FohBoh Opposes Card-Check Legislation. Do you?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Paz on December 23, 2009 at 1:25am

U.S. Chamber, AOI sue state (Oregon) over new law
Portland Business Journal December 22, 2009
http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/12/21/daily19...
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Associated Oregon Industries filed a lawsuit Tuesday, arguing that a new Oregon law unconstitutionally eliminates an employer’s right to conduct mandatory meetings with employees to rebut union rhetoric and provide information about the drawbacks of a unionized workplace.
The law, known as SB 519, is scheduled to become effective Jan. 1. The case is Associated Oregon Industries and Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Brad Avakian and Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local No. 296.
“Organized labor hasn’t been able to muster the votes or the public support to pass card check, so they’ve moved on to ‘Plan B’ to muzzle employers during union organizing drives,” said Steven Law, chief legal officer and general counsel for the U.S. Chamber, in a statement. “Just like card check, this law flies in the face of our country’s democratic values.”
Card check is a process where employees sign authorization forms stating they wish to form or join a union.
In its lawsuit, the chamber argues that federal law pre-empts the Oregon law, which runs counter to 50 years of federal protection for employers’ rights to hold mandatory meetings to rebut labor leaders’ rhetoric about unionizing. The chamber’s lawsuit also alleges that SB 519 violates employers’ speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Oregon's AFL-CIO chapter called the lawsuit unfounded. The union claims such companies as Wal-Mart have called employee meetings to lobby workers to support certain political candidates.
"Some employers seem to be threatened by the idea that they will no longer be able to fire or punish workers who don't want to sit down and listen to their opinions on non-work-related topics," said Tom Chamberlain, Oregon AFL-CIO president, in a statement. "But for too many years, Oregonians have felt threatened by their bosses telling them how to vote or what to believe. (The measure)is necessary, overwhelmingly supported by Oregonians, and legal."
Oregon is the first state in the nation to pass such a law, which is based on model legislation drafted by the AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO has introduced similar laws in numerous other states.

• ▶ Reply