Employee Free Choice Act
Unions and business interests have spent millions of dollars running advertisements about the Employee Free Choice Act.
Most run in the Washington market, but there have also been advertisements in national newspapers such as USA Today and on national cable news networks.
Both sides say they’ll pick up advertising in key states, such as Pennsylvania, when the timing is appropriate politically.
Advertisements in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act are collected here.
Advertisements opposed to the Employee Free Choice Act are collected here:
U.S. Chamber of Commerce radio advertisement
U.S. Chamber of Commerce television advertisement
Center for Union Facts
Americans for Job Security
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
FROM THE INQUIRER'S ARCHIVES:
Three key components to labor legislation (Feb. 18, 2008)
The bill would provide for card-check sign-up, binding arbitration, and stiffer penalties. Read the article
New battle for unions, employers (Feb. 17, 2009)
Both sides are gearing up for a struggle over card check, which allows organizers to establish bargaining units without a vote. Read the article
Unions turning to political labor (Oct. 12, 2008)
A push is on to elect backers of the Employee Free Choice Act. Read the article
For union, pragmatism vs. principle (May 27, 2008)
Two Philadelphia companies and one of the nation's largest labor unions - led by a former Philadelphian - are at the heart of fiery debate about union tactics. Read the article
COMMENTS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
The Employee Free Choice Act came up at a recent news conference held by President Obama with about a dozen reporters from major regional newspapers, including The Inquirer.
Here is a transcript of the president's comments on the issue:
Question: Mr. President, as you know, businesses are quite concerned about another item that might be on your agenda later this year, the card check legislation that the unions want to have. I'm wondering if, given the business climate, are you concerned about the effect that might have on businesses? Are you prepared to say that that should be held off or not dealt with until the recovery is further underway?
President Obama: I don't buy the argument that providing workers with collective bargaining rights somehow weakens the economy or worsens the business climate. I'm a strong believer that if you've got workers who have decent pay and benefits, they're also customers for business.
In fact, one of the problems that we saw over the decade of economic growth prior to this recession was - is that a lot of increased productivity, very wealthy people getting wealthier - ordinary folks saw no increases in wages or incomes. And that imbalance in the economy I think actually has weakened us.
It's part of what contributed to very low savings rates, it's part of what contributed to a lot of accumulated consumer debt, and I think that we can actually benefit from a better distribution of the productivity that we've seen in our economy. We've got very hard-working, effective workers.
Now, I also think that the unions have to be mindful that business owners and managers are now looking at an extremely competitive environment, and part of the reason that I think stronger unions in this country, or at least better collective bargaining, is not going to be harmful is because, unlike the past, I think workers have a pretty good sense that if we ask for so much that we're making a business unprofitable, they can go, they can leave. And I think every union knows that.
So to the Employee Free Choice Act, I've been a supporter of it.
I would love to see a process whereby business and labor get together and deal with some of the problems that have made it very difficult . . . for workers to form a union, but perhaps address some of the legitimate concerns that some businesses may have.
Whether those conversations can bear fruit over the next several months, we'll see. But I'm always a big believer in, before we gear up for some tooth-and-nail battle, that we see if some accommodations can't be found.
- By Thomas Fitzgerald
Most run in the Washington market, but there have also been advertisements in national newspapers such as USA Today and on national cable news networks.
Both sides say they’ll pick up advertising in key states, such as Pennsylvania, when the timing is appropriate politically.
Advertisements in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act are collected here.
Advertisements opposed to the Employee Free Choice Act are collected here:
U.S. Chamber of Commerce radio advertisement
U.S. Chamber of Commerce television advertisement
Center for Union Facts
Americans for Job Security
Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
FROM THE INQUIRER'S ARCHIVES:
Three key components to labor legislation (Feb. 18, 2008)
The bill would provide for card-check sign-up, binding arbitration, and stiffer penalties. Read the article
New battle for unions, employers (Feb. 17, 2009)
Both sides are gearing up for a struggle over card check, which allows organizers to establish bargaining units without a vote. Read the article
Unions turning to political labor (Oct. 12, 2008)
A push is on to elect backers of the Employee Free Choice Act. Read the article
For union, pragmatism vs. principle (May 27, 2008)
Two Philadelphia companies and one of the nation's largest labor unions - led by a former Philadelphian - are at the heart of fiery debate about union tactics. Read the article
COMMENTS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
The Employee Free Choice Act came up at a recent news conference held by President Obama with about a dozen reporters from major regional newspapers, including The Inquirer.
Here is a transcript of the president's comments on the issue:
Question: Mr. President, as you know, businesses are quite concerned about another item that might be on your agenda later this year, the card check legislation that the unions want to have. I'm wondering if, given the business climate, are you concerned about the effect that might have on businesses? Are you prepared to say that that should be held off or not dealt with until the recovery is further underway?
President Obama: I don't buy the argument that providing workers with collective bargaining rights somehow weakens the economy or worsens the business climate. I'm a strong believer that if you've got workers who have decent pay and benefits, they're also customers for business.In fact, one of the problems that we saw over the decade of economic growth prior to this recession was - is that a lot of increased productivity, very wealthy people getting wealthier - ordinary folks saw no increases in wages or incomes. And that imbalance in the economy I think actually has weakened us.
It's part of what contributed to very low savings rates, it's part of what contributed to a lot of accumulated consumer debt, and I think that we can actually benefit from a better distribution of the productivity that we've seen in our economy. We've got very hard-working, effective workers.
Now, I also think that the unions have to be mindful that business owners and managers are now looking at an extremely competitive environment, and part of the reason that I think stronger unions in this country, or at least better collective bargaining, is not going to be harmful is because, unlike the past, I think workers have a pretty good sense that if we ask for so much that we're making a business unprofitable, they can go, they can leave. And I think every union knows that.
So to the Employee Free Choice Act, I've been a supporter of it.
I would love to see a process whereby business and labor get together and deal with some of the problems that have made it very difficult . . . for workers to form a union, but perhaps address some of the legitimate concerns that some businesses may have.
Whether those conversations can bear fruit over the next several months, we'll see. But I'm always a big believer in, before we gear up for some tooth-and-nail battle, that we see if some accommodations can't be found.
- By Thomas Fitzgerald
