FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                          CONTACT: Lauren Zelt
March 18, 2014                                                                                                                  202-677-7060         

Union Bosses Organize More Attacks Against American Employers

‘Wage Theft’ Hallmark Of Big Labor History Hurting Middle Class Families

Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2014) – The Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI) today responded to labor orchestrated protests concerning so-called ‘wage theft’:

“With their membership falling and pension plans insolvent, labor bosses are continuing to escalate their war against American employers in a desperate attempt to secure more revenue.  This is demonstrated in news that protests will take place in various cities against fast-food establishments which employ hundreds of thousands of workers across the country,” said Fred Wszolek, spokesperson for the Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI).  “The plain truth is if anyone is guilty of so-called ‘wage theft,’ it’s union bosses who have been stealing money from middle class families for generations and failing to give proper oversight to pension fund investments causing union members to lose their retirement savings.  If today’s staged protest participants looked at the facts, they would be demonstrating not with, but against the labor organizations who are financing their activities, with you guessed it, workers’ dues, many of which have been unfairly collected and used.  Now, this is real ‘wage theft.’”

BACKGROUND:

Big Labor Continues Attacks Against American Employers:

“‘The lawsuits that were filed last week put McDonald’s on notice that fast food workers are aware that they’re getting their money stolen,’ said Kendall Fells, who works for the Service Employees International Union but said he was ‘on loan’ to the campaign for higher wages.” (Candice Choi, “Fast-Food Protests To Spotlight ‘Wage Theft,’” The Associated Press, 3/18/14)

Who Is Kendall Fells? Professional Protestor On Loan From The Service Employees International Union (SEIU):

“Kendall Fells, an…organizer from Fast Food Forward…” (SEIU President Mary Kay Henry, “We Cannot Build A Strong, Equitable Economy On Low-Paying Jobs,” SEIU, 8/8/13)

Who Is Fast Food Forward? Nothing More Than Another Union-Run Effort To Grow Membership:

“Fast-food workers in New York are scheduled to protest today as part of a campaign to seek union recognition for the industry and negotiate pay raises.  ‘Hundreds of workers at dozens of McDonalds, Taco Bells, KFCs and Burger Kings across the city’ will call for a $15 per hour wage so employees can ‘support their families, and put money back into the economy, instead of relying on taxpayers to shoulder the burden for the fast food industry’s low-wages,’ according to a statement for the workers’ campaign, called Fast Food Forward.” (Ben Livesey, “Group Seeks Union, Pay Raises For NYC Fast-Food Workers,” Bloomberg, 11/29/12)

“Organizers of the Fast Food Forward movement said they expected hundreds of workers would walk out or not show up for work at dozens of McDonald’s, Burger King and other fast-food chains … The Fast Food Forward action, which is supported by the Service Employees International Union along with civil rights and community groups, comes less than a week after a union-backed effort to draw attention to wages and working conditions at Wal-Mart led to protests at stores across the country on Black Friday.” (Martha White, “Fast-Food Workers In NYC Flex Their Muscle For Better Pay,” NBC News, 11/30/12)

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: https://www.workforcefairness.com. 

To schedule an interview with a Workforce Fairness Institute representative, please contact Lauren Zelt at (202) 677-7060.

 

Featured Blog

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.
Read More