NILRR Weekly News Clips, November 15, 2013
U.S. Supreme Court To Consider Breaking Up The Union Boss “Neutrality Agreement†Racket
biglaborbailout.com, November 13, 2013
It’s the little known Unite Here Local 355 vs. Mulhall case which might end up packing a lot of legal punch once the dust settles at the high court. Union bosses, for a long time now, have been heavily relying on a slick unionization strategy known as “neutrality agreements.â€Â
EXCLUSIVE: Volkswagen Isn’t Fighting Unionization—But Leaked Docs Show Right-Wing Groups Are
Inthesetimes.com, November 13, 2013
Leaked documents obtained by In These Times, as well as interviews with a veteran anti-union consultant, indicate that a conservative group, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform, appears to be pumping hundred of thousands of dollars into media and grassroots organizing in an effort to stop the union drive. In addition, the National Right-to-Work Legal Defense Foundation helped four anti-union workers in October file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board claiming that Volkswagen was forcing a union on them.
Boeing Looks Elsewhere for 777X after IAM Rejects Contract
AIN Online, November 14, 2013
Boeing will consider other locations to assemble its new 777X after its machinists union voted down a proposed contract extension that was described as critical to basing work on the new widebody in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.
Other Things Being Equal, Poverty is Clearly Lower in Right to Work States
www.nilrr.org, November 14, 2013
If Right to Work laws had no economic impact whatsoever, the share of people residing in Right to Work states who are poor would surely be higher by roughly a percentage point than the share of people residing in states where compulsory union dues and fees are permitted.
German union’s incoming boss warns VW about avoiding unions
Reuters, November 13, 2013
Detlef Wetzel, running unopposed in a late November election to be the head of IG Metall, said companies like VW and industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp AG (TKAG.DE) against violating the pro-labor pledges made in their home market by setting up shop in the anti-union U.S. South. ThyssenKrupp has a steel plant in Alabama.
Senator calls for special session to make WA ‘right-to-work’ state
NNCN.com, November 14, 2013
A Washington state senator is calling for Gov. Jay Inslee to convene a special session to turn Washington into a “right-to-work†state after union machinists voted to reject a contract extension from Boeing Wednesday night.
Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Dissenting Illinois Home Care Workers
National Legal and Policy Center, November 13, 2013
The class-action case, known as Harris v. Quinn, will test the High Court’s willingness to build on its Knox v. SEIU ruling of last year, which held that a California Service Employees union could not force covered nonunion employees to pay fees to support its political activism. Here, as in the earlier case, worker liberty is at stake.
Lawmakers begin review of alleged right to work violations
Michigan Radio Online, November 14, 2013
A newly-formed state Senate committee Wednesday heard testimony from three teachers who are part of a lawsuit against the Michigan Education Association (MEA). They say the union bullied and threatened them when they tried to leave.
Richmond (Canada) Ikea union workers want ‘scabs’ fired
Vancouver.24hours.ca, November 14, 2013
A lingering strike at the Richmond Ikea store has fractured employee relations as about 35 workers who crossed the picket line could lose their jobs once the dispute is over.
SEIU Prepares Airport Protests to Snag Holiday Travel
Breitbart.com, November 13, 2013
Just when you think your holiday travel is safe, the Service Employees International Union is ready to help ruin the holidays. Employees of private contractors at New York airports congregated at LaGuardia’s Terminal B on Tuesday to protest their wages – what they call “poverty wages and poor working conditions.â€