Special Forum Nov. 30 Examines Attacks on NLRB, Workers’ Rights
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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—the key agency in ensuring workers’ rights—is facing an unprecedented assault from partisan politicians and the 1 percent.
On Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m, panelists at a special forum at the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., will look at how workers can challenge the attacks and highlight how this ongoing assault against the NLRB fits into the larger corporate-backed political agenda to degrade workers’ rights on the job, attack collective bargaining and gut middle-class jobs.
Calm Down, It’s Just a Poster
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You may recall the hysterical hoopla from the business world this summer when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued an even-handed, simple and straight rule that says employers must display an 11-by-17-inch poster (available at no cost from the NLRB) informing workers of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The placard tells workers about their right to join a union and their right not to join a union.
Yet Big Business groups and corporate flaks are portraying the poster as the first shot of Armageddon. Our friends at American Rights at Work (ARAW) have gathered some of these outlandish claims in this new “It’s Just a Poster” video.
Take a look.
Lead a Cheer for Your Team and Unions
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Whether it’s in front of the big screen TV in the living room, at your favorite sports bar or at a stadium tailgate, a lot of us this time of the year get together for football. If you’re reading this blog, it’s likely you have a pretty good grasp of what unions do and how they help out working families. But as our friends at American Rights at Work (ARAW) point out, “It’s likely not everyone in the crowd will be a die-hard union fan.”
That’s why they’ve put together a handy guide on how to support unions at your next tailgate or football-watching party and a set of talking points for the football fan in your life who isn’t a union fan—yet.
The guide covers everything from union-made brats and beer to how unions protect all workers—including the athletes you root for—to how unions can help build an economy that creates jobs.
The guide says ARAW will help you “clear up myths and help shed light on what unions are all about.”
In fact, game day is a great place to start creating a bigger union cheering section. We’re here to help with some simple facts and talking points so you’re ready the next time you encounter someone who simply misunderstands or stands against unions—on or off the field.
Click here to check out the guide.
Republicans: No Time for Jobs, Attacks on Workers Come First
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In 2011 alone, anti-worker legislators in Congress have launched nearly 50 attacks on the National Labor Relations Board and the nation’s labor law—the National Labor Relations Act—according to a new report from American Rights at Work (ARAW).
The assaults on workers’ rights comes at a time when most Americans say jobs are the nation’s No. 1 priority.
ARAW’s Zoe Bridges-Curry breaks down the attacks by Republican lawmakers on workers and their unions:
They’ve introduced 24 bills and amendments; approved one continuing resolution; held eight hearings; and tied up the agency with eight threatening letters, four official requests for documents, and one subpoena—none of which created a single job. So it’s clear that their ultimate aim is to eliminate the rights and protections that ensure the 99 percent a fair shake in the workplace.
Click here for a detailed chart and here, here and here for a closer look at some of the attacks on workers and their unions.
American Rights at Work Offers Unions 101
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Understanding unions, collective bargaining and labor laws can get confusing enough without all of the misinformation that’s regularly spread around. But our friends at American Rights at Work have put together Unions 101, a handy guide to what unions do and why workers having a voice matters in today’s economy.
Unions 101 is a great resource for answering the questions your friends, colleagues and family might have about unions. The quick tutorial gives the nuts and bolts about what a union is—and isn’t—from what unions do to why join a union to laws that regulate unions.
Click here to visit the website and here to download a printable PDF of Unions 101.
American Rights at Work Honors Cromwell, United Streetcar and Founders
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The voice of America’s workers and middle class rang out loud and clear at the 7th Annual American Rights at Work (ARAW) Awards Celebration earlier this week in Washington, D.C.
Kimberly Freeman Brown, American Rights at Work executive director, set the theme of the evening when she said to the 400 participants, ”Our aim is to show the Wisconsin teacher and the Washington machinist that they are not alone.”
Bo McCurry, president of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 2143 in Sparta, Tenn., described life on the frontlines in the battle to save America’s middle class. His plant has been repeatedly honored as productive and effective. Yet the employer, Dutch multinational Philips Lighting, is closing the plant and shipping those jobs to Mexico. McCurry said:
We’ve got to think about our trade laws and what we’re doing to protect our interests here. If we’re going to have a future at all, we’ve got to tell our children that making things in this country is important. We need manufacturing jobs. We’ve earned our place in the global competition and we’re willing to keep improving and keep competing, but when we do that and then have it yanked from us, well that’s just a kick in the head.
You can read McCurry’s entire speech here.
In contrast to Philips, Oregon’s United Streetcar, one of the recipients of the evening’s Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Awards, was honored as an example for other businesses to emulate.
Paul Taps Longtime Anti-Union Group Exec. as Top Aide
When the Republican majorities—especially the newly elected extreme right-wing members—take control of Congress in January, they likely will quickly take aim at workers and their unions. One of the people who might be calling those shots has a long history of trying to undermine workers’ rights.
Senator-elect Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the poster child for the Republican tea party, appointed Doug Stafford, vice president of the slyly named National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, as his chief of staff . Described as a “long time Republican operative in Washington,” Stafford will serve as Paul’s guide to the ins and outs of Congress and help develop and set his agenda.
American Rights at Work describes the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation as part of
the country’s oldest organization dedicated solely to destroying unions. Its network consists of four organizations that share leadership, offices, resources and staff, all with the common goal of undermining workers’ freedom of association….The Foundation consistently wages litigation to weaken workers’ rights to form unions.
NFL Owners Threaten to Force Players to Pay Own Health Care in Lockout
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The National Football League (NFL) just announced it will suspend players who intentionally injure another player with a helmet-to-helmet hit. But what about owners who intentionally deliver what could be crippling blows to players?
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently announced players would be responsible for any health care costs incurred during a league lockout. Despite making millions on the backs of players, the owners are threatening to lock out the players next season if they don’t agree to givebacks, totaling a staggering $1 billion, including salary cuts.
Labor and Hip Hop Come Together for ‘Respect My Vote’ Campaign
It’s fresh, it’s hot and it’s got a serious message: In 2010, young people have a big stake in the outcome of this election and the only way the powers that be will respect them is if they vote and make the politicians listen to their concerns. The Hip Hop Caucus and American Rights at Work have come together to launch a video and photo campaign to promote “Respect My Vote.”
“Respect My Vote” is the only major non-partisan Hip Hop voter mobilization campaign for the 2010 election. It focuses on voter registration, education and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) program. It is aimed at young people between ages 18 and 39, young people of color, people with felony records who are unaware of their voting rights, low-income communities and young people not in college.
Let’s Ground U.S. Airways’ Union Buster
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In a pitch for its anti-union services, a notorious union-busting firm, Labor Relations Institute (LRI), tells perspective clients:
“The Number One advantage companies have over unions during [union] election campaigns is access to voters. Simply put, you can compel employees to listen to your campaign messages.”
US Airways is buying the pitch—literally. The airline is paying LRI $375 an hour to fight workers seeking to form a union with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) at Piedmont Airways. The 3,000 gate and ramp workers seeking a union make far, far less than $375 an hour.
You can help the Piedmont workers by sending a message to U.S. Airways Doug Parker urging him to cut ties with the union busters. Click here to go to American Rights at Work and tell Parker:
Your employees have worked hard to make your airline a success; they should be able to decide for themselves if they want to form a union—without the outside interference and coercion from a firm like LRI.
