A chance to curtail union abuses

By Quentin Wagenfield

----

More than one-third of employed workers belonged to unions in 1945 but by 2010, the percentage fell to 11.9. The attitude of Americans toward labor unions is also less favorable. A Gallup Poll in 2009 found only 48 percent of Americans approved of labor unions - down from 59 percent the previous year. Reasons given for the union decline include factory automation, the rise in service industry employment where unions are traditionally weaker, management's increased willingness to hire strikebreakers, and the economy.

But are these the real reasons? Polls indicate that the highhanded, dictatorial methods used by many large union bosses may be the main reason. This is a turnoff for both union and non-union members. Discontent with labor unions is encouraging legislators to enact legislation to prevent labor bosses from abusing labor members' rights. Sen. Orrin Hatch submitted the Employee Rights Bill in the Senate last August, and Rep. Tim Scott and three co-sponsors submitted the same bill in the House. Both bills await committee action. The bills curtail union boss power in seven main areas:

l Secret ballot elections for joining a union. (This would eliminate “card checks” in which members are urged, and sometimes harassed, into signing a paper declaring them in favor of the union.)

l Secret union recertification elections every three years.

l Paycheck protection, so that members can refuse support of unions' political operations including aid to political parties and candidates.

l Standardized election timing, requiring unions and employers at least 40 days to consider both sides when deciding if they want to join a union.

l Prohibit unions from intimidating or forcing employees from exercising their rights, including union decertification.

l Members can vote secretly before union leaders can call a strike.

l Criminalizing union threats to coerce members.

Opinion Research polled union and non-union members and found they all favored every area except the secret ballot requirement by at least 80 percent. The secret ballot item drew

78 percent approval.

Because of the Obama administration's solid support of labor union bosses and their tactics, there appears to be no chance of passage now, but a Republican victory in 2012 might make it possible.

Hatch feels the legislation is viable. “I don't think it's pro-business, it's pro-worker ... The polls show union workers are with us.”

Quentin Wagenfield, retired from Rockwell Collins as a technical writer and programmer, is a freelance writer from Cedar Rapids. Comments: wagen@q.com