Gangbox: THE DEMOCRATS STAB UNIONS IN THE BACK ON EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE

[Omaha Steve]

http://gangbox.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/the-democrats-stab-unions-in-the-back-on-employee-free-choice/

Posted in Uncategorized by gangbox on the July 18, 2009

from the NEW YORK TIMES:

Democrats Drop Key Part of Bill to Assist Unions

// //
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Published: July 16, 2009

A half-dozen senators friendly to labor have decided to drop a central provision of a bill that would have made it easier to organize workers.



Win McNamee/Getty Images

Arlen Specter, left, shown with Senator Al Franken, was one of the six Democratic senators who worked to revamp the bill.


The so-called card-check provision — which senators decided to scrap to help secure a filibuster-proof 60 votes — would have required employers to recognize a union as soon as a majority of workers signed cards saying they wanted a union. Currently, employers can insist on a secret-ballot election, a higher hurdle for unions.

The abandonment of card check was another example of the power of moderate Democrats to constrain their party’s more liberal legislative efforts. Though the Democrats have a 60-40 vote advantage in the Senate, and President Obama supports the measure, several moderate Democrats opposed the card-check provision as undemocratic.

In its place, several Senate and labor officials said, the revised bill would require shorter unionization campaigns and faster elections.

While disappointed with the failure of card check, union leaders argued this would still be an important victory because it would give companies less time to press workers to vote against unionizing.

Some business leaders hailed the dropping of card check, while others called the move a partial triumph because the bill still contained provisions they oppose.

The card-check provision was so central to the legislation that it was known as “the card-check bill.” Labor had called the bill its No. 1 objective, and both labor and business deployed their largest, most expensive lobbying campaigns ever in the battle over it.

“This is a very emotional issue,” said Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the Republican turned Democrat who had been lobbied heavily by both sides. “I cannot remember an issue this emotional in all my years in the Senate.”

FULL story at link.

[FreakinDJ]

1. Next election cycle farther and farther away for Dem Hopefulls

Unions threw down the guantlet to get Obama in office. The Dems won't have it so easy come next time

[babylonsister]

2. Different pov here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6089704&mesg_id=6089704

AP source: Unions OK drop of 'card check' in bill


http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/07/cutting_a_deal_on_efca.php?ref=fpblg
Cutting a Deal on EFCA

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Would you mind putting the blame where it belongs...

there was an almost guaranteed Republican filibuster over card check, so this isn't Democrats stabbing anyone in the back. The bill is imperfect, but most bills are imperfect and this one is still a step forward.

There's also that little thing about right-to-work states where the entire business and political establishemnt, along with a large part of the population, are staunchly anti-union. I fail to understand why a Senator from such a state would be expected to jeopardize his reelection over this without some extremely good barbecue or logs to roll.

[defendandprotect]

4. K&R

[Omaha Steve]

5. Labor spent more COPE $ than any PAC etc...on Dem last Fall

My union (AFSCME) COPE went into debt backing Hillary. Once we crossed over to Obama, there was no stopping us. Labor knocked on doors. We held up signs on busy streets. I can understand why Labor feels Dems caved again. I've heard the term Dems caved again on the DU more than many people will apparently admit.

OS

[Mari333]

8. +1

[Wednesdays]

6. K&R

:kick:

[WeDidIt]

7. This probably makes Sestak a shoe-in to beat Specter

No way will the unions support him now.

[lilytea]

9. well

:shrug:

[Omaha Steve]

10. Kick

[galileoreloaded]

11. The unions dumped card check to provide union exemptions for universal insurance.

They want to be exempt, and this is what they traded. Bet you five bucks.

From a month ago.........

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aWhHgJrZkkRk

"Gerald Shea, an AFL-CIO official lobbying for health-care reform, said grandfathering benefits negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement is a “common thing when there is a big change in federal law.”

‘Expectations Are Set’

“Once a collective bargaining agreement is set, employer’s budgets are set, workers expectations are set. It doesn’t make sense to go back in the middle of the contract and change it,” he said.

Union groups and workers said Congress shouldn’t target contractually negotiated benefits. "

(Edit SP)

[Omaha Steve]

12. Not exactly

The proposed exemption was for contracts already in place. No grandfather clause for union benefits down the road. That wouldn't be a good trade.

From the article: should exempt perks secured in existing collective- bargaining agreements, which can be in place for as long as five years.