Rove Speech Sparks Labor Tension

Source: Week News 25 - NBC TV (Central Illinois)

ROVE SPEECH SPARKS LABOR TENSION

By Jeff Muniz
Story Published: May 11, 2009 at 6:15 PM CDT
Story Updated: May 11, 2009 at 6:21 PM CDT
A controversial figure from the Bush Administration comes to Peoria and creates a controversy on Monday. Karl Rove's speech stirs up tension between local labor leaders and businesses. Union members pack onto the corner of the Pere Marquette. Inside, Karl Rove speaks out against the Employee Free Choice Act to about 40 business leaders. Outside, about 200 union members speak out in support of the bill.

"They're supposed to be able in this country to choose to form a union. That's not the case at all. People are threatened with job loss, plants moving, all kinds of intimidation going on," Local Labor Leader Mike Everett says.

Labor leaders see the bill being able to boost their dwindling membership. "Forty percent of this country used to be organized. And when we were organized to that extent, we had the highest standard of living in the world and we were the number one nation in the world. Now, it's less than 13% organized, we’ve had an ever dwindling standard of living for all workers," Everett says.

But, the Economic Freedom Alliance believes if this bill passes through Congress it will be bad for business and America. The group says companies could be forced into binding arbitration during stalemates. "We don't think it's necessary for the federal government to come in and essentially take over the negotiating process and be the arbiters in the private sectors business," Freedom Alliance Chair Ron Gidwitz says.

Read more: http://www.week.com/news/local/44747362.html

Business Round Table -- years ago it was 250 corporations who worked against interests
of women and all labor --

Surprising companies, too -- Hallmark Cards!

I used to have a list of many of them.

Would women be buying Hallmark Cards if they knew that?

OH HAPPY DAY!

Hissyspit, thanks for the post. K&R.

:)

Say 20-30.