Unionize or Die

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 03-19-09 | WSJ Editorial Staff

[GOP_Lady]

The Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would allow unions to organize worksites without secret-ballot elections, was introduced in Congress last week. And this week, we saw how far Big Labor will go to pass it.

On Tuesday the Service Employees International Union posted a YouTube video about the horrific death of a Tulsa, Oklahoma, man who fell into an industrial-sized clothes dryer while clearing a jam of wet laundry. The accident occurred at a plant operated by Cintas Corp., a large uniform supplier. The implication is that the accident never would have occurred if the worksite had been unionized, and that opponents of the union bill have blood on their hands.

The video's target is Oklahoma Rep. Dan Boren, a Democrat who recently declared that he'll vote against labor's top priority. The video concludes by calling for Mr. Boren by name to "stop risking workers' lives" and support the bill. The political ad also serves as a warning to other Democrats in Congress -- including Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas; Ben Nelson of Nebraska; Michael Bennet of Colorado; and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana -- who haven't declared how they'll vote. The message is that if they don't sign on the SEIU line, they'll get roughed up, and perhaps face a primary challenge next election.

[Mad Dawgg]

"This legislation would take the choice of format away from management and give it to the workers."

So then unions do need special legislation to survive, or are you against card check?

[bert]

Unions do nothing useful. Unions are not tolerated by Americans and must coerce the population by mafia-like intimidation to exist.

If they win, they will die.

[papertyger]

Has about as much to do with the two sentences you just tried to associate. IE, a non-sequitur.

Uhm... threats of physical violence... violent death by industrial accident.

Are you sure you know what "non-sequitur" means?

[MrB]

Sorry (sincerely), must have missed the part where he was being threatened.

Yeah, I can see a goonion thug making an example out of someone who wouldn’t “sign the card”.

[papertyger]

And workers forming a collective bargaining unit is a union... big deal.

[papertyger]

One of the most expensive components of any factories budget is Workmans Comp insurance, and claims. In order to minimize those costs the big nasty corporations MUST maintain their safety standards.

So how do you explain this Cintas case?

[papertyger]

So then unions do need special legislation to survive, or are you against card check?

How is this an either/or proposition?

[Travis T. OJustice]

Unions are anti-American and should be outlawed.

[bfree]

So how do you explain this Cintas case?

Accident.

[tacticalogic]

So you don’t think a Union would make the plant any safer for workers?

Maybe.

Would a Union make the plant, or anywhere outside the plant more dangerous for workers that didn't vote in favor of a union?

[Travis T. OJustice]

Make unions illegal!!!

Good Luck.

Yeah, because your friend 0bama is president, and ACORN and the Unions are taking over.

Why do anti-American pro-union types bother to be members on a conservative website, because being pro-union is DEFINITELY not a conservative thing. Anything but!

[Travis T. OJustice]

Would a Union make the plant, or anywhere outside the plant more dangerous for workers that didn't vote in favor of a union?

ABSOLUTELY! Anyone who opposes the union anywhere near a union facility is in grave danger! Union organization activities are the most deadly industry in the world.

[Shethink13]

At what cost to the company? There's already OSHA and dozens of other federal and state laws ensuring a safe workplace.

And I can almost guarantee that this unfortunate employee was NOT following OSHA recommendations while performing his duties.

My husband is an upper-level manager in a union company and he not only has the pressure of the union but the threat of fines from OSHA when there's a serious accident.

[CT Little Tiger]

This legislation would take the choice of format away from management and give it to the workers.

---

So you are suggesting that America should turn to a socialist philosophy - “it’s for the worker”?

Thanks, pass.

[papertyger]

Yeah, I can see a goonion thug making an example out of someone who wouldn’t “sign the card”.

Well I guess that's a start!

I don't see how a person can ignore a real industrial fatality for an imaginary "shakedown," but hey, if we all had good sense, who would make the fries?

[Mad Dawgg]

"How is this an either/or proposition?"

You stated up thread when I asserted Unions need this legislation to survive that iwas wrong?

First am I wrong about them needing it?

[tacticalogic]

I don't see how a person can ignore a real industrial fatality for an imaginary "shakedown,"

The unions have too much history of being willing to use physical intimidation tactics to brush it off that easily.

[papertyger]

Unions are anti-American and should be outlawed.

So is welfare: deal with it.

[codercpc]

I explain the CINTAS case as a finding of OSHA violations on the part of the company. Nothing more, but nothing less either. Can you guarantee that if the plant had been unionized the accident wouldn't have happened?

Let's face it, there are sh*tty companies out there. No body is fighting that. But my question to you was, do you have stats available that union shops are safer than non union shops?

The majority of accidents that happen at both union and non union workplaces are due to the employees disregard of the rules. Here is one difference. If my husband, the safety director, finds an employee willfully disregarding the safety regulations during his checking, he will write up that employee. Depending on the severity of the complaint an employee will either receive more training, be reprimanded, or in extreme cases that employee can be fired.

What happens at a union shop? A grievance is filed, and eventually the employee may be slapped on the wrist.

I am not necessarily anti - union, so don't take this the wrong way, but I am definitely anti - union intimidation, and the lack of a secret ballot scares me to death!

[Travis T. OJustice]

Unions are anti-American and should be outlawed.

So is welfare: deal with it.

Well, that's a great comparison, because both unions and welfare are for lecherous scum.

Deal with it? LOL, should we deal with other forms of terrorism, like islamic terrorism?

I'm glad you at least agree with me that unions are anti-American, and as bad as welfare. Bith need to be greatly reigned in.

Thanks for supporting enemies of the American way, btw. Carry on.