Comments on: The Employee Free Choice Act http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/2009/01/14/the-employee-free-choice-act/ An Economist's Travelogue Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:49:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Tim Arthur http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/2009/01/14/the-employee-free-choice-act/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Tim Arthur Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:36:32 +0000 http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/?p=77#comment-98 I meant to say tougher fuel efficiency standards would have led to creating a lean and mean automobile industry. An old arguement that weak politicians could not muster courage to enforce since the 1973 Oil embargo I meant to say tougher fuel efficiency standards would have led to creating a lean and mean automobile industry. An old arguement that weak politicians could not muster courage to enforce since the 1973 Oil embargo

]]> By: Tim Arthur http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/2009/01/14/the-employee-free-choice-act/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Tim Arthur Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:31:00 +0000 http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/?p=77#comment-97 Unions were formed at a time when business was expanding. Since the 1970's when manufacturing started its decline in the United States, unions have been falling apart. Why do you emphasize the need for politicians to do more for unions? Perhaps unions do not have any support from the workers who, while earning a smaller wage, are earning a wage that sustains a decent way of life, and not a fat cat wad of money to be spent on frivolous items. Would an automobile worker rather be working for Honda in Marysville OH, or for General Motors? Most white collar jobs exist without a union. They have healthcare, they pay $200 to $300 monthly premiums for this benefit. Would it be too much to ask a retired autoworker to self-pay for healthcare benefits the same as the rest of the retired workforce. Were unions the scapegoat for the autmobile corporations to find blame in their demise? Yes of course. Domestic automobile companies are very short sighted. But fuel efficiency standards have led to creating a lean and mean automobile industry. Yes it would of helped. But not without labor also sacrificing. 25,000 dollars per year is more than enough money to do repetitive manual labor work 8 hours a day, with 2 breaks a day and a bonus during good times. In hindsight the bonuses should of been held from labor and put into R&D, and the leftover income of the laborers should of been put into the nest egg.. Corporate taxes can redistribute monies to the poor much better than an auto worker deciding to purchase a speed boat. Unions were formed at a time when business was expanding. Since the 1970’s when manufacturing started its decline in the United States, unions have been falling apart. Why do you emphasize the need for politicians to do more for unions? Perhaps unions do not have any support from the workers who, while earning a smaller wage, are earning a wage that sustains a decent way of life, and not a fat cat wad of money to be spent on frivolous items.
Would an automobile worker rather be working for Honda in Marysville OH, or for General Motors?

Most white collar jobs exist without a union. They have healthcare, they pay $200 to $300 monthly premiums for this benefit. Would it be too much to ask a retired autoworker to self-pay for healthcare benefits the same as the rest of the retired workforce.

Were unions the scapegoat for the autmobile corporations to find blame in their demise? Yes of course. Domestic automobile companies are very short sighted. But fuel efficiency standards have led to creating a lean and mean automobile industry. Yes it would of helped. But not without labor also sacrificing. 25,000 dollars per year is more than enough money to do repetitive manual labor work 8 hours a day, with 2 breaks a day and a bonus during good times. In hindsight the bonuses should of been held from labor and put into R&D, and the leftover income of the laborers should of been put into the nest egg.. Corporate taxes can redistribute monies to the poor much better than an auto worker deciding to purchase a speed boat.

]]> By: Jon Flanders http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/2009/01/14/the-employee-free-choice-act/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Jon Flanders Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:57:35 +0000 http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/?p=77#comment-35 One of the problems of the Employee Free Choice Act is the name itself. Corporations are responding by talking about the secret ballot and intimidation as true freedom of choice. Of course we know that they have abused the current system with lots of intimidation, which is what the EFCA is out to change. I think that rather than Free Choiice, the unions should be talking about economic justice and the growing divide between rich and poor that unions can help redress. Perhaps the act should be called the "Level the Playing Field Act" or the Economic Justice for All Act? Something along those lines. I agree that given the massive funding of the anti-EFCA campaign by corporations, the Democrats are likely to fold. Thanks for this analysis Michael.. Jon Flanders One of the problems of the Employee Free Choice Act is the name itself. Corporations are responding by talking about the secret ballot and intimidation as true freedom of choice. Of course we know that they have abused the current system with lots of intimidation, which is what the EFCA is out to change.

I think that rather than Free Choiice, the unions should be talking about economic justice and the growing divide between rich and poor that unions can help redress.

Perhaps the act should be called the “Level the Playing Field Act” or the Economic Justice for All Act? Something along those lines.

I agree that given the massive funding of the anti-EFCA campaign by corporations, the Democrats are likely to fold. Thanks for this analysis Michael..

Jon Flanders

]]> By: Suzanne de Kuyper http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/2009/01/14/the-employee-free-choice-act/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Suzanne de Kuyper Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:53:21 +0000 http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/?p=77#comment-34 The study"Global War on LIberty", by Jean-Claude Paye, held back from publication by this administration until late in 2008, having been published in Paris in french on 2004, is a quiet bombshell of clear information about the total change in US national and international law. The United States will, in time, destroy all it's unions and will intimidate other countries to do the same. Right now the massacre in Gaza, long planned, carefully placed before Bush/Cheney are gone, is the beginning move of Empire of the anticipatory U.S. World War Policeman. As Senator Giamo told us peace women , a million in 1981,marching on Washington to be empowered as having rights under the Constitution: " You liberals are too disjointed! We have been organized for forty years. We pay no attention to those who march here, none! You are a joke to us!" Please read the book. It has never been advertised and all available books, new, are sidelined as if second hand. Only two left. From 44 euros to 114 euros apiece. Vital information. Suzanne de Kuyper Amsterdam The study”Global War on LIberty”, by Jean-Claude Paye, held back from publication by this administration until late in 2008, having been published in Paris in french on 2004, is a quiet bombshell of clear information about the total change in US national and international law. The United States will, in time, destroy all it’s unions and will intimidate other countries to do the same. Right now the massacre in Gaza, long planned, carefully placed before Bush/Cheney are gone, is the beginning move of Empire of the anticipatory U.S. World War Policeman.

As Senator Giamo told us peace women , a million in 1981,marching on Washington to be empowered as having rights under the Constitution: ” You liberals are too disjointed! We have been organized for forty years. We pay no attention to those who march here, none! You are a joke to us!”

Please read the book. It has never been advertised and all available books, new, are sidelined as if second hand. Only two left. From 44 euros to 114 euros apiece.

Vital information.

Suzanne de Kuyper
Amsterdam

]]> By: Employee Free Choice Act Now . Org http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/2009/01/14/the-employee-free-choice-act/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Employee Free Choice Act Now . Org Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:31:34 +0000 http://blog.cheapmotelsandahotplate.org/?p=77#comment-33 Myth vs. Reality: The REALITY is the Employee Free Choice Act Helps American Workers and their Families. As more and more working Americans struggle to make ends meet, the ability to form a union is key to the economic stability, health, and well-being of American families. Union workers’ median weekly earnings are 30 percent higher than those of non-union workers, union workers are 63 percent more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance, and union workers are 77 percent more likely to have short-term disability benefits. According to a recent poll, nearly 60 percent of Americans would join a union if they could. (AFL-CIO, “The Union Difference: Union Advantage by the Numbers.”) For More Information on EFCA please visit our website and blog http://www.employeefreechoiceactnow.org Myth vs. Reality: The REALITY is the Employee Free Choice Act Helps American Workers and their Families.

As more and more working Americans struggle to make ends meet, the ability to form a union is key to the economic stability, health, and well-being of American families. Union workers’ median weekly earnings are 30 percent higher than those of non-union workers, union workers are 63 percent more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance, and union workers are 77 percent more likely to have short-term disability benefits. According to a recent poll, nearly 60 percent of Americans would join a union if they could. (AFL-CIO, “The Union Difference: Union Advantage by the Numbers.”)

For More Information on EFCA please visit our website and blog

http://www.employeefreechoiceactnow.org

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