To Change Labor Law, Put Union Busting on Trial

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.labornotes.org/2010/03/change-labor-law-put-union-busting-trial

Al Hart | April 1, 2010

Labor’s campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) appears to have failed. It’s time for our movement to rethink a long-term strategy to change this country’s dysfunctional labor laws.

From the start, the EFCA campaign lacked a clear focus on the problem we’re trying to solve: the reign of terror that employers launch against workers when they try to organize. The numbers are familiar: only half of union organizing campaigns result in National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election wins; only a fourth get first contracts.


Labor’s failed campaign for EFCA put too much faith in the good will of Democrats in Congress. Photo: Jim West.


Every union that does private-sector organizing has its own horror stories. Captive-audience meetings, one-on-one interrogation, plant closing threats, firings, and round-the-clock multimedia propaganda blitzes have turned the NLRB election process into the graveyard of democracy and of workers’ hopes.

Many of us have witnessed large, enthusiastic majorities of union card signers—60, 70, 80 percent of a workforce—destroyed over weeks of systematic browbeating, repression, and fear-mongering by the employer, facilitated by the labor board’s procedures.
TOO MUCH FAITH

Many labor rallies and meetings highlighted the victims of union busting, but in labor’s public campaign for EFCA, exposure of employer tactics was overshadowed by feel-good ads about “rebuilding the middle class.” We failed to create public awareness of the ugly reality of employer intimidation.

Because we didn’t put union busting on trial, the enemies of workplace democracy were able to put us on the defensive, portraying EFCA as an attack on the secret ballot by greedy labor bosses who would harass workers into joining unions.

FULL story at link.

[meow2u3]

1. We'd have prisons full of CEO's and industry lobbyist

Not that I'd mind. :evilgrin:

[Sherman A1]

2. +1, Agreed & Well Said!

:toast:

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Been readhing on Harry Bridges life

And you know what? There are lessons in his life. For once, he warned fellow workers against putting all his eggs on the WPA basket, and lord knows FDR was far friendlier to labor...

He knew that direct action was going to be necessary.

But what we are facing is that labor leadership is pretty conservative too... and allergic to direct action.

If Bridges were alive today, I am sure he'd push for a general strike... but that is just me.

[SocialistLez]

4. Elect people from within the movement

It would be nice if labor just woke up and realized Dems and Repubs are not all that different.
Sure we have a few good Dems who support labor but eh....

Labor needs to support the Green Party and/or the Socialist Party.

I know how employee intimidation works. I worked at Wal-Mart for a few months and my mom works for them too.
They have pretty much brainwashed her about unions.

[Union Yes]

5. G*dd*mn right! Solidarity Bro! knr nt.

[Starry Messenger]

6. Pfft. This Administration supports union busting.

Nothing to see, move along.

[Union Yes]

7. Change happens when unions threaten boycott. nt

[Omaha Steve]

8. Kick

[Omaha Steve]

9. Kick

[BailoutBill]

10. Good idea

Solidarity