Big Labor and Allies Escalate Tactics as Mid-term Elections Approach

Activity by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Department of Labor (DOL) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as several of the largest labor unions, over the past two weeks evidences the Obama Administration’s growing anxiety as the mid-term election approaches. The Administration, facing loss of the Senate and ultimate control in both houses, continues to direct its agencies to pass union-friendly regulations and to impose its interpretation of current law to favor accelerated forced unionism. The Administration and Democratic Party represent a typical symbiotic relationship where they are co-dependent upon each other for future survival. The Administration needs union contributions and union foot soldiers to have any chance of maintaining a senate majority and making gains in the house during the 2014 mid-term elections (see Union Money in Elections). Conversely, Big Labor is finally recognizing and admitting that their declining membership is a major problem and they need the Administration’s help (see AFL-CIO admits declining membership a major problem).

In order to get the ball rolling, several pro-labor steps have been taken by OSHA, the NLRB and the Department of Labor (DOL). First, OSHA has reaffirmed its position that union officials may accompany OSHA inspectors on safety inspections in non-union facilities. This issue was reported in a previous blog, OSHA Opens New Door For Big Labor, and was more recently presented by the CEO of PJS on the Greta Van Susteren Show this past week, in CEO: How union organizers are targeting my non-union company. The union involved – the SEIU – used such tactics as part of its ongoing Corporate Campaigns to force a cleaning company in Houston to sign a Neutrality Agreement and achieve forced unionization through Card Check, as described in SEIU Uses Federal Inspections to Target Houston Small Business. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the SEIU is buying votes in polls and gaining naive media attention, from media groups like the Los Angeles Times, to support its attack on fast food companies as chronicled in Beware SEIU, Especially Bearing “Polls”.

Not to be outdone, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board is looking to limit the ability of business owners to relocate their businesses without approval of the union (see NLRB will limit ability of unionized business to relocate). This move is an obvious attempt to preserve union membership heading into the midterms while taking away the fundamental right of a free market society. On a bright note, House, Senate Leaders Introduce Legislative Response to NLRB Ambush Election Rule, which was approved by the House Education and Workforce Committee this past week

In a surprising move, the NLRB complains Walmart Black Friday protesters broke rules, went too far and must Cease and Desist! This decision was made by a local NLRB Region and is not expected to survive the pro-labor board in Washington D.C. Finally, the DOL, under the Administration’s direction, limited the reporting responsibilities of unions during the President’s first term. Labor unions, particularly the United Food and Commercial Workers continue to take full advantage of it by funding OUR Walmart, a “Worker Center” operation utilized to advance its Corporate Campaigns against Wal-Mart in an attempt to force Card Check and force unionize Wal-Mart’s workforce.

The UAW appears to be attempting to force Volkswagen into Card Check. This past week, an anti-union group said Volkswagen may ignore the election results and bring in the union, basically agreeing to Card Check. Additionally,Unable To Sell Unionization On Its Merits, The UAW Turns To Race, Rappers And An Actor For Aid, and the UAW Bosses Turn To Bovine Excrement Manufacturing. Despite the fact these tactics continue not to work for the UAW, the union has decided to continue to press the issue and to replace outgoing President Bob King with UAW Secretary Treasurer Dennis Williams who supports King’s tactics. Once again The United Auto Workers Promote Failure. Isn’t the definition of “insanity” to repeat the same things over and over again, with the same failed results?

Finally, the question must be asked, is the unionization of college sports spreading? The answer appears to be both yes and no. Recent reports indicate that the University of Notre Dame could be next (see Notre Dame could be next front in union battle). However, it appears any progress on this movement will take a long time as Northwestern University has filed an appeal on the decision made by the NLRB administrative law judge finding college athletes to be “employees” (see Northwestern University Appeals NLRB Ruling on Athletes as Employees). Contrary to the judge’s finding, an Ohio bill says college athletes aren’t employees.

Unions and the Democratic Party desperately need money as mid-term elections approach as discussed in It’s All About the Dues Money! Desperation is setting in despite the fact the Administration has aligned the federal labor agencies in big labor’s favor. The American people are beginning to wake up, and businessmen across the country are standing up to big labor’s Death by a Thousand Cuts Corporate Campaigns and saying “no” as chronicled by the PJS CEO and this Hilarious Car Dealership Outwitting Labor Union Tactics — And This Video May Just Be the Victory Lap where a Wichita auto dealership beat a union at its own tactics.

Desperation is setting in and it is only going to get uglier as the mid-term elections approach.

David A. Bego is the President and CEO of EMS, an industry leader in the field of environmental workplace maintenance, employing nearly 5000 workers in thirty-three states. Bego is the author of “The Devil at My Doorstep,” as well as the just released sequel, “The Devil at Our Doorstep,” based on his experiences fighting back against one of the most powerful unions in existence today.