YOU Can Defeat Washington's Big Union Bailout

Dear Readers:

As we mentioned in one of our last posts to you, union campaigns often turn at the last moment and, while the 2008 election is the largest and most expensive union campaign in history, it is not too late for you to have an impact on defeating Big Labor's agenda but you need to act quickly.

A Silver Lining?...

The Polls are tightening up. According to Rasmussen this morning, Barack Obama has a mere three point lead nationally; the Gallup (traditional) also says it's a three point lead. Despite the fact Obama and his nutty-ACORN/Union friends may very well be stealng the election and despite the fact that John McCain and his advisor Rick Davis have run the worst campaign since Bob Dole's 1996 White House bid, the numbers are well within striking distance. But you shouldn't expect McCain or his campaign to drive home the points that could swing this election…This means WE have to do it.

They Don't Get It.

Folks, until recently, those with the capital to spend on this election haven't seemed to get the nexus of how the union power grab (through EFCA) relates to job security and the economic health of the nation. The reason we have been so focused on pointing out how EFCA will kill jobs for the past two years is, because of our union backgrounds, we know unions and we know campaigns better than do most, we deal with workers and companies on a daily basis, and we know what motivates people on certain topics. The problem is, even with the heightened attention today to our national economic malaise, there is too little focus being given on how unions will further destroy jobs with their agenda.

As a result, too few Americans know what is about to hit them by Valentine's Day under a Obama-Reid-Pelosi trifecta….and how many more companies will close and jobs will be lost as a result.

However, is not too late to for you to make a difference.

Here s the deal: Obama can still be defeated by focusing on the Union Issue, which we're calling Washington's Big Union Bailout. Unfortunately, too many people are focusing their attention on the (albeit important) issue of card-check. While that will swing some votes, it is too esoteric for too many people to focus on in these final days before the election.

A more important issue to swing votes in certain swing states (in particular Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, and Virginia) will be the Democrats' plan to end Right-to-Work states. The bill has already been introduced and Barack Obama is on record stating he does not like right-to-work laws…Therefore, workers in those states should expect to be forced to pay union dues or be fired, should they become unionized.

Note: For background, as well as a copy of HR 6477 (the bill to end Right to Work states), you can go here, or download the bill directly here.

Now, talking about the elimination of Right-to-Work with workers may lead to the comment: But my company's not unionized. That's when you should educate the worker about EFCA.

Three Things YOU Can Do to Make This Happen

1. Use the flyers (on left) as paycheck stuffers (particularly in the aforementioned RTW states)


2. Send the flyers to others (employers and non-employers alike) that you know in RTW states

Call in to talk radio shows, mention the elimination of RTW, then move onto EFCA (as background and tie-in to job losses, please see the articles referenced
below)

[As a side note: If you're like us, (and most voters are) you're probably as sick of this election season as we are. However, to us, this has never been about the candidates themselves, but about American jobs and the union agenda. As stated above, EFCA will kill jobs because it will make companies less competitive. Unlike most, this for us has been a more than two year campaign to educate employers and the public-at-large about the dangers of the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act, which we have labeled the "Kill American Jobs Act" since EmployerReport.com's
inception in 2006.]

We've Done All We Can…

As stated above, we've been focused on this issue for more than two years. Without the millions of dollars that some have been able to devote to this cause, we have put forth as much effort and resources as we could to educate people. To that end, yesterday we issued our last press release to the national media before the election entitled: Workers and the Economy Will Be Biggest Losers Under Democrat's Rule in DC, while at the same time posting a few op-eds that are must-reads regarding EFCA and its negative impact on jobs and the economy, which include:

• Former NLRB member Peter Kirsanow's op-ed about EFCA & Joe the (Unemployed) Plumber
• The National Right to Work Foundation's Wall Street Journal op-ed about how FDR's pro-union legislation helped prolong the Great Depression (a hint at things to come)
• To view the others, please go to EmployerReport.com

Now, it's in your hands…

With Best Wishes.

EmployerReport.com

"I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes." -- Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

EFCA Addendum

Dear Readers:

As we noted in our earlier post to you, as we've been saying for the past couple of years, passage of the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act would lead to one-party rule in national and state politics.

Well, it seems as though the logical consequence of EFCA's passage may have finally dawned on (at least one of) the political establishment, as the following illustrates:

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Ensign (R-Nev.) Ensign,
meanwhile, says the legislation [EFCA] could determine the character of the senate for decades. The Chair said preventing the bill's passage was a "critical issue" for Republicans.

"It would make Republicans the minority party for the next 40 to 50 years," said Ensign of the EFCA.

Ensign argued the legislation would bolster union ranks and union dues, which could then be funneled to Democratic campaigns.

"Democrats would have a huge fundraising advantage for elections from now on," said Ensign.

To read the entire story, go here.

Alas, although it may be too little too late, it seems they finally get it. [Perhaps Messr. Ensign visited EmployerReport.com?]

Hat tip to LaborPains.org

For more union-related news & info, go to EmployerReport.com

On behalf of EmployerReport.com, please have a great week's end.

EmployerReport.com
"I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes." -- Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

Employee Free Choice Act Ram-Rodded by Valentine's Day

Before sharing with you what we're hearing on the streets, we'd like to extend a hearty welcome our new subscribers…Welcome!

Well, if you're looking at the polls or listening to the pundits, you're no doubt hearing that the November 4th election is over. Indeed, that may be the case…Or maybe not. The Associated Press has released a new poll saying the presidential contest is in a statistical dead heat. So, despite the fact that the Obama campaign has begun spending $2 million for construction on his election night bash in Bryant Park (talk about the Audacity of Arrogance), the election may not be over quite yet.

However, here's the latest Word on the Streets:

EFCA by Valentine's Day…

Expect the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act to get ram-rodded through both chambers of Congress and signed into law by Valentines' Day, if not sooner.

Both today and yesterday, we've posted stories on EmployerReport.com regarding the expected time-frame for EFCA to become law. Last night, we heard on a telephone call that the word in DC is that the Democrats will push for EFCA to be passed within the first week of Obama's presidency. (This, of course, presumes that the Democrats will end up with 58 seats in the Senate as is expected.)

If this is indeed the case, this means that, on the question of unionization, workers will be losing their right to vote in a secret-ballot election and employers will be bound to binding arbitration a mere four months from now.

An Insidious and Ingenious Plan…

If the timing truly is to pass EFCA within the first week of Obama's presidency, it would be a rather ingenious (as well as insidious) way to catch America off guard. Since most Americans still don't know that the real "change" they are voting for is Big Union Bosses to unionize workers without a vote and will have spent $1.4 billion (an estimate of the union expenditures on the 2006 and 2008 elections) in order to get political puppets elected, EFCA's passage will take place before it is the measure is exposed to the majority of Americans. Further, the messianic love affair that many voters have with 'that one' will not have had time to lose its luster in a mere week, so any attempt to oppose EFCA so quickly will be easily denounced and drowned out by accusations of bitter-partisan bickering.

It's Their Fault…

Additionally, as the havoc begins to unfold and more Americans begin to lose jobs under the weight of unionization, the Democrats will be able to lay the blame on the "last eight years" of GOP rule.

One Party Rule…

We've been saying for a long time that the passage of EFCA could easily lead to one-party (Democrat) rule in America. Well, today, Politico is posting Democrats' plans to gain further control of state governments in 2010 and, with that, redistricting. The foundation of this plan is largely dependent on the passage of EFCA since unions will be able to spend even more money on Democrats with increased treasuries due to forced unionization*.

[* Unions now rake in approximately $10 billion per year in union dues from workers--the majority of whom are required to pay the union or be fired from their jobs.]

Elimination or Right-to-Work--A Missed Campaign Opportunity…

Many of those campaigning against Big Labor's radical agenda (including those business groups, as well as the GOP Senate and McCain campaigns) are missing a critical point that could potentially turn voters in several key swing states (like FLA, NC, NV, LA & VA) around. This, of course, is the unions' plan to use their Democrat majorities to eliminate Right-to-Work states causing unionized workers in those states to pay union dues or be fired. This bill has already been introduced and is likely to get signed into law under a union-controlled federal government. Since most workers in Right-to-Work states cherish the fact that they cannot be forced to pay union dues to keep their jobs, too many people are ignoring this issue as an issue to move 'undecided' voters.

As always, for more union-related news and info, go to EmployerReport.com

A bleak future offers some hope...

Dear Readers:

It's been a while since our last missive to you. However, it has been a busy last two weeks as we've been out there trying to awaken America's employers to the devastating consequences of the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act. [As we've said for quite some time, EFCA's passage will not negatively affect our business, but it will kill many jobs and that is its real danger.]

While it's still not over until November 4th (or maybe November 5th), with a mere three weeks to go until November 4th, unless the political winds shift dramatically, you should expect the Employee Free Choice Act, along with the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Act, and a whole slew of other job killing legislation to get signed into law.

While most people are focused on the Obama vs. McCain campaign, too many people are all but ignoring the Senate races that hold the key to stopping the havoc that will be wrought upon the American workplace if the Democrats win more that 58 seats in that Chamber. [Realizing that many of you remember your high school civics and are tempted to correct us by saying Democrats need 60 seats to overcome a filibuster, remember Arlen Specter (R-PA) doesn't count, and you should expect at least one other "turncoat" on the GOP side to cave in to Big Labor's pressure come 2009.]

That being said, the predictions being made are as follows:

In early 2009…

• EFCA will pass, as drafted, to include Card-Check Recognition, Binding Arbitration, and exhorbitant fines.


• The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Act will pass making those now considered "supervisors" under NLRA Sec. 2(11) eligible to be unionized.


• The use of Permanent Strike Replacements during economic strikes will be banned.


• President Obama will introduce socialized medicine (to read our synopsis on how Obama's Plan Will Lead to Socialized Medicine, go here)


• The Public Safety Employee-Employer Cooperation Act (which unionizes "public safety" employees) will pass


• A "bail out" on underfunded union pension plans

Later in 2009, you will likely see:

• Elimination of Right-to-Work States to become mandatory union-dues states


• More company closures, outsourcing, job losses and an elongation or deepening of this recession. Our estimate: We might see double-digit unemployment by this time next year.

Now, as was stated above, it's not over until November 4th (or 5th), but the above appears to be what is on our national horizon.

As we've noted before, America is (and has been) the victim of the largest and most expensive union campaign ever--to the tune of $1 billion dollars this year, on top of the $400 million spent in 2006. Optimistically speaking from first-hand experience, union campaigns do often turn at the last moment. However, sadly, we do not see the McCain campaign (or the GOP, for that matter) as having the intellectual or strategic capacity to combat this type of campaign.

While much of the above may seem dismal to most (as it indeed should), the bright side to this whole outlook will be that the devastation wrought over the next two years may hopefully result in a swing back to some semblence of balance.

Best wishes.

EmployerReport.com

Hey Pennsylvania! Your Representative Thinks Youre Racist!

Wow!

Apparently John Murtha does like his constituents that well. On top of calling them racists, John Murtha must believe Pennsylvanians can't read either!

Well, just in case they read this post:

Pennsylvanians, you're elected representative thinks you're bunch of racists. Here is is from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and from Brietbart:

PITTSBURGH (AP) - U.S. Rep. John Murtha says his home base of western Pennsylvania is racist and that could reduce Barack Obama's victory margin in the state by 4 percentage points. The 17-term Democratic congressman tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a story posted Wednesday on its Web site that, as he put it: "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area." (continued)

Hey, Murtha! Why don't you call your constitutants a bunch of "white trash" while you're at it? That'd certainly endear them to you when you're up for re-election!

Obama's Plan to Socialize Health Care

Here's a prediction: Within five years (if not sooner), the U.S. will have full-blown socialized medicine under President Barack Obama.

Now, like many, you might say: Obama's plan doesn't call for socialized medicine.

Well, in response, we'd like to reply: It doesn't need to. However, here's how Obama's plan will result in total and complete socialized medicine.

Obama has a plan that he likes to brag about. You can check it out here on his website. At first glance, the plan sounds too good to be true. Well, that's because it is.

Simply put, here's how the plan will work:

Develop the government plan to cover the uninsured. Companies (and individuals), as Obama like to say, will be able to keep their own insurance plan if they choose.

Obama's Plan: Bleed 'Em Until They Change Their Minds

However--and here's the catch--Companies will have to pick up 100% of the tab for their employee's insurance. Now since most companies today have their employees pick up some portion of their health care costs (usually ranging from 10 to 30%), the cost increases to employers will be astronomical...

...Or, employers can pay 6% of their payroll to "opt in" to the government plan.

Since smaller employers are having a harder and harder time today paying the health care costs for their employees, they'll be the first to opt in to the government plan. Then you'll see larger ones to the same as those larger employers will find the government's plan to be a cheaper alternative (at first), causing them to dump their employees into the government plan.

Here's a pretty good synopsis of Obama's plan:

Obama's economic plan also includes a "pay or play' mandate requiring companies to either pay for health insurance for 100 percent of their full-time employees or pay 6% of their total payroll into a federally designed fund. According to Ralph R. Reiland, "Obama vs Business & Jobs" (Pittsburgh Tribune Review (10/13/2008), small employers currently face average costs of $7,600 per year insurance coverage for an employee with a family. For a small business with thin margins that can afford to cover only 10 of its 50 employees, Obama's full-coverage mandate under the "play" option, at $7,600 per employee, comes with a job-killing price tag of $304,000 per year for the coverage of the other 40 employees.

One key statement in the above-cited article is very telling: Obama's idea is to have the government absorb severe costs, although he has not spelled out the details or where the funds would come from. [Emphasis added.]

Now, like everything else in life, there's no such thing as a free lunch (except if you're a politician, a Big Labor Fat Cat, or a Wall St. exec.), once more workers get dumped into Obama's government plan, the costs will rise. Once that happens, all Americans are going to foot the bill for another failed government plan through higher taxes or bigger deficits.

That's it in a nutshell, folks....How our health care will be socialized through a simple (and costly) "feel good" scheme.

For those of you who might say: Well, what alternative is there? Here's a radical idea for you: Get the government out of health care and open it up to a truly free market--something that hasn't existed in health care since 1964.

In closing, we'd like to offer this in answer to Tom Brokaw's question during the last debate as to whether health care is a "right". In 1993, Dr. Leonard Piekoff gave an address entitled "Health Care is Not a Right." It is worth a read considering that the debate over socialized medicine goes beyond the mere economics to the moral and philosophical question: What constitutes a right?

Note: Although the above address was given in 1993, during the last battle over socialized medicine, it is still very relevant. Since 1993, times have changed and, as socialists (like those Labor Bosses who have been pushing it since we were in unions) argue more vociferously for government to nationalize health care, there seems to be no clear voice on the opposite end of the spectrum.

A Call to Action: It's Not Too Late to Stop EFCA

Dear Readers:

This is a long (but necessary) post to those of you who are interested in maintaining workers' right to vote in a secret-ballot election on the issue of unionization. Please read this in its entirety, as this is not our typical post regarding union news and events, this is a personal note and a call to action…Especially for employers, attorneys, as well as those engaged in the fight to defeat EFCA.

Four things to know before reading on:

First, you should not view this post as anything other than a plea to get you involved with helping to defeat EFCA--the bill that will have longer-lasting impact and wreak more havoc on this nation's ability to compete than the current financial meltdown on Wall Street.

Second, if you are in a so-called "Swing State" and/or a Right-to-Work State (or know someone who is), this is vitally important to pass along:

• Click here for a list of so-called "Swing States" (noted in grey).
• Click here for a listing of Right-to-Work States (noted in blue).

Third, should you choose to post any of the attached posters, we strongly ask that you to get approval from your labor counsel prior to posting or sending. EmployerReport.com assumes NO reponsibility. You are strongly advised to follow your attorney's sound legal advice.

Fourth, it's time to act…
_______________________________
WHILE THINGS MAY LOOK BLEAK, IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO STOP EFCA…

SOME BACKGROUND…

For more than two years, through EmployerReport.com, we have been devoted to trying to educate the public-at-large to the devastating consequences to employers and their employees should Big Union Bosses succeed in passing the Orwellian-named Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

We have been doing this on our own time and our own dime. Sadly, though, it would appear our efforts (and those of others) have not been enough. With the election a few weeks away, there are far too many people still ignorant about what this election is really about* and why unions are spending $1 Billion to take over the federal government.

[*Note: On November 8, 2006, the morning after the mid-term elections, we wrote
as our last entry on the Kulture blog that: The November 7th election was about much more than Iraq and the repudiation of George Bush, this election was about the future of American free enterprise. Unfortunately, liberty and free enterprise lost a huge battle in the last 36 hours. To America's employers: You have now been put on notice. If you weren't energized before, you should be now. The future of your company is now in jeopardy and your workers' jobs are in peril.]

Unfortunately, despite our warnings and other efforts since 2006, as well as the excellent educational efforts of a few others, too few people have taken heed, thus leaving our nation vulnerable to the largest and most expensive union organizing campaign ever.

With only a few weeks to go and based on the most recent polling, it would appear that the unions will succeed in gaining control of the White House, as well as a filibuster-proof Senate, making passage of EFCA a near certainty.

Should EFCA get passed and signed into law, you can be assured that many companies will close under the burden of unionization, while others outsource domestically or internationally causing workers to lose their jobs. This, more than anything else, has been what has kept us motivated for these last two years—the reason why we have devoted so much time to posting and educating as many people as possible.

Our Ignorant, Bought-and-Paid-For Politicians…

Last year, two days before the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass EFCA, I (along with a few other people) had the occasion to meet privately with a Congressman who was (and still is) pro-EFCA.

During the meeting, it was clear that this labor-backed legislator had bought into the unions' propaganda 'hook, line and sinker'. However, when the opportunity arose, I told the Congressman the following:

"Look, if EFCA passes, I will have job security for life," I stated.

At which the Congressman chuckled, "I can believe it."

"However," I continued, "fifteen years ago, I and five hundred other union workers lost our jobs to Mexico and this was prior to NAFTA. The reason I am opposed to EFCA is that will cost Americans their jobs."

The Congressman told us that they (Democrats) knew EFCA wouldn't become law in 2007, because they couldn't get it passed in the Senate and they knew that President Bush would veto the bill. However, he said, it wasn't going away either.

Two days later, the US House of Representatives passed the bill and, thankfully, it got blocked in the Senate.

The Brutal Truth…

Having been called many negative things over the course of my career (some deservedly, most undeservedly), there is one core value that, since leaving the union movement, I have placed above all others—always be brutally honest. Therefore, while this may offend some of the recipients of our posts (if the proverbial "shoe" fits), if this causes some 'friends' to become enemies, so be it: The truth needs to be told…

Too many people (although not all) in the field of labor relations have been too quiet on the EFCA issue. Why? Because most people in the labor relations field know that, if EFCA passes, it will be a boon for business--job security for an otherwise dying profession.

In fact, many in labor relations see "a second renaissance of building the union movement" (as VP nominee Joe Biden stated at an EFCA rally) not as a threat to American free enterprise, but as a means of building their businesses.

While we do not disagree with this assessment, rather than being silent on EFCA (or worse, taking economic advantage of employers' EFCA fears), we've chosen to pursue a different course of action, that of education over exploitation on the issue of EFCA. As we are already probably one of the top five busiest labor relations firms in the country, we already know the course of action that will need to be taken in the eventuality EFCA becomes law.

We know the methodology for the campaigns, the messaging that will need to take place, as well as the best delivery tools. However, we have opted to devote our time, not for what's the most financially lucrative to our firm, but to fight for what's right. We know there are those who profit through the marketing of fear. We, however, chose not to. Instead, we have chosen to devote as much time and resources as possible to fight this job-killing legislation…until the bitter end, if you will.

By now, you may be wondering: What's your point? Well, here it is...

A CALL TO ACTION…

There are too many people sitting on the sidelines and too few people who know what the union agenda is for 2009. Too few people have yet to take any action at all. It's time to take action…

While there are others issues on the union agenda, including nationalization of our health care system, the two issues that may move people at the polls are the possibility that something may kill their jobs, like:

• Enactment of the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act
• Elimination of states' right to pass Right-to-Work laws, which would allow unions to require employees in (currently) 22 states to pay union dues or be fired.

Recently, an interesting fact was mentioned on one of the news shows which was that, if only five people in each Ohio district voted differently in 2004, we would have had a President Kerry for these last four years instead of President Bush. Let me say that again: If only five people in each Ohio district had voted differently then John Kerry would have been elected president.

[Yeah, I know, there's probably more than a few of you readers saying right now: 'If only…']

By all accounts (and despite the poll numbers of recent days), this election may be as tight as the one in 2000. In fact, Reuters and others are even ruminating about the possibility of a tie vote for the presidency. However, the presidency, while that's one battlefront, is not the key to defeating EFCA—the Senate is. If the GOP cannot maintain 41 Senate seats, there can be no filibuster to stop the bill. (Note: PA's GOP-in-name-only Arlen Spectre doesn't count.)

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO…

For All Readers: Help Get the Word Out About EFCA and the Move to Abolish Right-to-Work States (both of which are likely to occur if the unions win in November).

As you may or may not know, in addition to millions of unions' dues dollars being spent on TV advertising, unions are sending teams of canvassers to knock on doors in swing states. Unions are distributing 1.5 million flyers and sending 500,000 targeted attack mailers to voters as well.

Well, since we were trained by unions, we felt it only appropriate to deploy the same tactics the unions are using.

Since there are far more union-free employers and employees than those saddled with unions, we believe YOU can have a far bigger impact by reaching a much larger audience. BUT, you need to act:

For Employers: Attached are several documents, as follows:

• Two Posters (in PDF) explaining the Employee Free Choice Act that, following your labor counsel's approval, you may wish to post in your workplace. Note: These posters have been drafted, in color, for 11X17 paper.
• One Poster (in PDF) explaining Big Union Bosses' scheme to eliminate Right-to-Work states that, following your labor counsel's approval, you may wish to post in your workplace. Note: This poster has been drafted, in color, for 11X17 paper.

Focus on Right-toWork States…An Opportunity Missed:

Like EFCA (until recently), too few people are focusing on this as a potential 'wedge issue'.

The potential for eliminating Right-to-Work states will be a very big deal for many workers in those states. As several of the so-called "swing states" are, in fact, Right-to-Work states, most workers in these states value the fact they they cannot be forced to pay a union to keep their jobs. Without become partisan, these workers should be educated on the unions' efforts to eliminate their right to work in order to collect union dues.

While no state should be left to chance, a few of the Right-to-Work states that will be instrumental this year include:

• Florida
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Virginia

NOTE: In each of the materials attached, we have directed employees to educate themselves by going to EmployeeFreedom.org, MyPrivateBallot.org, and UnionFacts.com…

A REQUEST FOR THOSE OF YOU RUNNING THE ABOVE WEBSITES:

SINCE YOUR RESOURCES ARE GREATER THAN OURS IN THIS SHORT TIME FRAME, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD MAKE AVAILABLE ON YOUR WEBSITES A LISTING OF THE FEDERAL CANDIDATES' POSITION ON EFCA (i.e., "These are the candidates that have pledged to take your to a secret-ballot election away" vs. "These are the candidates that want you to keep your right to a secret-ballot election").

Employees deserve the right to know which candidates are in bed with the union bosses and it would be helpful to have a comprehensive list that can be downloaded prior to the election.

Dear readers, it's up to you to get the word out. We've been doing it for more than two years now and it has been difficult to try to overcome the unions' billion-dollar campaign.

Please help America's employees understand what Big Union Bosses intend for them after the November 4th election.

With Very Best Wishes,

EmployerReport.com

"I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes." -- Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776