It has long been obvious that among the greatest enemies of
capitalism are the alleged capitalists. Corporate America
is one of the least constant defenders of the market
economy, ever ready to sell out the system. Businessmen
constantly request subsidies and bail-outs, as we have seen in
recent months. Similarly, some companies may be preparing
to back organized labor's "card check" bill, which would allow
union acitivists to initimidate their way to victory without a
secret ballot election.
The measure actually is in political trouble, since the vast
majority of union members support letting workers vote.
Moderate Democrats on Capitol Hill don't want to appear to be in
Big Labor's hip pocket, no matter what President Obama or Speaker
Pelosi want. But now several large businesses may
be ready to feed the crocodile, apparently in hopes that it
will be satiated.
Reports the Wall Street Journal:
Three big retailers are expected to back an alternative
proposal next week on a hotly contested bill that would make it
easier to unionize workplaces, a move some experts said would
bolster the legislation's chance of passage.
Costco Wholesale Corp., Starbucks Corp. and Whole Foods Market
Inc. are supporting the alternative proposal, according to
someone familiar with the effort. Ray Krupin, a management
labor lawyer in Washington said the most likely compromise
would allow employees to unionize if 70% of them sign
union-authorization cards, as opposed to 50% as currently
proposed in the Employee Free Choice Act.
On Saturday, a person close to the discussions denied that the
proposal backed by the three companies included a plan to let
unions organize workers if 70% sign cards.
It's unclear whether the proposal addresses a thorny section of
the bill that would have a government arbitrator draw up a
contract if unions and companies can't agree to terms within
120 days.
"We have had conversations with like-minded companies and are
open to exploring alternative solutions to the legislation as
it is currently written," said Deb Trevino, a spokeswoman for
Starbucks.
Libba Letton, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods, said, "We've been
having conversations with other companies that have the same
outlook that we do. We've been talking to them about finding
fair alternatives."
A Costco representative couldn't immediately be reached for
comment.
A person close to the companies said the proposal will be fair
to all sides.
Of course: "fair to all sides." As Washington defines
fair.
In fact, the measure is no compromise: labor activists
admit that they have to surpass the 70 percent level to have a
50/50 shot at winning an election. These companies would
sacrifice workers' rights for a mess of pottage. And
capitulating to labor activists who have developed an entire
agenda for politicizing the economy would be well-nigh
suicidal.
What is the issue here? Businessmen are capitalists. Their first
priority is making money for themselves. Their next priority is
making money for the company. There are no other priorities.
There is no "morality" on Wall Street. You look for the
opportunities that create the most profit, find out if it is
legal, and then do it. What occurred with AIG was totally legal.
There were no regulations that limited leverage or caused them to
have capital to back up their bets as you have with both banks
and the insurance industry. They did exactly what they were
incentivised to do.
What Bandow completely misses, is not that companies support
their actions because of government intervention, they support
this because they believe it will give them more money to take
home. It is really that simple.
After talking to one of my friends in HR about this subject, he
says his company supports this because they are already unionized
and this will level the playing field against non-unionized
companies. Management in his company are looking at the
competitive landscape and identifying how they can make more
money.
Most of you on this board are ideologues and don't seem to
understand how capitalism in the U.S. really works.
jharp| 3.22.09 @ 7:43PM
"Most of you on this board are ideologues and don't seem to
understand how capitalism in the U.S. really works."
Close but not quite.
Most of the right wing hacks on this board are simple minded
ignorant buffoons.
danny| 3.22.09 @ 10:21PM
jharp, evidently you enjoy our company. you hang out here a lot.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I
thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say
except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep
visiting this blog very often.
Card check is an abomination, and any American, corporation or
individual, who supports it does not have the best interests of
the company, the worker, or the country at heart.
Just look what unions have done to the American auto industry,
the American education establishment, the out of control
bureaucracies of the SEIU. This is a recipe for the destruction
of the capitalistic system that has been the engine of our
economy since inception.
Everything this Obama administration is doing is destructive
change you must fight against.
Bob| 3.23.09 @ 8:39AM
Deborah - you and the others who cling to the ultra right hate
our government, hate our leaders, hate unions, hate our
universities, and hate anyone who disagrees with you. That says a
lot about your supposed religious orientation.
If you hate the country so much, you can always move.
Hate has nothing to do with it. Love of country has everything to
do with.
It's the left that hates the country -- otherwise why are they
trying to destroy everything good about it?
Bob| 3.23.09 @ 1:10PM
Deborah -- the people on the left also claim patriotism and love
of country -- especially after the election of Obama. So yes, you
sound like you're full of hate just like most of your brethren on
this board. I've said the same thing to those on the far left.
jharp| 3.22.09 @ 10:46AM
By Doug Bandow on 3.22.09 @ 6:07AM
"which would allow union acitivists to initimidate their way to victory without a secret ballot election."
This is a lie and you are a liar.
I stop in to see what wingnuttia is up to and don't finish the first paragraph without an out and out lie.
Geez.
JohnnySquares| 3.22.09 @ 12:00PM
Yeah, because just what Whole Foods needs is to increase it's operating costs.
alex| 5.1.10 @ 11:49AM
http://www.bbbullet.co.uk/
Bob| 3.22.09 @ 3:06PM
What is the issue here? Businessmen are capitalists. Their first priority is making money for themselves. Their next priority is making money for the company. There are no other priorities. There is no "morality" on Wall Street. You look for the opportunities that create the most profit, find out if it is legal, and then do it. What occurred with AIG was totally legal. There were no regulations that limited leverage or caused them to have capital to back up their bets as you have with both banks and the insurance industry. They did exactly what they were incentivised to do.
What Bandow completely misses, is not that companies support their actions because of government intervention, they support this because they believe it will give them more money to take home. It is really that simple.
After talking to one of my friends in HR about this subject, he says his company supports this because they are already unionized and this will level the playing field against non-unionized companies. Management in his company are looking at the competitive landscape and identifying how they can make more money.
Most of you on this board are ideologues and don't seem to understand how capitalism in the U.S. really works.
jharp| 3.22.09 @ 7:43PM
"Most of you on this board are ideologues and don't seem to understand how capitalism in the U.S. really works."
Close but not quite.
Most of the right wing hacks on this board are simple minded ignorant buffoons.
danny| 3.22.09 @ 10:21PM
jharp, evidently you enjoy our company. you hang out here a lot.
Sarah| 3.23.09 @ 5:48AM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.lyricsdigs.com
Deborah| 3.23.09 @ 6:32AM
Card check is an abomination, and any American, corporation or individual, who supports it does not have the best interests of the company, the worker, or the country at heart.
Just look what unions have done to the American auto industry, the American education establishment, the out of control bureaucracies of the SEIU. This is a recipe for the destruction of the capitalistic system that has been the engine of our economy since inception.
Everything this Obama administration is doing is destructive change you must fight against.
Bob| 3.23.09 @ 8:39AM
Deborah - you and the others who cling to the ultra right hate our government, hate our leaders, hate unions, hate our universities, and hate anyone who disagrees with you. That says a lot about your supposed religious orientation.
If you hate the country so much, you can always move.
Deborah| 3.23.09 @ 12:59PM
Hate has nothing to do with it. Love of country has everything to do with.
It's the left that hates the country -- otherwise why are they trying to destroy everything good about it?
Bob| 3.23.09 @ 1:10PM
Deborah -- the people on the left also claim patriotism and love of country -- especially after the election of Obama. So yes, you sound like you're full of hate just like most of your brethren on this board. I've said the same thing to those on the far left.
Deborah| 3.25.09 @ 7:02AM
You hear what you want to hear. I know the truth is hard to swallow. Happy gulping.
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rentacar| 10.28.09 @ 5:22PM
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