WSJ: Economy Heightens Debate Over Bill to Ease Union Organizing

[Omaha Steve]

Just remember who printed this article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122549927797489907.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Debate over a controversial bill that would make it easier for unions to sign up new members has intensified as the economy declines.

Business and industry groups say the legislation, known as the Employee Free Choice Act, will lead to massive job losses and hobble the economy. Labor groups argue that it will give a historic boost to the middle class. Debate over the measure, which passed the House last year but was blocked in the Senate by a Republican filibuster, heated up during the campaign and has been amplified by the burgeoning financial crisis.


Reuters
Police officers watch over Obama supporters outside a McCain campaign stop in Sandusky, Ohio.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama supports the measure, while his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, is opposed. Regardless of who wins, the debate will continue after the election because Democrats are expected to bring it to a vote again next year. If Sen. McCain becomes president, a compromise bill could ultimately be proposed.

Labor claims the legislation would lift wages and make it easier to organize workers. Declining union membership stands at 7.5% of private-sector workers, about half of the level of 25 years ago. Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, says the law could help his union organize more than a million workers a year.

Business-backed groups agree that the bill would increase unionization, but say it would also hurt growth by raising labor costs, eventually leading to widespread layoffs. One of those groups, the nonprofit Employee Freedom Action Committee, began airing an ad last week linking unions to massive job losses in the steel, auto and airline industries. "If you think the economy is bad now, it could get worse," the ad says. Many companies, including big targets for union organizing like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., adamantly oppose the legislation.

FULL story at link.

[DeadManInc]

1. the letfreedomring cocksuckers were running ads here in Ohio

against it

[LakeMtkaLiberal]

2. Newbie needs a little help on Employee Free Choice Act

First-time poster to DU, long-time lurker -- need some help.

My wife and I had dinner with another couple last night and politics came up. He is a moderate Republican (socially liberal, very involved in charitable stuff) but cited the Employee Free Choice Act as his primary reason for voting against Obama. This guy is an executive at a giant non-union retailer, so he gets the message pretty loud and clear at work about this legislation.

Here's where I need the help -- his main reason for being so anti-union was that (in his words) "unions have ruined every industry in America where they have made strong inroads". I had no reply -- never really heard this argument before. I launched back with "well, to me, unions are responsible for the 40-hour work week, 2 weeks of vacation, secure retirement benefits, health care benefits, protections for worker safety, and pretty much anything else we now take for granted as workers in this country." But I had no real reply to his statement.

Then I began thinking about it -- several high-profile industries with large union representation (auto makers, steel producers, airlines) are totally in the crapper at the moment. I know that the problems these industries face have nothing to do with unionization, and that there are countless examples of heavily unionized industries doing well (oil workers, telecommunications, etc.), but I don't really know how to counter this guy's statement. An over-simplification of the facts could easily lead an uninformed person to come to the same conclusion.

Any suggestions?

[Omaha Steve]

3. Ask him

Welcome to the DU and the Labor Forum.

Ask him why is UPS making good profits even though it has a union? It's closest competition (FedEx) is non-union btw.

http://investor.shareholder.com/ups/news/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=342672

International and Supply Chain Businesses Show Strength Despite Economic Weakness

ATLANTA, Oct. 23, 2008 -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today reported diluted earnings per share of $0.96 for its third quarter on a 7.4% increase in revenue. This represents an 8.6% decline from the $1.05 per share reported on an adjusted basis for the comparable 2007 quarter. The company's international and supply chain businesses demonstrated strength despite a challenging global economic environment.

Unadjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.02 for the 2007 third quarter included a restructuring charge and related expenses for a supply chain business in France. Diluted earnings per share for this year's third quarter declined 5.9% compared to this amount.

"UPS managed the business well in this very tough economic climate," said Scott Davis, UPS's chairman and CEO. "We continue to see growth in our international and supply chain businesses while maintaining our focus on cost control and revenue management throughout our organization. UPS also is investing to ensure growth in the future so that the company will be even stronger when the global economy rebounds."


Many companies in the US have good pay, benefits, etc... and a union workforce. There are others like Kellogg's cereal. Get the idea?

[LakeMtkaLiberal]

4. Thanks, Steve

Good examples. I'll pass these along.