What Is Wal-Mart So Afraid Of? Four Words: Employee Free Choice Act

When you're talking about the rights of workers and the urgent need to help them unionize, there's no better person to talk to than SEIU President Andy Stern.  On yesterday's Meet the Bloggers, Stern was our special guest to discuss the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a vital piece of legislation that, if passed, will go a long way toward restoring the middle class in our country.  EFCA would enable workers to unionize, allowing them to demand fairer wages and much needed benefits like health insurance. 

EFCA would bring balance to the work place.  As Michael Whitney of American Rights at Work indicated during the show, this bill would effectively reduce the colossal disparity between Fortune 500 CEOs making an average of $6,153 an hour and the majority of workers earning an hourly federal minimum wage of $6.55.  What's more, EFCA would give workers a voice when it comes to negotiating jobs and contracts, which, as JackandJillPolitics.com blogger Baratunde Thurston pointed out, is especially important for minority workers.  And with mega employers like Wal-Mart resorting to unionbusting tactics and electioneering in order to prevent their employees from supporting pro-union candidates, the time to support EFCA is critical.  

That's why we dedicated our entire show to this issue, and that's why we partnered with American Rights at Work to create a new video called Your New Job, as well as a petition to help EFCA pass.  Get this video and the petition to everyone you know who cares about fairness and wants to help restore the middle class in America.  And get it to them now!

Meet the Bloggers airs live every Friday at 1pm ET/10 am PT.  And if you missed any previous shows, you can always catch them here.

Comments

[LeftRight]

FreedomBeforeDemocracy writes:

"At least you finally admit you are for force. That is why I have a major disagreement with the unions. I prefer freedom over coercion."

I'm stating that when a group of people come together and choose to form a union so that their combined power matches that of the employer, the employer needs to agree that they are a legal union. This means that they will negotiate in good faith.

Also note that when I stated:

"And yes, I do think that if there are unions in the shop, they SHOULD be forced to negotiate with them. I'm not saying that they wouldn't prefer paying slave wages, but when there is an exclusive representation they MUST negotiate with that exclusive representation!"

I was talking about the EMPLOYER, NOT the employees, whether they are in the union or NOT. You can try to twist my words around, but the fact of the matter is that I was NOT stating that the unions can force anyone to join, since they CANNOT!!!

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

"I was talking about the EMPLOYER" I'm not trying to twist your words. I know you were talking about the employer. Using force against the employer to use union labor. That is wrong. Coercion is wrong.

In a free society, employers should be able to negotiate for labor from whatever source they like as long as that source provides the labor voluntarily. People should be able to associate in a union and say "We won't work for less than $X/hr". This is still a powerful tool that can (and should) exist in a free society. However, if other individuals come along and say "We will work for less than $X/hr." Those individuals (or they could also be associations of people) should be able to freely negotiate and provide their services to the employer.

"I was NOT stating that the unions can force anyone to join, since they CANNOT!!!" Yes, but you know quite well they can force people to pay the dues (in some states).

[LeftRight]

No, using the force of the TOTAL power of the unionized employees to make THEIR contributions better felt. I'm not saying that the union should be representing everyone, I'm saying that if a majority of those in a given shop wish to create a union, even by union "cards" then they should be allowed to do so, ESPECIALLY since this is the best chance that the employees have to get their fair share!

[LarBear]

Many People cite Wal Marts low price....

What should concern us all is Wal Mart's high cost to the USA...

Last I looked Wal Mart owner Family greed was over 90 Billion $$$$$ for 5 of them.... Would be interesting how many Wal Mart suppliers have been forced to move to China, Etc, or lose their businesses...

That's more money then anyone can spend... Has to be some kind of compulsive fear pushing them with money to keep score...

I've never been in a Wal Mart and intentionally never will, and I live on a small fixed income from Soc Sec and Retirement, after becoming disabled.... Love, Defend and Protect my Nation.... My Oath as a Citizen....

[UnbiasView]

i think the whole idea of the emploee free choice act smells of corruption from the unions that are looking for more dues just like the oil companies are looking for more wells . . . both are topics because someone in Washington got paid.

I hate unions and what they do is drive up prices for less service, look at education as a prime example.

[LeftRight]

As opposed to those employers who are DESPERATELY trying to get this defeated. We all KNOW that they are simply looking out for the best interests of their employees, right????

Wait, what's that you say? They are ALSO looking out for more power and money?? And unlike the unions, the way for them to get more power and money is to sc**w their employees over???? Say it ain't so!!!!!!!

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

The way for the employers to get more money is to produce a product or provide a service. In the production of that product, they will pay labor based on what labor will accept relative to the employers risk. If they can't get labor for a profitable amount, they won't use it. That is how unions work to control the labor market. They try to get all labor under their control and then demand a certain wage. This is all fine with me as long as the labor under their control is there voluntarily. If unions demand $20/hr that is fine. But if employers find someone else that can do the job for $19/hr, the employer and their non-union labor should be able to enter into a voluntary contract.

[Deschris]

In Canada Obama could easily be Prime Minister,because of his ideas,love of country and downright honesty.Watching your country go down the drain over the past 8 years of republican rule,I'm amazed that you have to think twice to vote for Obama. You have two people on the other side who are phony liars,who are against women's rights,workers,universal health care,the middle class to name a few and once again you fail to end your misery.If you vote for McCain,it's not Obama you are hurting it's your own children (wars) and yourself. Maybe I'm wrong but you would think the majority of Americans are unhappy with their current situation.Anyway if McCain wins I will conclude that the majority of you all are happy with the status quo or racism is alive and well...your choice.

[ProudNeoCon]

Do you think there is a reason we do not want to live in Canada?

[dutchgirl55]

You think you're amazed. I was ready to move to Canada after the 2004 election. The 2000 election I chalked up to an aberration.

But please don't assume the majority of us are dumb enough to vote for McCain. The country is split 50/50 again, and it's the electoral college that will decide the election. I can't believe some of the reasons I hear for voting for McCain over a vibrant, thoughtful, intelligent man like Obama. If we elect McCain, our country is doomed.

I'm afraid our country has been ruined by big business and big oil. They have us like a boa constrictor has it's prey. You may have a whole bunch of us moving north if things keep going like they are...now doesn't that give you nightmares?

[ProudNeoCon]

Please move. As a person you spends 50% percent of his time in Canada, I would love to see you living there. It would be priceless to see your face the first time when you are told that you need to wait several months for medical procedures and there are not private alternatives since it is illegal to provide private medical care which is available via goverment hospitals..

[GordonDR]

Let's see what you have to say after the Canadian federal election on Oct. 14th, when Harper and his neo-con Tories stand a good chance of gaining a majority in Parliament, despite the fact that Canadians have a clear view of what eight years of neo-con BS have done to the States--and what eight years of similar BS under Premier Mike Harris did to the province of Ontario.

[LeonBNJ]

First of all probably most of Wal*Mart's employees in stores and part-time would not be interested or benefit from a union. Then you have the issue where many of their stores and ops are in anti-union, 'right to work' states where unions have to be open as to membership requirements.
Where the unions could get a hold is with grocery department meat cutters, truck drivers, warehouse workers, front office workers and the like. Several years ago, they eliminated the meat department from some Texas stores when the butchers joined a union pointing out the need for such laws.
Still, if the Employee Free Choice Act was tied with requiring major union regulations and reforms like pay and power caps for Union leaders and executives, allowing employees check off rights as to political contributions, regulations as to investments, then it might have a better chance of being passed and employers as well as employees less against unions.

[goflo]

I live in a red state, Arizona (McCain's state. Shocker, I know) AZ is a "right to work" state, and trust me, it's extremely scary to be layed off from a job with no rights as a worker.

[Gidster]

Indiana is the same way. It is exhausting to be in constant fear of losing your job.

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

"EFCA would give workers a voice when it comes to negotiating jobs and contracts." No. It actually takes away their voice, specifically when it comes to not being in a union. Undoubtedly, union members enjoy higher wages (mostly by eliminating employers" and other workers" choice for labor outside the union), but the result of that is less people being employed.

But you can argue whether unions are good or not, the reason EFCA takes away workers" choices is because it basically changes the secret voting aspect of whether or not a certain plant should unionize or not. It replaces it with publicly signed union cards. What does this mean? The union can use intimidating practices to get people to sign these cards. Unions themselves know that signatures on these cards is not an endorsement of unions. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters won"t even attempt a vote unless 65% of workers sign these cards. Why? Because they know anything less is almost a guaranteed loss.

One gain claim that unions (and all of their powers) are a good thing, but EFCA does nothing but take away a worker"s right to not be in a union.

[WoodyCPM]

Cornell University scholar Kate Bronfenbrenner studied hundreds of organizing campaigns and found that:

* Ninety-two percent of private-sector employers, when faced with employees who want to join together in a union, force employees to attend closed-door meetings to hear anti-union propaganda; 80 percent require supervisors to attend training sessions on attacking unions; and 78 percent require that supervisors deliver anti-union messages to workers they oversee.
* Seventy-five percent hire outside consultants to run anti-union campaigns, often based on mass psychology and distorting the law.
* Half of employers threaten to shut down partially or totally if employees join together in a union.
* In 25 percent of organizing campaigns, private-sector employers illegally fire workers because they want to form a union.
* Even after workers successfully form a union, in one-third of the instances, employers do not negotiate a contract.

If given the chance, 60 million Americans would join a union. Your post is ludicrous, total fabrication and a deceit. What choice NOT to be in a union? That's absurd when overwhelmingly most workers would jump at the chance to be in a union.

I have personal experience of the results of the Cornell study. I have a close friend who is a General Manager in the Assisted Living industry and his company just went through the process of keeping the union out of his location.

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

There is not one inaccuracy in my post. You can call the part that is my opinion ludicrous (without any specifics of course) if you wish, but there is nothing fabricated or deceitful in it.

"Ninety-two percent of private-sector employers, when faced ... to workers they oversee." Okay. And union organizers promote pro-union propaganda.

"Seventy-five percent hire outside ... the law." If they distort the law, that should be punished. Just make sure you do the same to pro-union people. For example, the author of this article. "EFCA would enable workers to unionize." They can already unionize. This would make their vote public.

"Half of employers ... in a union." And they should. Unions artificially raise the price of labor and employers don"t want to risk their investment with a diminished return.

"In 25 percent ... a union." They fire people for a voluntary association. You already said this is illegal. Enforce the law.

"Even after workers ... contract." And they shouldn"t have to, if they can supply their labor without using less expensive non-union people. That is their freedom.

EFCA will result in more unions. No doubt. That is its design. The price is to force people into the unions (Actually without this law people are forced into the unions, i.e. the one"s who vote against the union. This law just makes people publicly declare their support, or more importantly, publically declare that they don"t support.)

[herbkornfeld]

Wrong.

There is no "taking away a worker's choice", what IS taken away is the ability of the employer to rig and influence a union vote.

By passing the EFCA workers can secretly organize and become a functioning union without an employer's knowledge beforehand thereby eliminating the Bosses meddling and coercing and discriminating against rank-and-file union organizers.

It restores the rights we had dating back to the New Deal, before the corporate takeover of Congress.

The fact that Robber Baron multi-nationals like Mao Mart are so vehemently against the EFCA and have shills all through the net spreading lies and distortions like the above nonsense is proof of it's capacity to change the game in favor of the Working Class.

Solidarity, people.

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

The law currently allows for a unionization vote if 35% of employees sign union cards. This a secret vote where people can disclose their true feelings without reprisal. Why are pro-union people so for EFCA? Because it will result in more union members. Apparently you don't mind forcing people into unions. I do.

[LeftRight]

Wrong.

It makes it EASIER to join a union in a shop that isn't one. The way that it does this is by removing the time that EMPLOYERS can come out and force the employees to sit through hours of anti-union propaganda, as well as telling them that you will just close the shop down rather than allow it to become unionized!

Just cause you're a neocon doesn't give you the right to come here and lie like this!

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

No it makes it easier to publicly declare union support so that intimidation can be used. That is the main point.

"as well as telling them that you will just close the shop down rather than allow it to become unionized!" So employers can't even be honest. Sounds like another excellent law.

[DougNTexas]

It's way past time for this legislation to pass. Workers need a fair slice of the pie.

[LeftRight]

You know, I LOVE the rightwing response to a supporter of the EFCA. They are always claiming that they simply want to protect workers from being forced into a union by pushy union leaders. Never mind the fact that 99.99999999999999999999999999995% of union leaders are trying to help workers, and the pushy EMPLOYERS are only looking out for profit!!!

[FreedomBeforeDemocracy]

But who should make the judgement of a union leader's good intentions? You or someone forced into the union?

[WoodyCPM]

And who should make the judgment of an employer's good intentions? You? The employer? You're full of it. I've worked in many different environments from factory work to office work to farm work to working for a major U.S. copy/shipping company. All of the employees I worked with over the four years I worked at FEDEXKINKOS all agreed that we would do better under a union but everyone was afraid. They were afraid of loosing their jobs if they started to organize because the process of organizing a union is too risky and too fraught with union and employee bashing tactics by the employer.

Instead of your quite obvious propaganda, I think I'll continue to believe my lying eyes.

[Gidster]

Forced into a union?
What worker would not want a raise their wage and medical benefits?
American workers have lost their job security, their benefits, and thier voice to corporate greed.

[LeftRight]

And how many have been forced into a union in the last hundred years? By comparison, how many have been forced to stay OUT of a union in the last YEAR? You will find that the numbers are very low in the first case, and VERY VERY high in the second case!

[hopefulinpa]

Since I heard about Walmart telling their employes how to vote. I will no longer shop there, ever for anything. I love K Mart and do most of my shopping there anyway.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

same here... though I don't shop K-Mart either... there are none around!

[UnbiasView]

K-Mart is the dirtiest store on the face of the planet

[queenmjd]

And you wonder why American companies are going overseas for workers? If these people think they can make more money some where else why don't they go do it instead of holding a company hostage for more money.

And if American's gave a rip they would not be the world's number 1 retailer.

[guajiro]

Andy Stern should have been Obama's pick for Vice President. That would have gone well with his theme of bringing change to Washington. Stern looks like McCain and is as from the heartland as one can get.