‘Stay Union-Free’ Pushed by Target, Michaels as Obama Law Looms

[Purveyor]

By Holly Rosenkrantz

Dec. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Target Corp. retooled a training video to warn workers against a bill that would make union organizing easier. Michaels Stores Inc. told investors “our businesses could be impacted” by the measure. Enrollment in Jackson Lewis LLP’s “How to Stay Union-Free” seminars tripled.

Companies are rallying to fend off a so-called card-check law sought by labor leaders and backed by President Barack Obama. While the bill stalled in Congress this year as health- care legislation dominated debate, anti-union groups say they expect the president and Democrats to deliver next year on a compromise version of the legislation.

“As we approach the 2010 elections, the unions are really going to want their pound of flesh,” said Randy Johnson, who handles labor issues for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business lobbying group. “Even if we defeat the card-check bill, it’s entirely possible that other changes to the National Labor Relations Act will come up, and some of those will likely make it easier to organize the workplace.”

Companies have added anti-union videos to training programs, required employees to sit through anti-union meetings and hired outside labor-relations consultants as a pre-emptive strike against a union organizing campaign.

“The whole culture that currently allows us to be a low- cost producer while paying top wages would probably be destroyed” by the legislation, Craig Milum, president of Milum Textile Services, a Phoenix-based linen supplier, said in an interview.

MORE...

BLOOMBERG: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aWEQS_CInpY0&pos=14

[Captain Hilts]

1. Sad Target is supposed to be the Good Guys. WalMart funds anti-minimum wage programs/increases..nt

[Ikonoklast]

6. Target is no better than WalMart in labor relations.

People on DU like to fool themselves into thinking otherwise, but there is plenty of information about their anti-labor positions on the web.

They treat their employees just as badly as any other anti-union outfit.

[jmowreader]

9. Ask DUer TwixVoy about Target

He was leadership at a Target store, and confirms they're just as bad as Walmart.

[Captain Hilts]

12. I've actually never been in a Walmart or Target. nt

[mac56]

13. I once thought so too.

But I have seen first hand how Target is every bit as nasty in their anti-union approach as Wal-Mart. Don't be fooled by their reputation.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. One tried and true way to stay "union free" (two parts):

1. Pay decent wages and benefits and pensions with equitable rights in employment.
2. Fairly bargain for wages, benefits, pensions, sick days, termination, hiring including due process.

Do that and unions will be obsolete.

[LiberalFighter]

5. And you do that how without someone acting on the employees behalf?

Any situation that is one sided will eventually result in an injustice without recourse.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. My point. Unions are needed because employers/management are not likely

to be fair without being compelled to do so. They always have free will to choose.

[Hippo_Tron]

10. The threat of unionization might compel an employer to do that

That's another problem with laws that weaken unions. If the threat of unionization is serious, the employer might be compelled to offer their employees better wages and better benefits in order to prevent them from unionizing.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I heard on the radio today that DeMint is blocking Obama's nominee for TSA head

because he would allow TSA employees to unionize!!

http://chattahbox.com/us/2009/12/29/politics-blocking-vote-on-nominees-to-head-tsa-and-customs-and-border-protection/

<snip>
What’s the TSA chief doing in the aftermath of the attempted Christmas airplane bombing? Nothing, because the confirmation of Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent and the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department assistant chief for homeland security and intelligence, has been pending since September. South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint has helped block the president’s choice for TSA the division of the Department of Homeland Security that oversees airport security, over his concerns that Southers might let TSA screeners join a labor union. The unrepentant DeMint, in a statement, had said the Christmas day terror attempt was a “perfect example of why the Obama administration should not unionize the TSA.” DeMint claims unionization of TSA workers would give “union bosses” the power “to veto or delay future security improvements at our airports.”

<snip>

[Ian David]

4. We were already boycotting Michael's since the now-defunct BuyBlue.org site exposed them. n/t

[Cha]

8. The US chamber of commerce AKA/ flat earth society.

Deny Global Climate Change Deny Unions.

[burning rain]

11. What a bunch of hysterics.

In reality they have nothing to worry about: any version of EFCA that can get 60 voters in the Senate will be worthless pap.

[PBS Poll-435]

14. The Dayton connection seems strange. nt.