We Don't Ask - National Ad for the Employee Free Choice Act

[alashieve]

Thank God we have a republican congress now. Unions promote laziness and inefficiency. Keep your mouth shut, and be grateful for your job. Death to unions! 

[imax1971]

Unions do nothing but inflate the price of the product/service they provide... You can thank unions for jobs being shipped over seas... I'm in the telecom industry. My non union shop offers the same service at a faster pace and same quality as a union shop at a cheaper price..... Take a typical highway construction job... We have all seen 4 guys standing around the one guy working.... I find it comical, but it's not. Our tax money is paying for the lack of labor....

[poleske]

I know you are not an actual purpose but that DARRELFROMZEELAND IS A FAKE ACCOUNT created for the sole purpose of producing propaganda. I know you get big money to create many false accounts and spread propaganda. You did not address my accusation that you are a traitor, for you are a traitor. The USA will be best when your kind are gone.

PS Get a real job you disgusting parasite

[IAMDL725]

Corporations hold all the cards in union elections. Americans have no right to organize under the exiting laws. This is long overdue. We need this bill passed in the senate NOW. Call your senator and urge them to support the Employee Free Choice Act

[DarrelfromZeeland]

@IAMDL725 Workers have no right to mob action. That's what unions always have been and always will be.

[poleske]

@DarrelfromZeeland 1st Amendment. Right to Assembly. all people have the right to congregate freely and publicly. For you to so publicly denigrate the most important amendment of the constitution I can very safely call you a traitor. You are a fascist traitor. It is because of traitors like you that this country (Detroit especially) is fucked up. Enjoy being a vermin:)

neither respected by the working-class you betray nor the elite whom you shall never join:)

PS I bet you never get laid

[DarrelfromZeeland]

@poleske The fascists were ATHEIST LIBERALS. Maybe we should legalize NAMBLA, al-Quaida, and the black panthers under your "right to congregate freely and publicly" justification? The traitors are Barry Osamao, Dirty Harry Reid, Nazi Pelosi, the rest of the Demonrat party, the unions, Hollyweird, the ACLU, Kode Pinko, MoveOn, and all other libturd, anti-America, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity groups.

[midwestsmoker913]

Coming from the one person here who actually does skilled labor that is not in a union, unions can eat a dick. All the union guys doing what i do are laid off and our company has work for the next 2 years. suck on that pinkos

[peacelord]

2 years? So you think. If that's true, more power to you.

[Minionuup]

Save America. Crush all unions.

[peacelord]

You lie.

[DarrelfromZeeland]

@Minionuup If I was President, I would ban all unions, declare them to be terrorist groups, then hit them with both RICO and the Patriot Act, then execute all their members and supporters or send them to Gitmo, and seize all their assets and property.

DarrelfromZeeland 1 second ago

[FluxCapacitor2008]

How are you as an individual going to turn back the assault on the working middle class?

The right to work anti union propaganda machine has a lot of people brainwashed, but thank god over 70% of the middle class have the majority.

[herbs814]

Anti-union is pro-freedom and pro-prosperity.

The assault on the working class comes from socialist government (funded by union dues). Employment is the way to prosperity... at least when not harassed by union THUGS.

[FluxCapacitor2008]

The market is killing the golden goose for short term gains; our economy is built on a house of cards. Its not working and it is falling apart, wake up people we lost 1.2 million jobs just in 2008 and 16 million since 2000, union and non union. How do you replace those jobs? Please dont tell me high tech; 16 million high tech jobs, I dont see it happening.

[DarrelfromZeeland]

@FluxCapacitor2008 Ban the unions, abolish minimum wage, Socialist Insecurity, workmen's comp, unemployment insurance, all business regulations, all labor and environmental laws, osha, the epa, and all other Marxist welfare entitlements, and jobs can start coming back.

[Ampithecat]

I DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

[SpicyHam]

There is less and less small businesses now because you gotta pay somebody so god damn much.

[mistaspot1]

Funny, because wages are lower than they've ever been.

I think you should be blaming corporations for stealing all the business away from small businesses.

[CharleyIthaca]

The "right to a secret ballot" is a right only enjoyed by management. Workers have no say in determining the certification process in their own workplace.

Management isn't trying to "protect" the worker's "right" to a secret ballot election, they are trying to preserve their right to delay certification, spend millions trying to propagandize, threaten and intimidate employees into voting against their best interests.

[knowledgeredskin]

Unions times have come and gone in America. How outrageous is it to have a guaranteed job with guaranteed wage increases all while thinking you are entitled to never have YOUR healthcare costs go up. Card check is the last ditch attempt by the union thugs to impose the "free choice" that they are incapable of winning in a fair secret ballot election. Screw all of these unions-- its because of them that the car industry in America is a joke and needs my tax dollars to bail it out.

[djturnit]

true

[djturnit]

to: gdevane

One more of your comments to address and I'm done. You said that you know people who have been fired for wanting a union. If this is true, then the union should have filed an unfair labor practice on their behalf. I don't agree that it's right to fire someone for wanting a union, but again, that isn't the issue being presented by EFCA or Card Check, it's the election process. Eliminating a secret ballot election in the process just isn't right..

[djturnit]

To address UNION DECERTIFICATION that you spoke of earlier. You obviously are well versed in labor relations, as am I. Assuming that this is true, then you also know that Union Decertification is a very complicated, difficult process that the workers have to request themselves and they cannot get any help from the business. While it does happen on occasion, it is a tremendously difficult process for employees and is often riddled with intimidation and harassment as well from the union.

[djturnit]

The worst part of it all is that an employee could be organized without even having a voice, and without even necessarily knowing or understanding what is happening right under their nose. The union could, without EVERYONE even knowing, get the cards signed and get recognized. Without an election, not everyone will have a voice in the matter.

You may hate businesses, sometimes I do too, but I have a genuine concern for workers rights and democracy and card check is detrimental to both.

[gdevane]

Also, Companies ARE relentless. They break the law and go unpunished. I can give you the number of someone who was fired for wanting a union in his workplace if you want to talk to them.

[djturnit]

And I know a guy who didn't want a union who had threats over and over again, his family was terrified, and he ended up with a busted up car with a note on it that maybe he should reconsider the union.

I'll agree that big business can be as bad as big labor, but this is not a battle between the two we're talking about. It's a battle for the democratic foundation of NLRB elections and the Card Check will by its design eliminate the requirement that unions be voted upon by the entire workforce

[jeffmagic32]

the solution to that is to enforce existing law, not take away the right to a secret ballot for those considering unionization

[mistaspot1]

The right to secret ballot still exists. You're brainwashed.

[jeffmagic32]

wrong. Under the new law, the union (not the workers who are considering joining the union), have the right to deny the workers a vote via secret ballot. It is you who have been brainwashed my friend.

[djturnit]

jeffmagic32 is correct.

[dunsterdude]

True,I have been through this,It is not a level playing field. We were harassed and intimidated and some were out right fired!

The CEO's are lying about this for a reason!

[gdevane]

That's your opinions. How about you two get together and research who has been cited for violations during organizing campaigns. Last time I checked is wasn't even in the same ball park. You are comparing isolated cases to organized union busting campaigns of fear and retaliation. Just research if what I just said is true.

[djturnit]

Jeffmagic32,

you are 100% right. This legislature is designed specifically to eliminate secret ballot and make it easier for unions to organize. The option won't really be there for workers because the secret ballot has to be presented by the union to the NLRB and once they have 50% + 1 of the cards signed, the union has already won and they won't ask for an election because there's no reason to. It opens the door to harassment like people have never seen before. Unions can be relentless.

[gdevane]

Like I said before, you should really do some research. If you really want to learn the truth about this topic, research it. Unions have been de-certified for years under the existing legislation.

[gdevane]

Why don't we talk about the people who are fired because they want a union in their workplace?

Just because they talk to a coworker in non work areas on non work time they are currently being fired for it. I'd say that is more thuggish.

[jeffmagic32]

explain to why why the union would fare better in a card check decision vs a standard secret ballot election. The only answer is intimidation by either fellow workers or union organizers/officials, or the certain near impossibility of un-signing a card check form once signed. This provision of the law has yet to be written by the way, so there are currently no standards to change one's mind against the union.

[gdevane]

Are you saying you never heard of Union Decertification?

[jeffmagic32]

you misunderstand. Employee X signs the card check form. Several weeks later, the union has still not gathered the required number of signatures, but they are getting close. But now employee X has changed his/her mind. He/she wants to un-sign the card check form. How is he/she able to do this? This is not yet specified in the law, it will be determined by some sort of commitee at a later stage. Without a well defined "change my vote' option, anything can happen, and probably will.

[jeffmagic32]

non work times and places - so how would management find out about such activity? Unless the target employee was being harassed by his/her fellow workers or the union, then turned to the company for help.

[gdevane]

For all the uniformed or the informed who are dishonest and refuse to tell the truth. Once again, Employee Free Choice Act - Doesn't eliminate secret ballot.

The employees get to choose if they want secret ballot elections or majority sign-up.

This is the same EXACT choice that employers have currently. Employers can currently choose to have majority sign-up or secret ballot.

The difference is employees get to choose the method instead of the employer. Like I said. Dare to research.

[djturnit]

Lets get something clear. Unions are a BUSINESS, and they care about making money. Their numbers have been dropping significantly over the last two decades so they invested over $400 million dollars into the Democratic party this election to help them win and solely to get this legislation passed. Now the unions expect their return on investment. This is the work of crooked unions, and crooked politicians who have been bought off.

[gdevane]

Employee Free Choice Act doesn't eliminate secret ballots. Do some research.

[jeffmagic32]

false.

[gdevane]

Jeffmajic65, I just commented on your comment. Do a little research or if you are too busy I'll send you a company you can study who went through a union election and chose majority sign-up instead of secret ballot.

[jeffmagic32]

If the change was so minor, big labor would not be investing millions and millions of dollars trying to make the change. Under the card check program, union thugs could intimidate workers into checking the card, thus forgoing their rights to a secret ballot.

[gdevane]

Jeffmagic32, All this union thug stuff is nonsense. Corporate brings in their own to hold anti-union meetings which are very often mandatory. I've been in them. So I guess "management thugs" are alright with you? What people are not talking about is corporate is scared to death of the 1st contract provision in the Act. They have been able to circumvent the intent of the NLRA for years by refusing to bargain, which is against the law NOW>

[djturnit]

Gdevane: I dont' know how many union contracts you've seen. I've seen several, and do you even know what the 1st provision in pretty much all of them is???

It's this: The first negotiation from any union is an automatic fees deduction provision to get their money from you.

The second?: A closed shop agreement to require that all new hires join the union and pay dues within a certain period of time or the employee must be fired.

Fair? No way.

[mps314]

How is getting rid of secret ballots a "level playing field"?

[JexShadowPsychic]

Umm...have you read the legislation or just watched FOX News? It doesn't eliminat secret ballots...it makes card check a viable option to form a union AS WELL AS the option for a secret ballot. Also, the WORKERS get to choose wich one they want to use.

Just offering a little enlightenment...free of charge

[FPiccioli]

Try READING the bill

[dgdfhfghgfhgfgffjhj]

Ask yourself...

Are any of the uneducated lackeys in this video qualified to write a labor budget?

How about if hundreds of the same idiots all get together, does that make them smarter? I didn't think so.

The AFLCIO is like a bunch of racketeers. They ravage an employer from the inside until it crashes. But at least the mafia doesn't have the nerve to tell the government to pour money into the business they just destroyed.

[FPiccioli]

What a conceited ass. How do you KNOW these people are not educated. Thank God the time for you and people like you are at an end. You have damaged this nation enough

[dgdfhfghgfhgfgffjhj]

OK, maybe the specific people in the video are well-educated, but ended up wearing Walmart smocks through some cruel twist of fate.

But gather up a few thousand people like that, and you will be on the losing end of any bets.

[jeffmagic32]

keep employees free - NO! on card check

[FPiccioli]

Keep emploees free- YES on Employee Free Choice Act

[jeffmagic32]

"keep" them free by changing the law? If they are free now, no need to change any law.

[Greg78X]

NO we know see what happens when you TAX and Bully the people who MAKE your jobs.. you are out.. They are fine.

[BiggerTyrone]

Yeah, because taxing people makes them want to stop making money and become homeless. That's somehow easier. I've always loved that tired argument. It's kind of like the one that says we can't force companies to abide by regulations or they'll just take their jobs and go elsewhere - as if we have no control over them doing that either. The only leg these slime seem to have left is relying on stale old disingenuous arguments from the 60s culture wars.  Nixon's presidency finally ended. Move On

[Greg78X]

No taxing them just makes them lay people off (so they keep more of there money) or simply close shop and TAKE there money and retire.

[BiggerTyrone]

You're right. There's no incentive for people to get rich if they have to pay a portion of that as taxes like everyone else. Apparently getting rich doesn't offer it's own incentives. You know what else makes them lay people off? When no one can afford to buy their products because the rest of us are too busy paying a higher tax rate to cover their incentive to be rich. I'd take 50% of $1,000,000,000 over 75% of $40,000 any day. Apparently some people wouldn't.

[Greg78X]

The Gov doesnt GIVE tax breaks for free; there is always a demand that goes with them. Exxon-Mobile get a Tax break and in return they are required to sell at least 40% of there Refined oil too the U.S. When you remove the Tax break incentive, you also remove the conditions that were placed on that company. Often this is to hire X amount of minorities or to reduce pollution below what is required by law.

[BiggerTyrone]

Exxon gets a tax break because it's Exxon and asks for one. The American people require it to follow government regulations because Exxon doesn't completely run this country. We enact laws in this country because it's our prerogative as citizens. We don't require regular citizens to pay taxes so they won't commit murder. We require them to pay taxes because it's their civic duty. We require them not to commit murder for obvious reasons.

[BiggerTyrone]

If they'd rather close up shop than perform their civic duty, good ridance.  Other companies will take up the slack. That, afterall, is the whole point of supply and demand. As long as there's a demand, there will be a supply.

[packrat8555]

We are now finding out what happens to the economy when the middle class is in decline from job losses. The economy WILL NOT bounce back without the middle class playing a big part in it. You can bet that "thomaserweenie" doesn't have to try and live on $15 an hr. I'd like to see him try it for awhile. It's selfish people like him that don't believe anyone deserves a repectable living wage but themselves, that make unions necessary. Go middle class! Go SHARED PROSPERITY! Go EFCA!

[vizslaparents]

The best social program there is - is a good paying job. Less people on social programs, less crime etc..

[thomaserossi]

To put it in persective, countries with the highest level of labor protection laws - Germany, Belgium, Canada and France have the highest youth unemployment rates.

In the early 21st cen France unemployment was 10% but it was 23% for wkrs under the age of 26. In Belgium it was 22%. In Italy 27%.

Read Thomas Sowell's "Basic Economics." Protectionism shouldn't be a government concern. Safety, fraud, and breech of contract should be the limits of their power.

[BiggerTyrone]

To put it in perspective, the countries with the most labor protection laws (Germany, Japan) are the ones who make our cars now since a lack of "protectionism" has prevented us from doing it. To put it in perspective, have you ever thought about the possibility that (since those other countries all enjoy a MUCH higher standard of living than we do) those "unemployed" kids are too busy going to college to work at McDonalds. My son is "unemployed". He attends a public (socialised) grade-school.

[thomaserossi]

Your son is "unemployed" because he's young and inexperienced in a country with Minimum Wage laws. When there's a Minimum Wage it's the young people that are Unemployed - WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

Why? Because when the government raises the minimum you can pay an employee the Business and makes it difficult to fire them, business owners demand more from applicants before they even consider hiring them.

France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy don't have a higher standard of living than Americans.

[BiggerTyrone]

My son's "unemployed" since he's in gradeschool. Countries without a minimum wage have more children working full-time rather than going to grade school, so you were right about that. About standard of living, I just meant that the afformentioned countries enjoy a lower crime rate, better healthcare, greater sense of happiness, more free time to spend with family, greater chance at an education, more longevity, more disposable income, and a lower poverty rate. Otherwise we're way better off!

[thomaserossi]

In a recent UN study only 16% of Germans were optimistic about the future. You call that happy?

I worked when I was in grade school but I worked "off the books" because they couldn't pay an 11 year old (Dominoe's Pizza) legally. I grew up, joined the Marines, taught myself computer troubleshooting and landed a job at Lucent Technologies $15/hr in 1998. Later in San Diego I was making $40/hr as a programmer analyst.

When children work young it instills good habits - teach them to fish...

[BiggerTyrone]

Are you seriously considering your work at Domino's in the same light as an 8 year old working in a coal mine? We have child labor laws in this country because we don't want our corporations "hiring" children to work under sweatshop conditions like they do in third-world countries where work isn't optional and gradeschool isn't an option. According to U.S. News Democrats are MUCH more optimistic about the future than republicans. Yet it's Democrats who'd like to tax the rich their fair share.

[norehct]

I don't know about those countries, but as a mother of small children, my standard of living improves with subsidized childcare cost based on a sliding scale and nationalized healtchcare, the money still gets spent, but we are able to eat healthier

[thomaserossi]

But theres more to it than demanding outrageous wages. When you demand insanely high wages it kills competition among younger workers. Why?

1. When you have the choice to hire someone with no experience and an experienced worker you don't hire the newb.

2. Unions kill competition among workers and create job stagnation. Older workers who should have moved can be less efficient in manual labor. Production takes the hit, the business is not longer competative & with high wages cant hire new wkrs

[thomaserossi]

Unions destroy economies - Period. When workers demand for ridiculous salaries and benefits it kills a business's ability to remain competative. That's pretty much economy 101.

Take Raley's foods for example in California. The Union workers at Raley's get $15-20/hr for cutting meat in the deli. That's the reason why Raley's prices are so damn high because it increases teh COST of the product. When a Winco (which forbids unions) opens up and charges half as much, Raley's suffers losses.

[BiggerTyrone]

That's why our economy is SO much stronger now that no one belongs to unions anymore than it was in the 50s when most people did (as a result of previous stagnation often refered to as THE GREAT DEPRESSION). Don't worry though. History NEVER repeats itself.

[BiggerTyrone]

Butchers were making $15-20/hr over twenty years ago in the red state I live in which has a much lower cost of living than California. I know because I used to work in the meat packing industry. Butchers do a dangerous job that requires a lot of skill and training. I guess your solution would be to pay them minimum wage and make up the "savings" by paying extra for lawsuits to injured employees and customers.

[riverbilly224]

Great add! Choice is something employees currently don't have. Companies use high powered union busters to intimidate, threaten and scare employees from making their own legal choices for representation. I support the Employee Free Choice Act. So should you.

[BeatBuddy]

Liberals know that societies function better when workers receive decent incomes. But I'm a strong advocate of free choice, and would have to look further into the EFCA.

[norehct]

Friendship and solidarity are not typical ideals of liberalism, its the things we dare not speak of the history of workers rights. Every May 1 in Sweden we celebrate the Haymarket Martyrs in Chicago, America was leading the world then to give us the 8 hour workday

[BeatBuddy]

I spent time in your country and loved it.

What is liberal or conservative in Europe may be different from here in America. The 8 hour workday, along with other worker's benefits, was a liberal idea, spearheaded by Samuel Gompers. The deplorable working conditions of the times were exposed by liberals and resisted by conservatives. There is an effort here to paint liberals as collectivists, when in fact, they are as hard to herd as cats.