$5 million in ads promote unionizing legislation

[Omaha Steve]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8vxmN4ePc0aoN18uj1EpqZD7b3wD92TKGBG0

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A labor advocacy group will begin airing $5 million worth of ads Monday on national cable and in targeted states to press for legislation that would allow workers to organize without secret ballot elections.

The ads, to launch on Labor Day by American Rights at Work, do not name either presidential candidate, but the message of economic hardship dovetails with Democratic nominee Barack Obama's campaign themes. The national ads will appear on CNN, MSNBC and CNN Headline News.

The ads also will appear in states with vulnerable Republican senators — New Hampshire, Maine, Alaska, Minnesota and Oregon. The ads, expected to air at least four weeks, urge viewers to call the senators to demand their support for the legislation.

American Rights at Work is a 501(c)4 organization. Its ads are issue-based and do not call for the election or defeat of a candidate.

The legislation, a top priority for organized labor, would require employers to recognize unions after being presented union cards signed by a majority of eligible workers on their payrolls. Under current labor law, a company can demand a secret ballot election supervised by the federal government after being presented the union cards.

The Senate last year blocked an effort to pass the legislation; the House approved it in March 2007.

FULL story at link.

[Eric J in MN]

1. I'd prefer if 501(c)4

...organizations on both sides didn't run TV ads which mention candidates.

However, since right-wing 501(c)4's are already doing it, I guess this is better than if viewers only get the right-wing side.

[24HRrnr]

2. Heaven forbid we allow people the basic right

of a secret ballot.

That would be so, so .... American!