Card Check Out? Don't Be Fooled!

Don't be fooled by alleged moderates claiming a victory because Card Check, which didn't belong in the health care bill in the first place, has been removed. Big Labor is still thrilled with the labor provisions tucked into a bill on health care reform, claiming it will bring dramatic changes that are significantly pro Big Labor. I would wager the Card Check provision was always seen as a bargaining chip inserted to provide just this type of cover for a bad and rushed bill if needed.

Why was it even there? If credit card companies, banks, or other businesses acted with the lack of openness and ethics Washington does today, this same Congress would be lambasting them and screaming for regulation and oversight. The thought of these same people beginning to close an iron grip around your health care options, or any aspect of our lives they aren't compelled to manage by the Constitution, should set off alarm bells far and wide.

It is not conspiratorial to state that government today cannot and should not be trusted to act in the best interests of individual Americans. They serve interest groups, not the people.

While disappointed with the failure of card check, union leaders argued this would still be an important victory because it would give companies less time to press workers to vote against unionizing.

Though some details remain to be worked out, under the expected revisions, union elections would have to be held within five or 10 days after 30 percent of workers signed cards favoring having a union. Currently, the campaigns often run two months.

To further address labor’s concerns that the election process is tilted in favor of employers, key senators are considering several measures. One would require employers to give union organizers access to company property. Another would bar employers from requiring workers to attend anti-union sessions that labor supporters deride as “captive audience meetings.”

Several union leaders interviewed took the senators’ move in stride. One top union official, who insisted on anonymity because lawmakers and labor leaders have agreed not to discuss the status of the bill, said, “Even if card check is jettisoned to political realities, I don’t think people should be despondent over that because labor law reform can take different shapes.”

While voicing confidence they have the 60 votes to pass the revised bill, labor leaders acknowledged an additional hurdle: two powerful Democrats, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, are seriously ill.

“This bill will bring about dramatic changes, even if card check has fallen away,” said an A.F.L.-C.I.O. official who insisted on anonymity.

Comments

[seekeronos]

"--- two powerful Democrats, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, are seriously ill. ---"

May the Lord grant their souls salvation, and eternal rest soon.

[Rich K]

Hmm,Lets see. Michigan just today had posted 15.6% unemploment and is about as unionized as a state can be.So I think its fair to project that with this new Help in unionizing more large companies that the rates among other states who move in that direction will soon be comparable.
Boy those Right to Work states are sure Dumb HUH!

[Alan H (Buanadha)]

I couldn't agree more. Even if Card Check goes away the arbitration is a killer for businesses. Both aspects of this horrible sell out to the labor unions should be killed.