You'd hardly know from the news
Posted by NERCC on March 18, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Another independent poll shows Americans would like it to be easier for unions to organize workers.

A new Gallup Poll finds just over half of Americans, 53%, favoring a new law that would make it easier for labor unions to organize workers; 39% oppose it. This is a key issue at stake with the Employee Free Choice Act now being considered in Congress.

Not all that surprising considering consistent annual findings by the Gallup folks that Americans support unions.

Previous Gallup polling has shown that Americans are fundamentally sympathetic to labor unions, and these underlying attitudes are no doubt reflected in their general support for legislation characterized as making it easier for workers to unionize. For example, Gallup's annual polling on workplace issues, conducted each August, has found consistently high approval of labor unions in recent years, including a 59% approval rating last summer. The current level of support for a new law facilitating more union membership -- 53% in favor -- is only slightly less favorable to unions.

It's already working
Posted by NERCC on March 11, 2009 at 12:00 AM

The Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in Congress yesterday and is already having a positive effect:

"Citigroup cut its target price on Wal-Mart - the largest US private sector employer and a regular target of union criticism - and downgraded its recommendation to "hold" on the belief that the retail giant could be forced to pay higher wages and benefits if the bill were made law."

The Financial Times also gets credit for being one of the few to report this aspect of the bill correctly: "Instead of employers having the right to insist on a secret ballot, employees would make the choice."

Bloomberg reports on the extent to which businesses and their groups will spend money to avoid spending money.
"Card-check opponents, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, have said they will spend about $200 million on advertising and lobbying to block the measure."