NILRR Weekly News Clips March 14, 2014
Right-to-work bill dies in Kentucky House committee
wave3.com, March 14, 2014
A Kentucky House committee’s vote killed right-to-work legislation for the rest of the year, but both sides say the issue will play a key role in November’s elections.
Is It Really News to UAW Bosses That Their Political Partisanship Offends Many Workers?
www.nilrr.org
In a whiny commentary for The American Prospect published three days after workers at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Chattanooga voted decisively against union monopoly bargaining last month, Harold Meyerson, the leftist magazine’s pro-forced unionism editor-at-large, bemoaned the role “cultural†considerations played in the campaign’s outcome. (See the link below to read Meyerson’s piece.)
Foundation/Volkswagen Case
Workers not interested in unions
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 12, 2014
Today’s labor movement faces an uncomfortable reality: Most employees just aren’t interested in joining a union. Private-sector union members, who once made up a third of the workforce, are now down to less than 7 percent.
Chattanooga Workers Sue VW Units and UAW On Claim LMRA Barred Organizing Assistance
Daily Labor Report Online, March 13, 2014 (subscription only)
Employees voted 712-626 against UAW representation during an NLRB-supervised election in February (32 DLR A-12, 2/18/14), but the union is seeking a rerun of the vote. The plaintiffs in the Section 302 action, with legal representation from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, allege that the company will “likely†continue to assist UAW organizing unless the federal district court issues an injunction.
Liberal labor union makes Republican arguments against Obamacare
Washington Examiner Online, March 8, 2014
Jon Ralston has the report. “Ironically, the administration’s own signature healthcare victory poses one of the most immediate challenges to redressing inequality,” says Unite Here, which is comprised of service workers. “Yes, the Affordable Care Act will help many more Americans gain some health insurance coverage, a significant step forward for equality. At the same time, without smart fixes, the ACA threatens the middle class with higher premiums, loss of hours, and a shift to part-time work and less comprehensive coverage.”
Local VW employees file federal suit to block further company, UAW “collusion”
nooga.com, March 13, 2014
After the loss, UAW Union officials filed objections with the NLRB to overturn the election results. Then, five VW employees, represented by National Right to Work Foundation attorneys, moved to intervene in the UAW’s challenge of election results. Earlier this week, the NLRB said the VW employees opposing the UAW would get a voice in the election appeal, a decision the UAW said they will appeal.
5 VW workers file suit to block ‘collusion’ between UAW, automaker
Detroit News Online, March 13, 2014
The workers, who are represented by the National Right to Work Foundation, called it a pre-emptive move aimed at preventing cooperation between the company and the union in the event that the National Labor Relations Board sets aside last month’s poll at the plant and allows another vote.
VW’s Bid to Grow in U.S. Is Hurt by UAW Fight
Wall Street Journal Online, 13, 2014 (subscription only)
The federal suit was filed by three VW workers—Mike Burton, Mike Jarvis and David Reed— with assistance from the National Right to Work Committee [Foundation], a Washington-based group that opposes union organizing drives.
Workers request VW not help UAW if feds order re-vote
Washington Examiner Online, March 13, 2014
National Right to Work Legal Foundation spokesman Anthony Riedel told the Washington Examiner that a lower court ruling upholding the argument in Mulhall was still in effect.
UAW: NLRB ruling in favor of anti-union VW workers ‘an outrage’
Detroit News Online, March 12, 2013
“It’s shameful that that UAW bosses are so committed to keeping workers out of the process to determine if they are unionized that they are now attacking workers for standing up for their rights with free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation,†said the group’s vice president, Patrick Semmens, in an email to The Detroit News.
Wall Street Journal Online, March 9, 2014
In Tennessee, the complaint is by the union against politicians. Senate Speaker Pro Tem Bo Watson said before the vote that “additional incentives from the citizens of the state of Tennessee for expansion or otherwise will have a very tough time passing the Tennessee Senate” if voters unionize. But that’s a statement of fact, and neither he nor any other state politician threatened to yank existing incentives.
Prosecutor Hints at More Indictments in Phila. Ironworkers’ Union Probe
Philadelphiacbslocal.com, March 13, 2014
Livermore says in a motion that the ongoing investigation has revealed a pattern of conduct that extended far beyond the eleven incidents of arson and extortion alleged in the indictment.
Judge chastises U.S. Attorney’s Office in union case
philly.com, March 14, 2014
A federal judge chastised prosecutors Thursday for failing to devote what he deemed to be sufficient manpower to a racketeering conspiracy case against members of a Philadelphia ironworkers union, even as government lawyers said they would likely file additional charges against the men.
Heavy Hitters: Indicted Ironworkers’ union throws lots of cash at candidates
paindependent.com, March 13, 2014
The Democratic candidate in a race that could determine control of the Pennsylvania Senate says he will keep a $7,500 donation from the embattled Ironworkers Local 401 union.
Livin’ Large on the Union Payroll Â
National Review Online, March 13, 2014
Doc’s Union Pub is the direct or indirect recipient of huge amounts of money from Local 98’s political-action committee, one of the most significant campaign spenders in the state. . .
Courts Should Seize the Opportunity To Disempower Public-
National Law Journal Online, March 10, 2014
A U.S. Supreme Court case challenging the forced unionization of Illinois home health care providers and a federal teacher suit challenging the constitutionality of compulsory union dues suggest that the days may be numbered for mandatory dues for public-employee unions, at least if the Supreme Court has its say.Â