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.
As
Lenin reportedly said: "The Capitalists will sell us the
rope with which we will hang them." Yet again one
has to wonder: can capitalism survive the capitalists?
(Hat tip to Brian Faughnan at RedState.)
