Expert: Catholic bishop’s message anti-union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.timesleader.com/news/20080221_21diocese_union_mg_ART.html

Labor professor says letter from Martino mimics moves by firms that aid employers.

By Mark Guydish [e-mail]
Education Reporter

Bishop Joseph Martino’s comments in a recent letter to the Diocese of Scranton faithful echoed anti-union tactics used by some highly paid consulting firms, a Penn State labor studies professor said, and those comments arguably bolster union efforts.

“It seems to me that the actions of the bishop make the case in the most powerful terms as to why these workers need a union,” said Paul F. Clark, head of the university’s department of labor studies and employment relations.

Conceding he has a strong pro-union background that includes doing research for unions, Clark said Martino’s comments included in the full-page newspaper ad were in line with advice consulting firms give to employers trying to fight unions. Stressing he doesn’t know if Martino is receiving any such advice, Clark noted “there is no question there are firms that specialize in union avoidance. It’s a cottage industry that has seen significant growth in recent years.”

Law firms that deal in labor issues range from those sticking to neutral based on each situation to consultants whose “sole reason for existence is not to advise on ongoing negotiations, but to defeat unions and try to get rid of them,” Clark said.

More aggressive tactics of such consultants include “attacking the intentions of the union or the reasons for trying to organize, painting them as being self-interested, that all they want is union dues so the union leaders can be well paid,” Clark said. Martino’s letter claimed union “leaders have reasons based on self-interest for wanting to retain their role in some of our schools.”

Clark said “other tactics would involve implicit or actual threats to individuals or about closing of a facility.”

On the web at link and full story:

* Read the Bishop's letter
* Read the SDACT's response