Obama's Remarks On Employee Free Choice Act Make Labor "Very Pleased"

Labor officials are "VERY pleased" with statements made by President Barack Obama on the Employee Free Choice Act during a sit down interview with 15 regional papers on Wednesday.

The president, as reported by the Detroit Free Press, "said he believes there is no economic risk to workers organizing and making a living wage."

The Philadelphia Inquirer, meanwhile, quoted Obama as saying he didn't "buy the argument that providing workers with collective-bargaining rights somehow weakens the economy or worsens the business environment." Moreover, the paper reported that Obama "would not urge a delay in consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act."

The directness of the remarks is something that caught labor officials (pleasantly) by surprise. A few weeks ago, Obama was quoted in the Washington Post, hedging a bit on the time-frame by which he would like to see EFCA considered. This is "more definite," said a labor official. "[He] wants [Congress] to take it up."

"From what the White House was saying behind the scenes, we were still confident [Obama] was behind [EFCA]," the source added. "Him putting it on the record in public makes me feel a lot better."

As it stands now, Senate Democrats appear likely to wait until Minnesota Democrat Al Franken is seated (if he is seated) before taking up the contentious legislation.

In his Wednesday interview, Obama did add a wrinkle to the debate. Reflecting his usual predisposition again political fights, he discussed the notion of compromise between business-backed forces that view EFCA as a poison pill to the economy, and the labor community that has poured countless time and resources to the legislation's passage.

"Whether those conversations can bear fruit over the next several months, we'll see," the president said. "But I'm always a big believer in before we gear up for some tooth-and-nail battle, that we see if some accommodations can't be found."

Inside labor, however, there is scant talk of compromise on EFCA, primarily because the key provisions are so cut and dry -- either employees can form a union by having a majority of workers sign authorization cards, or they can't.

"We don't mind [the compromise talk] because he is Obama and that is what he does," said the source, "but this isn't really something you can compromise on... You could tweak around the outsides like have more time until it's implemented. But on the core card-check part, you either do it or you can't, not much wiggle room."

Comments

[Carter Lloyd]

I'm a huge Obama supporter but the problem I have with this bill is that it makes it too easy for a union to get certified. I work in a company where a unio has been trying to force its way in through fraud and deception. Once they deceive enough people into signing the cards (they do this by telling them they're signing something else) the union is certified.

[joeyfoto]

Carter Lloyd writes: "I'm a huge Obama supporter but the problem I have with this bill is that it makes it too easy for a union to get certified."

When one reads The Employee Free Choice Act it is clear that it is equally easy for a union to be decertified. This is a matter of a simple up or down vote either way. I don't understand what's "too easy" about that. But then, for all the quarrels that I have with the quality of labor unions, the fact is collective bargaining makes a very positive difference in the quality of life of working people. The suppression of labor unions has caused a decline in the political power of working people who were at the same time deceived into thinking that my girlfriend's abortion and my gay neighbor's marriage were more important than their children's future. This recession brought home the foolishness of those misplaced priorities to a majority of voters.

There is no contradiction between more people voting themselves into labor unions and those same people working to make those unions transparent and more responsive to their members — both of which would be good for workers.

It's should come as no surprise to anyone that when workers prosper a consumer-based economy grows. That is the direction a sensible people must move.

[crowmd1]

Oh those times-they -are are-a-changin?

The evil organized labor rants of yore. Yes we should all fear unions they say,slovenly production workers who take too many smoke breaks they argue.As compared to what? the office personnel? The history of organized labor is precisely the reason why we have any rights as workers at all. And what a history it is,an all out war that continues to this day where people quite literally are fired routinely on the flimsiest of excuses for trying to organize.
Under the unions this country was able to produce many of the great products and inventions we still use today,and what do we get without them? Cheap plastic goods tainted with lead from 3rd world countries and communist China.The fall of the unions has lead to the biggest income gap between the poor and the wealthy in the history of this nation.
Organized labor built this nation and made it great by giving everyone a decent living wage and making whole communities proud and part of the american dream to be able to afford a home and support a family on one decent manufacturing job. And what do we have in it's place? A Mcdonaldization of the labor force with no future,little pay,no worker rights if any,no paid holidays,etc. enjoy the future.

[Mediated]

Ok a pro union crowd- But how many of you want to see the Auto companies go bankrupt? Those big nasty corporate greedy and failed auto companies. We want toyota priuses- don't we? UAW is finished along with the Auto companies if that occurs. Worst yet fioreign companies will control our auto production. Those are union jobs that will disappear forever. Anyone in favor of those job banks the union workers are entitled to making 90% of their inflated pay while they DO NOTHING?. Unions had their day- and most importantly created a middle class by taking on management. But those days are over, and the industrial middle class must recede and replaced by a service economy union state. If they can't redefinr their working relationship- unions are thru. GM and Ford cannot exist with the current labor contract and legacy cost structures. Modify or liquify - pick your poison

[sueinmn]

no no and no! restructure yes, do not remove the pensions people have served a lifetime to earn! I will always buy my Chevy! You can eat your imports, no thanks here! We cannot remain a service country. we ned to recapture manufacturing or we will no longer be the country we have taken pride in. you want to look down on the UAW wages, take alook at many other wages of different walks. New York, many over paid or many underpaid? I prefer to think many underpaid. California wages, washingtom oregan. same their. down south, definately underpaid but they choose to bach unions and drag us down so let them remain as they seem happy! Wouldnt they be better trying to raise their living standards rather than drag us down to their level? Wages need to be looked at in more than just the paycheck. Education costs our state a fortune and my wages help support that along with my property taxes. We pay much higher rates that these low paid undereducated states where the imports are made!

[sueinmn]

sneaky; Publicly available information... this depends on where you get the info and whether is was written to the bia opinion.

[rosal]

I can cut and paste your comment and just change "Union" with "CEO's" and it would be perfect. CEO's that are incompetent, don't know how to run a business, and have ruin the country. Yes, those that get 100% of their inflated wages and bonus while they DO NOTHING

[sueinmn]

need a new line!!

I work big jobs and we see the smaller non union outfits get little bits of the work often and they are forced to bank their OT (against the law) they are not provided with many of the peoper tools, many large non union outfits require you to provide your own tools, Im not talking hand tools, drills and such. We hav often loaned materials because they are expected to get the job done often with less than the required proper fittings. Seeing unlicensed apprentises out working on their own to save cost for the employer is frequent. again illegal and unsafe. I have a short experience with a couple small contractors and I could tell you stories for sure!

[SOLERSO68]

The only reason republicans hate unions is because shareholders hate unions, and why wouldnt they? As shareholders they get to slice the pie for themselves and they dont want to share. Its a very simple conflict. Sahreholders, the capitalist class, view workers as basically a cost, like machine bearings or toilet seats. Unions workers ( justifiably) see themselves as partners in production; if labor dosent make the product, it wont be sold. just as capital is required, and the means of production, so labor is needed, so labor should be rewarded with some of the profits. How much? well thats the poin of collective bargaining. capital must negotiate with labor and since both parties have a stake in succes, they should produce equitable agreements. dont believe that corporations "were forced" to move to taiwan or mexico, where they can pay subhuman wages. they do it for greed only. and because they have powerful right wing freinds to let them get away with it.

[sueinmn]

Best comment yet! thanks

[Sneaky]

Outsourcing has only a little to do with unions, and to pretend otherwise is either active intellectual dishonesty or ignorance.

[sueinmn]

outsourcing has all to do with greed union or not! many companies that took that route were non union and never under any threat uf unionization. cheap labor no enviromental costs. dont even begin to blame unions for that. you for sure have jusr exposed yourself. avoiding the america taxation.

[Ping]

If there is a problem with the collective bargaining agreement, management can always ask for a renegotiation. But in the case of the autoworkers and Boeing in particular, Management was stupid enough to give itself obscene bonuses and pay when the times were good. Then they went into labor negotiations seeking to limit pay for the workers and got taken to the cleaners because of their own obnoxious pay and compensation. Failure of the company to get a decent collective bargaining agreement is a failure of management not the fault of labor.

[Sneaky]

Agreed completely. Let the business suffer like every other business for its poor business decisions and practices. Workers will move to more favorable companies. Unions are handy, sometimes, but not as disparately needed as they're made out to be.

[Ping]

The value of Unions is that their contracts serve as benchmarks for employee compensation. Unions are easily busted, employers just have to pay above the prevailing union wage. It's that simple and that's what corporate America does not want to do.

[sueinmn]

I seem to remember the last two concessions given back by the unions in the auto, as soon as they conceeded, the CEO's all gave themselves huge bonuses. This makes for very bad blood. when one party must conceed all parties need to be prepared to make cuts. no different than these banks bail outs, they want help or they will go under and at the same time they hand out huge bonuses or trips, etc. Bad Blood!!!

[Ping]

Unions gave us weekends.

[historymatters]

Working folks who are anti-union have just bought into the anti-union propaganda spewed by Republicans and corporate-owned media ever since the 1930s. Take some time to study labor history so you can know what you're talking about. If you knew anything about labor organizing over the past hundred years, and still going on today, you'd know how much courage, guts, strength, and passion it takes for workers to organize and demand fair treatment. It's a shame that in a country that enshrines individual freedoms in our Constitution, so many ordinary people are so happy to let employers treat employees like dirt.

[Sneaky]

Except that those anti-union people are very aware of what unions do, and often have seen just how poisonous they can be to industries. The auto industry and public education institutions exemplify this.

[sueinmn]

Well now sit down an dthink a bit before opening mouth inserting foot. The auto industry was a lucrative industry back then. The unions took was was available to take for a better life for the employees. The auto companys could afford to give it back then. They didnt have robotics back then doing a good share of the work. It was all physical! The Ceos all enjoyed taking off the top not only the cream but all they could take. It is not the fault of the line workers and unions the auto companies went to hell. the ceos lobbyed for years to prevent coming into the 21st century. they wanted to continue taking the cream and the milk. Now things are different and the unions have conceeded the last few contracts with out the top management making change. blame alway goes to the unions and workers and usually because you non union people have been conditioned to blame only those at the bottom. are you blaming the bank tellers for what the top level stealing? maybe you should as this appears to be how your brain is wired.

[Ping]

Unions allow workers to get a collective bargaining agreement from employers. These agreements protect worker safety and ensure that the employer pays an honest wage.

Unfortunately, one of the Republican Party's core beliefs is to lower pay and benefits to workers so that they can barely survive thus enriching the wealthy even more.

[sueinmn]

Ive never understood how remarks like : anti-union people are very aware of what unions do, chances are they have not been a union member so how do they know what??? myths and spin more myths to keep the uneducated working in less than best consitions always knowing they are employees at will and they can fire your a## for any reason and even no reason if you get out of line.

[bluejay10027]

I can't wait for this bill to pass. All the jobs will move to the south. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[VirgoGrrrlie]

The contaminated peanut factory in the SOUTH is an excellent example of the working conditions and customer satisfaction we can look forward to if that happens. The robber-baron anti-union business situation in the southern is the direct result of anti-union terrorism by big business going all the way back into the 19th century. It is a DISGRACE.

Not all southern workers are ignorant of of their history as working people - and plenty of the best and bravest of this nation's labor organizers came from the South. But the filthy rich and the power structure over all simply murdered hundreds of brave 'freedom fighters' for workers' rights over decades. The result is that while chattel slavery was ended by law, there is definitely wage slavery in the South - and not only the South - but the anti-union forces in the South are extremely powerful and vicious.

PEANUT BUTTER ANYONE?!!!!

[Sneaky]

Wow. Your sample size of one, from which you generalize with a broad enough stroke to cover the entire South, is amazing.

[Sneaky]

Well, it'll help us a little, but we still need to take the boot off the neck of the material manufacturing industry so these people can actually work.

[sueinmn]

It sure sounds like you are so willing to remain in little jo security and low wage survival mode. Be happy and never complain.

[Sneaky]

Are you suggesting that without unions, all jobs would have little security and low wages?

[ohiodem250]

I am a Democrat and sympathetic towards unions. I understand why they want this bad policy to become law: currently, all you need to DEcertify a union is to get 50%+1 of employees to sign a petition to disband the union and it's dissolved - this is just pay back for the union, a way to make it fair. Unfortunately, this is just ratcheting up the animosity in labor relations. I think, instead of EFCA, they should just mandate the secret ballot in order to DEcertify a union.

[sueinmn]

how do you figure tis to be a bad policy? have you ever experienced the intimidation of employers during the secret ballot period? have you ever experienced being fired because they knew you were active in forming a union? have you ever experienced fellow employees being intimidated because they may want to join a union? have you ever experienced the daily unfairnesses that occur all too much for various reasons of workiing under a manager who knows nothing about managing people yet their ego precedes them entering a room. or possibly dicrimination in the work place or witness OSHA violaions daily and feel helpless when your co workers are having miscarriages and are fearing their job loss if they seek help. or have a family member mauled and die in unprotected machinary. you just dont come across very sympathetic to me.

[JohnBryansFontaine]

LRIonline.com/7_Lies'' was produced by the Labor Relations Institute, whose web site boasts it is the "nation's most active firm conveying the overwhelming disadvantages of union membership."

Their own PR:

"About Labor Relations Institute
Labor Relations Institute was founded in 1978 as a consulting firm dedicated to maintaining the union-free workplace. Initially, LRI assisted employers with on-site campaign direction, developing all phases of NLRB representation election campaigns. Today, Labor Relations Institute provides the widest possible range of union-free communications products. Through a single source, our clients can obtain all of the materials necessary to run a winning campaign, from employee information videos to union specific literature to campaign buttons. "

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:5Q9roOVl85UJ:www.labornet.org/news/1205/conslt.htm+labor+relations+institute+workers&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us

http://www.csea9200.com/Stories/TheUglyFaceofUnionBusting.htm

[slarabee]

If you believe (as I do) that the primary cause for our current economic crisis is the massive inequality of wealth that has be created over the last 25 to 30 years then a pro labor President is one of the things we need. The corporations have had their way with us for far too long.

It bears reading Marriner S. Eccles, who served as Franklin D. Roosevelt's Chairman of the Federal Reserve from November 1934 to February 1948, as he detailed what he believed caused the Great Depression in his memoirs, Beckoning Frontiers (New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1951).
An excerpt can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression it is about 1/3 of the way down the page under the heading: Inequality of wealth and income

With these things in mind the Employee Free Choice Act is a step in the right direction.

[Sneaky]

And yet, despite this, the greatest economic thinkers of our time look to a more simple explanation for our economic plights: fiat money and government over-intrusion into markets. Our Founding Fathers were a diverse lot, but every one of them was supportive of the Austrian economic model and designed our nation to use such a model. We keep trying the Keynesian economic model and keep wondering why our dollar has only EVER decreased in value since WWI...

[ohiodem250]

The earliest residues of Austrian economics were found in Carl Menger's 1871 book, Principles of Economics. That is almost 100 years after the Founding of America. Nice try, Sneaky!

[BarackstarObama]

More than half of the nation's workers were part of unions after WWII, and this is when the middle class was at it's strongest... President Obama is definitely on the right track here. :-)

[Sneaky]

Correlation is not causation. The huge jump in technological prowess in the civilian world, the newly-established superpower status the United States acquired, and the new bargains and deals governing the international market (more accurately, the interaction between national/regional markets), all had a lot more to do with the strength of the United States economy than did unions.

[Aldyth]

There should always be a secret ballot when taking a vote on unionizing. Take out anything that indicates otherwise and I'll support this bill. Otherwise, I won't.

Yes, I am a Democrat.

[LarksTongue]

The "secret ballot" is NOT removed by the Bill:

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3716

[Aldyth]

Quote from your link:

"SEIU president Andy Stern explained this point clearly: "This is the worker's choice. They can have a secret ballot or legally affirm by a majority of them signing cards."

I believe I see the word "or" in there. What is to prevent people from being pressured into signing cards? That's what I object to. There should always, always, always be a secret ballot when it comes to making the final decision.

[sueinmn]

Then the secret ballot should be made immediate and not 2 months down the road. Its all about employer intimidation and firings, not taking away ones secrecy.

[kimmmmmmmmm]

I am all for a STRONG Labor Union but just like the Wall Street profiteers the labor officials need to be closely watched and regulated by the government

[slarabee]

Are you suggesting that Labor Leaders are making or stealing hundreds of millions of dollars?
I think that is a fantasy.

[Sneaky]

I think some auto union workers might disagree with you, especially in Michigan.

[VirgoGrrrlie]

So naive - who's going to closely watch and regulate the GOVERNMENT?!!

[Sneaky]

We The People, as voters.

[sueinmn]

local unions really help the workers themselves, you are referring to the higher international levels of unions and their they become political. At that level they are dealing with the governmnt working against the lobbyiest who are funded with millions of dollars to buy the politicians. unfortunate the unions dont have the kind of money to spend for lobbying like the business sector does. If the business sector didnt spend so much on lobbying to keep your wages low and their taxes free, they could pay you a better wage with benefits and you wouldnt need a union. but because they dont, unions must do our dirty work to help gain the rights of workers. I have no desire to be merely a slave to any employer. I believe in a fair days work for a fair days pay but employers dont think that way. This could be why most of them are Republican. and the peasants are Democrats.