Georgia Senate considers bill to criminalize union picketing

[midnight]

Georgia already has some of the key anti-union laws that states like Wisconsin and Indiana have been fighting it out over in the past year. But that doesn't mean they can't try to pass even harsher anti-union laws. The state Senate is considering a bill that would basically make it illegal for unions to picket—or impossible for them to do so within tightened legal restrictions, anyway. Alternet's Sarah Jaffe writes that since "criminal trespass" and "conspiracy to commit criminal trespass" could draw felony penalties of up to a year in prison or a $10,000 fine and are "specifically included in a bill that cracks down on organizations' right to picket outside a workplace or company[, it] seems to indicate that a union or other group engaged in picketing could be charged with a crime for the activity of one member who crosses the line."

What's particularly disturbing is that this seems to have been introduced in response to a specific action by Occupy Atlanta and unions to protest layoffs at AT&T.http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/28/1069203/-Georgia-Senate-considers-bill-to-criminalize-union-picketing?via=blog_799859

[Justice wanted]

1. HOW SICK ARE THEY GOING TO GET?

[zbdent]

17. as long as they can get away with it ...

they can get far sicker.

How long before the Pinkertons start shooting real bullets at union member, I don't know ...

[Justice wanted]

18. That and the beginning of Company towns. In my area of PA there are a couple of towns that started

as company towns. You still have houses from that era standing and people living in. Two very scary thoughts.

[zbdent]

27. I have a whole lot of relatives from Iselin ...

talk about a company town ...

[msongs]

2. courts will throw that out asap nt

[rurallib]

13. not sure I'd count on that anymore.

what a bizzaro world anymore.

[calimary]

24. Yeah, no kidding. It's like falling down a rabbit hole.

I can't believe how Neanderthal our country has become. I keep hearing about the pendulum swinging back.

WHEN???????

[AndyTiedye]

28. The Pendulum is Being Drawn Inexorably Rightward by Unlimited Corporate Cash

[Hoyt]

3. Couldn't be satisfied with treating immigrants like dirt, now this.

[Seedersandleechers]

5. Now I know where

NOT to BUY.

[Seedersandleechers]

6. Where are the mods?

[madrchsod]

7. who knows...i thought this crap was deep sixed

[Bozita]

9. I sent an alert. Jury was called. 6-0 to hide. But poster is still there?

Are we fresh out of tombstones?

[rurallib]

14. just looked - they are gone

[Kalidurga]

8. In a world where corporations are people

picketing is a hate crime.

[madrchsod]

10. thanks! now back to this issue

i think the courts will rule free speech and right to assemble.

[midnight]

12. I hope so too...

[cstanleytech]

11. Wouldnt it be a clear violation of freedom of speech?

[Politicalboi]

16. Maybe if they include

Prayers, they should be covered.

[csziggy]

29. There you go - let's convert unions to church organizations

Then they'd have nearly unlimited immunity from laws to restrict their activities!

Only slightly .

[baldguy]

19. And freedom of assembly.

[wilt the stilt]

15. we went house hunting in CO

3 years left 3 years left and I am out of here. Thank god.

[Esse Quam Videri]

22. Certain parts of CO you want to avoid

unless you want to be in deep red territory (like me). PM me and I can fill you in.

[wilt the stilt]

25. I lived there for 5 years

and know it well. We will buy in Denver proper and probably the Lowry neighborhood.

[Dembearpig]

20. General Sherman

why oh why did you stop before finishing the job?

And yes, I had lived in GA for 10 years, so FU southern apologists.

[47of74]

21. There are times when I think...

...we were far, far too easy on the south after the war.

[Hosnon]

26. "Some of my best friends are black."

Please leave your bigotry off this website.

[Historic NY]

23. Flys in the face of the US Constitution........

and there is case law.