Employee Free Choice Act 2009: Why Arkansas matters

Depending on your political and economic views, it may or may not be welcome news to hear that on July 11 historic efforts will take place here in Little Rock -- and throughout Arkansas -- concerning passage of the Employee Free Choice Act 2009 also known as "card check" by those who oppose the bill.

[NetExaminer]

What is your take on the Employee Free Choice Act aka "Card Check"?(And, what do you think of Ark.Senators Pryor and Lincoln's responses?)

[America 1st]

Card check should be defeated. It will take away employees' right to a secret ballot vote for or against union representation, replacing it with union authorization cards which must be openly signed or rejected, before employers and union bosses alike.

One foundational and abiding principle of our country is the right of a secret ballot. We must maintain this right and not allow Congress to steal it from us. What good is an election if the voters are subject to intimidation and harrassment?

Hurray for Pryor and Lincoln for bucking the DC liberal elitists who are pushing for passage of card check as political payola for union support last election. It's good to see that Pryor and Lincoln still know where their bread gets buttered.

[alpinelace]

The law should make it a crime punishable with stiff fines for the company, it's management, and the individual employees responsible for the actions that make it almost impossible for a union to organize. Card check, while far from perfect, at least gives employees a better chance. THE SECRET BALLOT MEANS NOTHING IF YOU ARE DENIED THE USE OF IT. Sounds like you are one of those elitists who don't have to work for a living. So far as our senators are concerned -- they need to be representing the people and not the corporations. The ordinary people of Arkansas are without effective representation.

[Philster]

You can bet that if this bill would give working people more power, Pryor, Lincoln, and other Arkansas power brokers will vehemently oppose it. God forbid we create a law that would give workers the power to demand a living wage and proper working conditions. You can always bet that if the establishment in Arkansas opposes something, it is good for everyone but them.

[America 1st]

alpinelace wrote:

The law should make it a crime punishable with stiff fines for the company, it's management, and the individual employees responsible for the actions that make it almost impossible for a union to organize. Card check, while far from perfect, at least gives employees a better chance. THE SECRET BALLOT MEANS NOTHING IF YOU ARE DENIED THE USE OF IT. Sounds like you are one of those elitists who don't have to work for a living. So far as our senators are concerned -- they need to be representing the people and not the corporations. The ordinary people of Arkansas are without effective representation.

If unions are such a good thing, why has union membership been on a steep delcine for decades, except of course for public service jobs?

I believe there was a time when unions were necessary. But with union victories over terrible working conditions and unsafe environments, their need and purpose is gone. We have OSHA, EPA, Workers Comp, and unemployment insurance mandated by law and regulation. There is no need for a union to force companies to comply.

In today's business climate, good companies must offer competitive pay and benefits packages to attract skilled and productive employees. There is no need for a union to fight for those things. Companies willingly offer them directly to their employees. If they didn't, the better employees would leave and find employment with other companies that do offer competitve compensation packages.

The only thing unions serve today is to line the pockets of the union fat cats who don't produce anything, but rather syphon away part of the pay of those whom they represent.

Unions are a bad idea in our day and age. Card check is an even worse idea.

[America 1st]

Philster wrote:

You can bet that if this bill would give working people more power, Pryor, Lincoln, and other Arkansas power brokers will vehemently oppose it. God forbid we create a law that would give workers the power to demand a living wage and proper working conditions. You can always bet that if the establishment in Arkansas opposes something, it is good for everyone but them.

Working people do have power. No one is forced to work for less than what he is willing to accept. Involuntary servitude ended in this country 140 years ago.

The economic power a working person has is in direct proportion to his job skills, productivity and attitude. Not every golfer earns as much as Tiger Woods. There is nothing unfair about that, Tiger is just better than most and so earns more.

The same holds true in the business realm. The labor of an employee is not necessarily worth that of another. If one wishes to earn more pay, then he must make himself more valuable to his company and/or career field. He can do that through training, experience and effort.

Just as in all other areas, the value of a person's labor should be based on supply and demand. If you're a brain surgeon, there are few of those and they are in high demand. Therefore, your pay is much more than other fields. OTOH, if your job skills are limited to common labor, of which there is an abundance, your pay will be far less.

There is nothing wrong with letting market forces determine the value of various types of labor. There is also nothing wrong with allowing a company and an employee negotiate that value without outside interference. It's called economic freedom.

[lucky]

Unions are important when a company does not realize that it is only as good as its' employees.

[America 1st]

lucky wrote:

Unions are important when a company does not realize that it is only as good as its' employees.

The reality is that those types of companies will lose its good employees and become a bad company. Then market forces will take its toll on customers and sales. Eventually the company will fail.

There is no need for unions. Good employees will always be able to find good pay and benefits, and bad employers will go out of business. All that is needed is for unions and government to allow the free market to work as intended.

[Bradway]

lucky wrote:

Unions are important when a company does not realize that it is only as good as its' employees.

I have worked for companies like that before. When that happens they always lose there better employees and lose money as their product or service goes down the drain. This is how or economy works if a company wishes to make money and stay competitive they learn quickly to pay their employees a competitive wage and to treat each employee as a human being. When companies don'e do this they ultimatly fail.

[Dont]

Some of you should read the Taft Hardly law from the thirties,the card check for unions is right there.
But 99 plus percent of employers will not honor it.
They hire union busters and pay them a grand or better a week to campaign against the union.
They always fire workers to scare the rest of the employes.
They will make threats to close the plant.
We need a law tha give the workers,a card check,without fear of losing their jobs.
Unions are important,if you to don think so look at the American Medical assoication,biggest in the world.
Without a union,the boss is da judge,and jury without any recourse.
And the reasons Unions are losing jobs is because of Clinton,and yes Bush and all their free trade agreements.
My say,you may not like it but it is true.
Don