In the States, Opponents of Freedom to Form Unions Spread Disinformation
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Powerful corporate interests who oppose the Employee Free Choice Act and workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain are carrying out a campaign in state legislatures, hoping to wrench public opinion in their direction and spread misinformation about the Employee Free Choice Act.
We’ve reported previously about the ”SOS Ballot,” a shady corporate front group, headed by anti-worker ex-congressman and Big Business crony Ernie Istook, which is attempting to maintain corporate dominance over workers’ ability to form a union. We noted that Istook and his non-disclosed donors were hoping to get anti-majority sign-up initiatives on the ballot in at least five states—Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Nevada and Utah. They’ve expanded their reach, however, investing big dollars to push anti-worker ballot initiatives in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, South Carolina and Washington as well.
Don’t Be Fooled: ‘SOS Ballot’ Another Corporate Front Group
Another day, another shady front group trying to confuse and mislead workers. This time, a new group calling itself “SOS Ballot” is waging an under-the-radar state-level campaign to lock in corporate domination and prevent workers from exercising the freedom to bargain for a better life.
In five states—Nevada, Arizona, Missouri, Arkansas and Utah—SOS Ballot is gathering signatures, hoping to put initiatives on the ballot to prevent workers from opting to form unions through majority sign-up.
“SOS Ballot” is yet another misleadingly named corporate front group, with a secret funding base, aimed at keeping a firm corporate lock on workers and their ability to form unions and bargain.
Who’s behind it? A glimpse at their priorities: The group is chaired, according to its website, by former U.S. Rep. Ernie Istook (R-Okla.). Istook had a consistently anti-worker voting record in Congress, voting to block collective bargaining rights, eliminate overtime and block the enforcement of workplace safety and mine safety rules. The big-money donors behind this effort are hoping that hiding behind a clever name will convince us that this time, they only have workers’ best interests at heart.
Right.
