job-killing legislation.

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AZ Daily Sun--Coconino Voices: PRO Act legislation would hurt local businesses

— 05.13.2021 —
By: Julie Pastrik Arizona businesses and workers have had an incredibly challenging year given the economic slowdown that followed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. However, local businesses and industries across the state are resilient and on the road to a strong recovery that will mean more jobs for Arizona workers and increased economic development to strengthen our communities. That is, as long as Congress does not move forward with potentially devastating legislation that would hurt local employers and employees alike while impeding our state’s economic recovery. Unfortunately, some members of Congress seem determined to do just that by pushing through the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. As harmless as the name may sound, the PRO Act would have serious repercussions for local businesses, particularly smaller ones, while undermining long-standing rights for employees and threatening the growing gig economy that has helped provide much-needed income for so many during this time. Arizona is fortunate to have leaders like Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, who have both refrained from joining the vast majority of their Democratic colleagues in cosponsoring the PRO Act. In a slap in the face to Arizona workers, the PRO Act removes one of the most fundamental rights a worker has when it comes to voting in elections to determine whether to unionize: the secret ballot. Instead, workers could be forced to sign union authorization cards in front of other employees, their employer, or union organizers. This bill would also destroy workers’ right to privacy by allowing unions access to personal information, including their home address and personal phone number. If that doesn’t open the door to union intimidation and harassment, I don’t know what does. As if that was not bad enough, the PRO Act would create major new challenges for Arizona businesses, making it harder for them to create jobs, expand in their communities, and even keep their doors open. It would redefine what it means to be a “joint employer” under national labor law, greatly complicating existing relationships between franchisors and franchisees as well as between business owners, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors and suppliers. At the same time, it would interfere with attorney-client confidentiality and make it much more difficult for small businesses to secure a legal advice on labor issues. Particularly harmful during these times, the PRO Act would apply a failed policy from California to national labor law by using the “ABC” test to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee. This makes it much harder to qualify as an independent contractor, threatening the freedom and flexibility that tens of thousands of Arizonans find in independent contracting and gig economy work. Ultimately, the PRO Act is bad public policy that only works for union leaders to inflate their falling ranks while threatening workers’ rights, undermining small businesses, and jeopardizing a growing part of our economy. This is not a good solution for Arizona, and Senators Sinema and Kelly should stay firm and not cosponsor this misguided legislation.
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