NILRR News Clips July 19, 2013
50 Politicos to Watch: Doug Stafford
Politico.com, July19, 2013
Stafford did not meet Paul until late in the summer of 2009. He had risen from a junior writer to vice president of the National Right to Work Committee, the pro-business lobbying group that opposes forced unionization.
Minnesota’s child care union battle moves into federal court
Star-Tribune, July 19, 2013
William Messenger of the Virginia-based National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, representing a second group of providers opposed to unionizing, called the measure a case of “collectivizing providers†and added: “Citizens cannot be collectivized to make them happy.†He argued that it should be invalidated because it violates the providers’ constitutional right of free association. (Note from Bill Messenger: Just so everyone knows, my statement that “Citizens cannot be collectivized to make them happy†was not a statement to the press. It was something that I said during oral argument in court in response to an AFSCME argument that providers can be unionized because it will increase their morale. )
Union debate is a community issue, some say
nooga.com, July 19, 2013
In April, leaders with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which is based in Virginia, said they were worried that United Auto Workers officials are pressuring Volkswagen to “cut backroom deals” that would force unwilling employees into the union ranks, according to Nooga.com archives.
CPS to lay off 2,113 teachers, staff; CTU calls it ‘a bloodbath’
Chicago Sun Times Online, July 18, 2013
Chicago Public Schools officials announced late Thursday that 2,113 teachers and other employees would be laid off Friday, largely due to a giant pension obligation increase that’s straining the system.
Detroit bankruptcy filing puts Obama in awkward spot
Washington Examiner, July 19,2013
When Detroit on Thursday became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy, it punctured a major narrative that was key to President Obama’s re-election: that his auto bailout would help resuscitate the Motor City’s battered economy and inject life into an area unable to shake hard times.
Another court rebukes Obama over recess appointments
Washington Examiner, July 18, 2013
For the third time, a court has ruled President Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board were unconstitutional. The ruling points to a growing consensus among the courts that Obama has overreached in his efforts to bypass the Senate’s advise and consent rule.
Report: In rebuke to GOP, NLRB nominee Richard Griffin to become board’s top lawyer
Washington Examiner, July 18, 2013
Griffin had been a top lawyer with the International Union of Operating Engineers before he was nominated by President Obama to the NLRB along with Block and a third nominee, Terrence Flynn, in December 2011. Just three weeks later the three were put on the NLRB through recess nominations.
“Pearlstein has his history wrong. Republican Presidents have never nominated NRTWC officials to the NLRB.†RJL
There’s a good reason Republicans hate Obama’s labor board nominees
Washington Post Online, July 18, 2013
Indeed, it is precisely this politicization of what is supposed to be an independent agency with quasi-judicial powers that has led to the partisan politicization of the confirmation process in the Senate. In terms of NLRB appointments, it is now standard practice for Democratic presidents to nominate top lawyers for labor unions and for Republican presidents to nominate officials from the virulently anti-union National Right to Work Committee or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In other cases, they name Senate staffers from their respective parties who have proven track records of protecting union or employer interests.
Walker’s Act 10 to save Milwaukee taxpayers $110 million a year, study finds
watchdog.org, July 18, 2013
By 2020, Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial public-sector collective bargaining reform law will save Milwaukee Public Schools more than $100 million a year, according to a new report.
Union debate is a community issue, some say
nooga.com, July 19, 2013
In April, leaders with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which is based in Virginia, said they were worried that United Auto Workers officials are pressuring Volkswagen to “cut backroom deals” that would force unwilling employees into the union ranks, according to Nooga.com archives.
Obama NLRB Nominee Fought For Card Check Legislation
Washington Free Beacon, July 18, 2013
“Schiffer is an AFL-CIO’s associate general counsel and the Democrats go-to spokesperson to testify in favor of card check forced unionism,†said NRTW president Mark Mix in a statement. “Richard Trumka is going to get exactly what he wants: A biased NLRB that will continue to run roughshod over worker freedom.â€