See Saw - National Ad for the Employee Free Choice Act

[RepGovs]

wrong, you are! it's called card check! which means union thugs can force you to vote on any number of issues (LIKE UNION DUES) the way they want you to. doesn't sound so free to me!

[Sin2577]

@RepGovs unfortunately, Unions don't work all that well for people like they used too. They are now an their business. They need money to stay afloat and more of them now-a-days are that fat old guy on the other end of the see saw.

[MartyMac61]

I never met a union that didn't steal from their members.

[guyfroml]

What a crock of shit! This is the most fraudulent title of Congressional bill I've ever seen. How can an employee have "free choice" if he/she has taken away the "choice" to vote privately.

What a bunch of union bullshit...and how about talking of all the extremely wealthy, fat cat union bosses who do jack shit to earn their wealth - oh, that's right, I forgot they work really, really hard to collect those union dues. What a bunch of jerk offs.

[798robbie]

This bill DOES NOT take away any choices, it ADDS TO them, and protects pro-union employees from employer intimidation. Educate yourself while you still can.

[MartyMac61]

@798robbie It does not protect employees from Union intimidation.

[798welder]

@MartyMac61 As a union member for 25 years now, I have never seen this "union intimidation" you speak of. I have noticed however that the only people who knock unions are those that are not or have never been members. They only repeat the lies they have heard. Ignorance is not bliss, it is deadly.

[MartyMac61]

@798welder I was a member of 32 BJ in NY. All unions steal from their mebers bty requiring management to by into the health and welfare fund. That is a slush fund for the union big wigs. I've seen business agents knocking on members doors looking for heir hand outs. Unions are legal mafias.

[798welder]

@MartyMac61 I have no doubt that in some cases you are absolutely right, but I have never witnessed anything like this in the union I belong to (UA Local 798). You are making a mistake by painting all of them with the same brush. At one point, our locals BM tried to move in that direction. We got the national association to come in and put our local back on track. The current business manager and financial secretary are close friends of mine who I know like my own family and trust more.

[danegirl07]

@guyfroml

You are seriously stupid! You have literally no rights now - voting privately is still part of the Act. Maybe you just enjoy being screwed!

[djxman505]

Garbage...everything will be outsourced.

[MartyMac61]

@djxman505 Why not if it can be done better.

[FluxCapacitor2008]

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.

[whoo689]

Mass unionization with the EFCA in a short amount of time will no doubt make us even less competitive, esp. with all the added costs burdening businesses. No one can possibly claim that unions make a co. MORE competitive. That'd be just laughable. Look what unions did to the Motor City. They just kept demanding MORE AND MORE, and they fucked themselves over. They had to ditch their own Jobs Bank program just to help keep GM, Ford and Chrysler solvent.

[UnionNewsNetwork]

Yeah, we have to keep the CEO's and the executives fat and happy. You have rocks in your head if you blame the unions and the men and women who actually build the cars. The corporate executives with their 6 and 7 figure salaries make us so competitive and that has worked out so well for the big 3. I wasn't born into a family that could afford a higher education. Do you sweat and abuse your body working on a production line? Pay is for work and not papers. Intellegence doesn't come with a degree.

[798welder]

@whoo689 The unions were not at fault here, mismanagement is to blame for the auto industry meltdown. Since the government stepped in and shook up the management of GM they are now operating in the black and are opening new production facilities (that means more jobs for americans) and the union workforce is still in place. How do you spin that?

[whoo689]

Call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe it's the job of a co. to provide you with all this life security. It should be the responsibility of individual workers to provide for themselves with their good wages. Plan for your own damn retirement. Get your own insurance. It's not that hard. Get a degree and a high-paying job. But no, people would rather stay in their crappy jobs with low to middle wages, so they can have an excuse to make a union and put all this on employer's backs.Pitiful

[shamgar001]

The problem is that would require responsibility on the part of the employee, and there's nothing liberals fear more than responsible people.

[798welder]

@whoo689 Your ignorance is obvious here, the things you say everyone should do for themselves is exactly what union members are doing for themselves. The benefit package paid to these people for insurance and retirement takes the load OFF the employers back because it is the unions responsibility to provide insurance and pension to the members. This reduces the employers management overhead and allows for the higher wages that union workers earn.

[whoo689]

3. Healthcare coverage.

Lol. As if it's the job of a company to pay for YOUR healthcare. I'm sorry, but that doesn't fly. Get a job that pays a good wage, and then you can buy your own health insurance. I mean, come on. People working at Ford or GM plants make an average of $28/hour! You're telling me they CAN'T afford healthcare coverage? What nonsense. If they're making 50-60 grand a year, I'm pretty sure healthcare is a relative drop in the bucket for them.

[FluxCapacitor2008]

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

[whoo689]

Let's examine the claims in this video.

1. Better wages- Uh, ok. Don't you already fucking know the pay range before you apply? If you're SOO surprised by your pay when you get there, just quit and get a job elsewhere! And why do you all of a sudden need a HUGE increase in pay? I mean, unless times change dramatically and costs skyrocket in a matter of weeks, you don't need some "cost-of-living" increase. Living wages are a joke. Wages are for INDIVIDUALS, not families. Come on.

[whoo689]

2. Retirement security.

Why is it so hard for people to just save for their own fucking retirement? Get a mutual fund or some shit. Invest in the stock market (when the economy recovers, that is). Don't rely on handouts. Putting all your eggs in one basket is a mistake (relying solely on worker pension).

Besides, why does the co. need to help you with your retirement? Do it on your fucking own. I don't mean to sound like a co. shill but seriously. Co's are there to give u work.

[whoo689]

Yeah, as if having HMO healthcare with an employer is SUCH a great alternative to not having health insurance. You're at hte mercy of the employer, you idiot. He could easily cut the insurance for you if he thinks you're "making too many claims" or some bs.

The point is, don't act like you know what's best for me. Unions like to act like our parent, pretending they know what's best. It's patronizing at best and downright insulting at worst. I'll decide if I need a union.

[hunter4062]

There is no choice - Should be called the "Union Free to Intimidate Act". The bill states If the Board finds that a majority of the employees in a unit appropriate for bargaining has signed valid authorizations ... the Board shall not direct an election but shall certify the individual or labor organization as the representative described in subsection (a)

IA union boss bill - not an employee bill. If cards are good enought to join a union, why isn't a card good enought to get out????

[berkeleygirl1962]

I am a die-hard democratic trade unionist and a formerly enthusiastic supporter of EFCA. I've changed my mind because Andy Stern, the megalomaniac in charge of the most powerful union in the country has strangled democracy within SEIU, cut sweetheart deals with management in exchange for "representation," and replaced local elected leaders with his cronies, too many of whom are corrupt. I'm appalled by the failure of the rest of the labor movement to denounce his shenanigans. NO EFCA.

[casamarin]

Wait, you don't like Stern so you aren't supporting a law that lets workers form a union through majority sign up? What kind of sense does that make? This isn't a Stern law and letting employers continue to fire and threaten workers who try to organize won't hurt him, it will hurt the unorganized. Just read the comments of those who oppose EFCA and it should be clear which side is the workers side.

[cobmojo]

I completely agree with casamarin, EFAC will just allow workers to organize when they want.

[briantelesh]

If you want FREE CHOICE then do a secret ballot. People don't "Choose" unions the way it is today so you want a law to allow thugs to intimidate people to sign a card. Why not keep it secret ballot? Because America Works best when we say Union NO!

The fastest growing states in the nation are Right to Work States. If you want real choice support the Right to Work!

[FPiccioli]

Those Right to work states ALSO have the lowest median wages, most violations of FMLA, most dangerous work conditions, and lowest % of people who have healthcare....yeah,.,thats seems great huh?

[whoo689]

So? At least the workers have that opportunity. If workers are OK with that, fine. Who are you to judge, you left-wing nanny-state douche?

Lowest percent of people who have healthcare? Really? Care to back that up? Besides, healthcare is affordable for most workers making decent wages anyway. There is no healthcare "crisis." It's all a fiction. At least 85% of Americans are covered. We can't just overhaul the system to satisfy a measly 15% and screw over EVERYONE.

[cordsworks]

There is no single logical reason for people who SUPPORT secret ballots in political elections to NOT support secret ballots in union-forming elections.

Not one.

Yet people who wanted a secret ballot during the election, now want to make sure that union bosses know which way they voted? Insanity.

Get ready to have bricks through your windows, if someone doesn't like how you vote.

[cobmojo]

NO.

It allows workers to form a union whenever they want.

They can do the secret ballot

or

They can do a card check.

[cordsworks]

Only morons support this act.

Unions tend to intimidate or assault workers who oppose unionizing. And they make decisions that work out fine for union bosses and their political allies, but the workers get neglected.

Bosses want use "open" ballots so they'll know which workers don't vote in favor of unionizing. Those folks will have their tires slashed and houses trashed.

There's a reason free elections always use secret ballots! "Free Choice": Orwellian crap, that is. Don't fall for it!

[marywillu]

Your ads are boring. No one will support this if white people keep designing them. The workforce is majority immigrant and African American workers and these ads are boring.

[maneeshpan]

Yes I'll sign on to the Employee Free Choice Act as a worker or employee's bill of rights. I understand the corporations opposing this are trying to spread fear of the bill taking away employees rights to cast secret ballots in a union. American Rights At Work has fired back that that is false. I will sign on to support this bill -- I didn't even know about it till I saw this TV ad on CNN during the Democratic National Convention. We now also have a President elect Obama who will support it.

[leftwingwacko]

Come on now people, You know Voting is a Sacred ritual. Pushing a Bill like Card Check is just to much.

[LAGT01]

Yes pass this act if you ever want to secure your jobs, and do not be fooled by the 'spin" machine.

[Wombfruit]

Does ANYONE know the title of the SONG playing in the background? Have been trying to find it for ages. Please message me if you know it!!

[peacebestill123]

This ad is great!! I am making every effort to share it. I was a member of a union in Michigan and worked for 18 years on my job, moved to Colorado Springs in 1998 and have been wrongfully terminated 3 times on non-union jobs. We must stop employers from treating our employment like a revolving door. Unions can help with these kinds of things. Lets help get this Act passed.

[shamgar001]

Earth to peacebestill123:

It's not YOUR job! You have that job because your superiors paid for it, it nelongs to them. They gave it to you, and they have every right to take it away at their discretion.

[peacebestill123]

Shamgar001 remember your words when they pull the rug from under your feet. Maybe you don't value yourself as a person who has an important skill to offer employers, but I do. It is inconsiderate and selfish for employers to use the skill of their workers(whose work, by the way, has helped their company to progress and be successful)and then cheat them out of the security of employment for selfish reasons.Employers expect loyalty from employees and we expect the same from them for our hard work.

[cobmojo]

What?

Wow, you are the most incredible moron I have ever come upon on youtube.

Congratulations, that's a feat!

[shamgar001]

Rather than fling insults, would you care to tell me what I said that was wrong?

[FPiccioli]

No...it IS your job because you did the work that gave that company the ability to be profitable. The WORKER paid for it, in his sweat.

[shamgar001]

But without the founders, stockholders. executives, etc that the unions like to demonize, there would be no job for you to have.

While it is true that companies need workers, don't forget that workers need jobs. It's not employer v. Employee, as the unions would like you to believe. Both parties enter a contract voluntarily, to their mutual benefit.

[maneeshpan]

I have some concerns about Employee Free Choice Act possibly taking away worker's rights to vote by secret ballot on union issues but support the cause of a bill of rights for workers to defend their rights to organize unions, join existing unions or start new ones to fight for better pay and working conditions. I support unionization when it helps workers.

[hwilliamson4]

Wow! anyone that REALLY thinks that this is a good idea should just all go live in China for a while and see what it is really like living in a collectivist, socialist, communistic country and then come back to America demanding "equal" rights! Anyone read the communist manifesto lately...you should and then after you do, be grateful that we still live in a semi- capitalistic society and that is the ONLY reason we are somewhat prosperous!

[spotlessmind99]

I love it...fat evil greedy executive vs. the noble, handsome construction worker. Certainly says it all!

[adotoa]

Great ad. It's time we have more democracy in the workplace.

[briantelesh]

Great - tout democracy when this bill basically eliminates democracy. Union brainwashed fool. The Big 3 and Michigan (not right to work and huge union and high tax state) are going all going bankrupt. No & Low Taxes and Right to Work (not join a union to work at a plant) is true Democracy and Choice. --- America works best when we say UNION NO!

[cobmojo]

No it does not!

unions provide security for workers.

[briantelesh]

Unions provide security for workers? Are you kidding the workers are always the ones laid off and have to take concessions. It is the Union Bosses and leadership that take care of themselves.

Unions agree to layoffs all the time. What do you want? Less jobs? This is America and you can not dictate a companies profit margin, so if wages and benefits are too high the first thing they cut is their Labor expenses.

If you want free choice - have a secret election.

[cobmojo]

You fundamentally do not understand Labor Unions. They undeniably create better conditions, wages and benefits for workers. Look historically what Unions have done to the conditions, wages and benefits for workers since the 1800s

You say they agree to layoffs. Yes, because they have no other choice; it's not the choice of the unions, It is the the business condition the creates that.

also, It's called free choice b/c it allows workers to decide any way they want. Secret ballot or card check.

[briantelesh]

I fundamentally understand the economy and how it works. You are the one who stated that "Unions provide security for workers" That is not true. Security comes from an environment of win-win between employer and employee.

I also have always acknowledged Unions were extremely important in the creation of labor boards and labor laws that exist today to protect workers from abuses that existed before people organized. Today is not the 1800's and this is why union membership is on the decline.

[cobmojo]

"Security comes from an environment of win-win between employer and employee." Agree completely. But, this is not how the market operates. A businesses interests are in profit and or shareholders.

This is where the unions come in . they organize Unions to make businesses recognize them. This results in better wages, conditions and benefits for the workers.

The Unions goal is to make sure workers get a fair shake and are not exposed to the ravages of the market.

[briantelesh]

I do not disagree with arguing from the Unions perspective the benefits of joining a union. This is why I support the Right to Work state model. It forces BOTH the Union and Employers to be more competitive. The Union can not rely on compulsory membership unless they can justify in the mind of the employee that the benefits gained are worth the dues charged. If they don't think it is worth it they do not have to join. It is up to the individual to decide what a "Fair Shake" is not the Union

[cobmojo]

The right to work laws are flawed. Businesses create great incentives for the worker to not join up and then one the union collapses, the slow erosion of wages and benefits begins to happen to all workers. Everyone knows this.

The same tactic is used in union busting where businesses say, "hey, you don't have to form a union, we'll increase your pay by $1/hr" And then 6 mo. later they have a pay cut and then another 3 mo. the are back at the same rate. I have seen it all the time.

[cobmojo]

"Today is not the 1800's and this is why union membership is on the decline."

Union membership is on the decline precisely because business has been able to hold up the union forming. A whole industry of union busting has formed that pushes unions out of workplaces. This is why we need EFCA, It will allow workers to organize whenever and how ever they want.

[briantelesh]

"Union membership is on the decline precisely because business has been able to hold up the union forming." This is a lie. the NLRB oversees the election process in place today and when in private people do not see the value in paying dues based on the argument the union makes.

Until the recent economic downturn unemployment has been way to low causing most employers to go the extra mile to keep their employees and keep them happy. If they do not the employee choses to go work elsewhere.

[cobmojo]

No. you do not know the reality of union organizing. Businesses, (like wal-mart) spend thousands and thousands to keep unions out. Where do you think this money goes. It is crazy what goes on in union busting and the NRLB never sees it. They find reasons to fire the organizing workers among other things. I have seen this first hand many many times. This is why they don't want EFCA, because they won't be able to have that time to break up the organizing efforts.

[briantelesh]

"you do not know the reality of union organizing" - Wal Mart or other non-union employers spend money and so do the unions. The difference in Card Check it allows the marketing and communication to be one sided by union recruiters. Union recruiters get rewarded by the nubmers they get to sign up. This leads to intimdation by unions which is just as bad as when an employer tries to do it. I support a strong labor organizing law that protects workers from intimidation by employers and unions.

[cobmojo]

I'm glad you agree that employers do intimidate worker. I also agree its bad whenever anyone is intimidated. And the EFCA is the best way we have to insure that the workers get to make up their won mind. This is because the workers can vote anyway they want to, whatever they decide to do.

Undoubtedly there will be pressure form the business and pro-union people, but EFCA will allow the employee do decide how they want to, instead of having a harsh pro-business union busters.

[cobmojo]

The only case where employeers go the extra mile is in specalized fields.

For a Marjory of fields, like auto manufacturing, the worker has no real pull without Unions. It has been seen time and time again, the market ravages the worker.

[briantelesh]

Well my perspective is different. I work for a non-union employer where I have worked for 23 years. I have been given and have given many others career growth opportunities based on performance and not tenure. I was able to move from front line entry pay to the youngest unit manager during my career all while being able to go to college to get my degree. My hard work earned me the benefits and pay. I fought for it through dedication to improving my self & delivering results for my company.

[cobmojo]

Good for you, America runs on hard working people like you!

But, all to often jobs, like the ones at wal-mart, are deduced to the lowest level where health care is out of the question. We need to organize these people to provide them (and maybe even you) with a better quality of life. We need to make it wal-mart's interest to take care of their workers (all of them).

[briantelesh]

As a hard working American I like to keep more of my hard earned money and places like Wally World save me and millions of others a lot of money. In the end if Wally World was more expensive I may not go there as often costing jobs for employees. This is a choice their workers probably think about when deciding to join unions.

I did not get benefits like insurance and vacation when I was in my entry level position so i feel that I earned those benefits. I believe others should earn them too.

[cobmojo]

FYI: if you're in an industry with a union, you have better benefits, wages and conditions because of the Union.

"I did not get benefits like insurance and vacation when I was in my entry level position so i feel that I earned those benefits. I believe others should earn them too."

Why not make things like health insurance to all workers? Unions just try to get all around better benefits for workers. But, you can sill "work your way up" its just you'll start a a better level.

[briantelesh]

I think that a real solution is not the Card Check as it is written. I would rather see a more stringent election process supervised by the NLRB. It should contain severe fines for intimidation by either employer or union. It should allow for communication access on equal footing for the Union. If an employer can call an informational meeting then the employer should pay for equal time for a union informational meeting. Level playing fields and elections are the American way.

[cobmojo]

"It should allow for communication access on equal footing for the Union. If an employer can call an informational meeting then the employer should pay for equal time for a union informational meeting. Level playing fields and elections are the American way."

You sound like me!

I'm completely for all those things, I just want unions and organizing workers to get fair treatment. EFCA will allow that fair treatment to the best of the law.

[briantelesh]

"EFCA will allow that fair treatment to the best of the law. " that statement is just not true.

If it resulted in fair treatment there would always be a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB. This allows the individual without any peer or boss pressure make a selection on representation known only to themselves and God.

Allowing card check process allows for 3-4 people to influence and use peer pressure or intimidation to get someone to sign for something they really may not want.

[FPiccioli]

Peer pressure or intimidation??..let me ask you..are you more intimidated by your peer at work or your boss saying that if you ask for elections you will be fired?

[briantelesh]

I guess if the peer shows up with some guys that look like they came from the Sopranos and say they are from the Local 101, you are intimidated. It is propaganda to say that it is legal for any employer to fire anyone who wants an election for a union. ANY intimidation from ANYONE should have penalties that are harsh enough to discourage any practice.

Taking away the secret balot as the PRIMARY way to organize a union is not the answer.

[FPiccioli]

I agree....keep in kind that the EFCA does not eliminate elections

[briantelesh]

"I agree....keep in kind that the EFCA does not eliminate elections" ---- This is a lie. It effectively eliminates elections. No union organizer that can get enough cards signed is ever going to request an election. The card check bill (I wont call it anything with choice) makes it legal to force a union contract negotiation based on signed cards of a majority of the employees - no election required. That is the truth, read the bill.

[FPiccioli]

Lets just hope that your company doesnt decide you are getting too old and that they can hire a 20 year old in your place and you are out the door.

[briantelesh]

"Lets just hope that your company doesnt decide you are getting too old and that they can hire a 20 year old in your place and you are out the door."

I guess I have enough confidence in my skills and ability and the value I add to my employer to worry about that. Those who worry about having someone "protect" their job may not have the same drive and ambition I do.

I am not alone as over 70% of Americans make the same CHOICE that I make to work without representation of a union.

[fuckpossible]

Wal-Mart = EVIL anti-union, pro-slave labour haven. :-(

[zizizzi]

Great ad!

[initiation60]

Don't disagree with Bush tie-in, but it is important to understand what this 'free choice' means. Do we really want people to be subjected to strong-arming tactics? If people chose union - great. But that choice should be made confidentially --- not with people staring over their shoulder and intimidating them to agree with what they agree with.

[jvincentp]

Kind of like what managers are allowed to currently do to employees. The employer has the right of free speech, to hold unlimited mandatory meetings with employees in which they reail against a possible union, to "predict" calamities if the union wins, and the right to bar union organizers from the premises. With these rules the playing field is not just tilted against organizing, unions are shut out of the stadium. And penalties are nearly nonexistent for violating what rights workers do have.

[Dunkleosteus3691]

Good to see one "public access" ad which brings up this short-sighted inequity. I've been saying this same thing for a couple years - but I reach about 12 people with the message.

;-)

Famous financier J.P. Morgan once said he believed that corporate heads should earn no more than 20X avg. employee wages. That'd be about $600k USD in today's dollars - amazing, eh?

[Redshift21]

I saw a T'shirt today with a picture of McCain and Bush's face fused into one and the slogan read "Vote McCain and get more of the same"

[remcg47]

A great ad!

[thomanjones]

Good job.

[bestmatenumber1]

I agree with keitaro146 - it was a great visual and it really gets the point across.

[keitaro146]

Outstanding visual with the see-saw.

[SoINeedAName48]

Well done.

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