Card Check RIP?

[240 is Back]

Feinstein is backing off of supporting it, and if Feinstein's publically backing off, you can bet people like Blanche Lincoln are as well.

Dem senator delivers blow to union bill
By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 03/31/09 03:32 PM
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) on Tuesday told Capitol Hill reporters that she is skeptical of the Employee Free Choice Act, possibly dealing another deadly blow to the legislation.

Feinstein's skepticism, coming a week after Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced his opposition, means Democratic leaders might find themselves in an even deeper hole as they search for 60 votes to move the so-called "card-check" bill.

"I think in this economy that what has to happen is that the unions and management get together and try to see if they can work out something," Feinstein said. "The card-check bill, as drafted, in this economy, is extraordinarily difficult and I think almost a lightning rod to dissent. I think there are some things that can be done. I've talked with both sides and continue to talk to both sides to see if it isn't possible to work something out."

Feinstein hedged when asked if she was definitely opposed.

"I'm not on the bill, and I said what I said," she said.

Specter's announcement last week was widely seen as political, given that polling has shown him with a double-digit deficit against former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in the 2010 race. Specter defeated Toomey by just 2 percentage points in 2004, and it is estimated that as many as 200,000 centrist Republicans have since switched their allegiance to the Democratic Party

[Soul Crusher]

Feinstein is backing off of supporting it, and if Feinstein's publically backing off, you can bet people like Blanche Lincoln are as well.

Dem senator delivers blow to union bill
By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 03/31/09 03:32 PM
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) on Tuesday told Capitol Hill reporters that she is skeptical of the Employee Free Choice Act, possibly dealing another deadly blow to the legislation.

Feinstein's skepticism, coming a week after Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced his opposition, means Democratic leaders might find themselves in an even deeper hole as they search for 60 votes to move the so-called "card-check" bill.

"I think in this economy that what has to happen is that the unions and management get together and try to see if they can work out something," Feinstein said. "The card-check bill, as drafted, in this economy, is extraordinarily difficult and I think almost a lightning rod to dissent. I think there are some things that can be done. I've talked with both sides and continue to talk to both sides to see if it isn't possible to work something out."

Feinstein hedged when asked if she was definitely opposed.

"I'm not on the bill, and I said what I said," she said.

Specter's announcement last week was widely seen as political, given that polling has shown him with a double-digit deficit against former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in the 2010 race. Specter defeated Toomey by just 2 percentage points in 2004, and it is estimated that as many as 200,000 centrist Republicans have since switched their allegiance to the Democratic Party

If you want permanent 12% unemployment, pass Card Check.

[shootfighter1]

Backing off on card check is wise.  Good move here, if true.

[Decker]

This is a bad move.  It's bad for labor.  It's bad for the common man.

It's great for executive elites.  Now the pressure they exert on labor to not unionize will remain intact under cover of secrecy.

[shootfighter1]

Totally disagree with you Decker.  People should have the guaranteed right to be able to vote secret ballot on any and all union issues.  My grandpa used to tell me what happened to the guys who tried to fight the unions and still work...it got ugly (he was a union guy in the teamsters in the 50s-70s).  I know its different now but union people can be very intimidating.  Let the workers decide, in private, without penalty or publicity, if they want a union, if they ever want to get rid of their union, or anything related to union voting.

[Decker]

Totally disagree with you Decker.  People should have the guaranteed right to be able to vote secrete ballot on any and all union issues.  My grandpa used to tell me what happened to the guys who tried to fight the unions and still work...it got ugly (he was a union guy in the teamsters in the 50s-70s).  I know its different now but union people can be very intimidating.  Let the workers decide, in private, without penalty or publicity, if they want a union, if they ever want to get rid of their union, or anything related to union voting.

My Dad belonged to a union. His dad did too.  And I did at one time.

I'm sure you've heard of union busting.  It didn't stop with the practice of hiring thugs in the '30s.

I believe in bargaining power.  I'd rather have it than not.

[sync pulse]

If they want secret ballots, then every place of employment have a secret ballot every couple of years.  It seems likely that the neo-conservatives would find this unacceptable as well because employers would have no way of knowing who voted for what.  Membership would explode when employees have no fear of being discovered for how they feel about union membership. 

As the rules stand now, by the time activists get an election going, all the activist are gone.  (and the employer shrugs his shoulders and ineffectively represses a smile.)

[Decker]

If they want secret ballots, then every place of employment have a secret ballot every couple of years.  It seems likely that the neo-conservatives would find this unacceptable as well because employers would have no way of knowing who voted for what.  Membership would explode when employees have no fear of being discovered for how they feel about union membership. 

As the rules stand now, by the time activists get an election going, all the activist are gone.  (and the employer shrugs his shoulders and ineffectively represses a smile.)

You've articulated the counterargument quite well.  The executive class wins again with the status quo.

Why people in labor carry such a hatred of unions is an interesting topic.