GOP moves to block unions at TSA

[Hestia]

GOP moves to block unions at TSA
Tuesday, 06 March 2007
By JAMES ROSEN
McClatchy Newspapers


Sen. Jim DeMint hopes to win Tuesday by losing.

DeMint is leading Republican efforts to prevent the nation's airport screeners and other employees of the Transportation Security Administration from gaining collective bargaining rights.

The Senate was scheduled to take up DeMint's amendment Tuesday, which would strip collective bargaining rights for TSA workers from broader legislation implementing all the recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission.

With Democrats holding a 51-49 margin in the Senate, DeMint knows his amendment will likely be defeated.


http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cm/content/view/163/159/

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Talk about being in the pockets of 'big business'!!

DeMint says,

"Collective bargaining is a payback to unions with a kickback for lawmakers," DeMint said Monday in an interview.

"Unionizing the 43,000 security screeners at TSA could give labor unions a $17 million annual windfall in the form of new union dues," he said. "This is a hearty payback to the unions for helping Democrats win the past election. These dues can then be kicked back to lawmakers in the form of political contributions without the consent of rank-and-file union members."

Bush had earlier indicated he would veto the measure if it mandates collective bargaining for TSA employees.


But what percent of campaign dollars do GOP senators and Chimpy get from big business to suppress the right to unionize?

[gratuitous]

2. $17 million "windfall" from union dues

Versus $39.5 billion to ExxonMobil for plundering the American people. I guess when you're hamstrung by not having truth, reality or even good intentions on your side like the Republics do, you need to be able to outspend your opponents 2,000 to 1.

Jim DeMint wets himself thinking about terrorists; he drops a load in his drawers thinking about an American worker with a union card.