–updated–
The Employee Free Choice Act war began today. Citigroup didn’t waste one moment getting involved, in the hopes that the Employee Free Choice Act will be the victim, right after the American middle class, as they downgraded Wal-Mart from buy to hold today. All of this based on “unionization” fears. Shorter Citigroup: manipulate the market using unions as the scapegoat. Even shorter Citigroup: screw the middle class.
Citigroup Inc. lowered its rating on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to hold from buy on Tuesday, citing concern that legislation intended to make it easier for employees to unionize would raise the retail giant’s labor costs and hurt its competitiveness. [...]
The proposed Employee Free Choice Act, a top priority for unions this year, could be introduced to the House as early as Tuesday by Rep. George Miller, D.- Calif., the analyst said. Wal-Mart would be the “primary target” if any such bill were to be passed, especially because the U.S. food retail industry has historically been unionized with the exception of Wal-Mart, the largest food retailer, she said. …
First, EFCA makes it easier for employees to form unions.
Republicans don’t want unions and neither do corporations.
“Secret ballots” make it easier for employers to manipulate the process by revealing these “secret ballots” as they decide, without sunrise and transparency.
Finally and most importantly, EFCA DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE “SECRET BALLOT,” but it would be up to the workers to decide. EFCA offers more choices while “secret ballots” (without EFCA) offer only one. (Sorry to scream, but too many Republicans are lying about this issue.)
So why are some Democrats caving? Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s reasoning:
At least six Senators who have voted to move forward with the so-called card-check proposal, including one Republican, now say they are opposed or not sure — an indication that Senate Democratic leaders are short of the 60 votes they need for approval.
The legislation is divisive and distracting, said Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln in an interview Monday. The Democratic lawmaker, who was previously seen as a supporter, said the Senate should focus on creating jobs and improving the U.S. economy. “I have 90,000 Arkansans who need a job, that’s my No. 1 priority,” she said. The legislation, she said, would be “divisive and we don’t need that right now. We need to focus on the things that are more important.” [...]
Aw, heck, Blanche, we wouldn’t want to be “divisive.” It’s just middle class wages and benefits we’re fighting to bolster. After all, not everyone can afford to work and feed their family on minimum wage. I wonder if she’s tried that one lately. Let’s take away Sen. Lincoln’s health care, plus lower her wages to see how she likes it.
UPDATE: George Stephanopoulos is reporting that a “leadership source” has said that Sen. Reid has decided not to schedule a floor vote on EFCA until summer.
Comments are closed.