Rick Berman, Labor Day, and Bullshit. Anti-Labor Ad on the NYT Today.

[mcscajun]

Location: &goto=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eufcwexposed%2Ecom

I couldn't resist clicking on it, for research purposes only, of course. The reek of bullshit lead me to:
http://www.ufcwexposed.com

Where if you check their "About Us" page, you'll find this:

So who are you guys, really?
The Center for Union Facts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by foundations, businesses, union members, and the general public. We are dedicated to showing Americans the truth about today's union leadership.
http://www.ufcwexposed.com/aboutus.cfm

Do a little more digging, and you find this from Source Watch:

The Center for Union Facts is a secretive front group for individuals and industries opposed to union activities.
(Gee! What a *surprise*.) :sarcasm:
It is part of lobbyist Rick Berman's family of front groups including the Employment Policies Institute. The domain name www.unionfacts.com was registered to Berman & Co. in May 2005.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_Union_Facts

Rick Berman. No, not the Star Trek Rick Berman...this is another guy. Now where have I heard of him before? Oh yeah! The bullshit Center for Consumer Freedom. Do a little more digging...

Richard B. (Rick) Berman is a former labor management attorney and restaurant industry executive who currently works as a lobbyist for the food, alcoholic beverage and tobacco industries. He is the sole owner of Berman & Co., which sponsors many front groups that defend his corporate clients' interests by attacking their critics, allowing his paying clients to remain out of public view.

Can you say well-paid corporate shill? I knew you could.

He is the President, Executive Director and Director of the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF). CCF's 2005 IRS return states that Berman works 23 hours a week for the group for which he is paid $18,000. <1> In spite of its name, was more concerned about industry than the consumer. He is also the Executive Director and President of both the Employment Policies Institute Foundation and the American Beverage Institute. <2>

Bingo! CCF.

What's in it for Berman, the well-paid corporate shill?

According to a July 31, 2006, profile of Berman in USA Today, his company has 28 employees and takes in $10 million dollars a year, but "only Berman and his bookkeeper wife" know how much of the $10 million ends up in their own pockets. <1>
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Rick_Berman

Spread it around, brothers and sisters; spread the truth around. And last, but most especially not least: What's with the timing of this? There's got to be something more than just Labor Day that put this front and center right now. Anyone have a clue?

[Canuckistanian]

1. Nice sleuthing work

I don't think many of us progressives and pro-labor people would be fooled, though.

And I'm glad it wasn't the Star Trek producer.

[mcscajun]

2. Nah, few of us will be fooled, but I expect to see some of this crap

emerge in RW e-mails over the weekend and beyond...

[Virginia Dare]

3. They've been around for a while now..

I think the last one they ran they had a picture of the president of the hotel workers union between Castro and Hitler.
Wal-Mart is a big financial supporter of theirs.