by Doug Collins

The Free Press

Money Matters. The main source of poor labor standards is a political system answerable to the fattest wallet. Political campaigns are financed by private contributions, most of which come from corporate PACs or the wealthy, who are inclined to be managers, owners, or bosses themselves. Union PACs also contribute, but only about a third as much as corporate ones. In many countries, campaign contributions are called by their real name: bribes. It's no accident that in countries with public financing of campaigns, parties representing working-class interests are common. The Social Democrats currently lead the government in Japan, and the Labour Party is expected to make a strong showing in this year's elections in Britain.

Lack of "Card Check". To unionize a workplace, US organizers must jump two hurdles: (1) gather signature cards from a majority of workers in a company, and (2) win a majority of a workplace vote scheduled at a later date. In many industrialized countries, for instance Canada, only the first step is required, which is called "card check". Ron Judd of the King County Labor Council notes that in the US "after you've gathered the signatures, the employer then has a time frame to fire or intimidate union supporters."

Time is on Their Side. After you've unionized, you'd better keep saying your prayers, because many newly organized worksites never end up getting a first contract with management. Managers often stall negotiations to buy time to weed out union supporters (see articles on this page about Vanalco and Pony Express). The infant union often dies in a decertification election after employees have been cooked to taste.

Toothless Labor Law. The National Labor Relations Board, the judge of unfair labor practice complaints in the US, is a sloth. According to the General Accounting Office, roughly half of all NLRB cases take longer than two years to rule on. Wrongfully fired workers in Canada may be reinstated within 24 hours, while Americans wait months or years. When the NLRB does find management guilty, it generally gives a slap on the pinky: instead of paying fines, management must post apologies at the worksite.

Busters. Management may hire union busting consultants, such as occured at the Daniel Smith Art Company in Seattle last year (Washington Free Press, Sept.'93). Tactics include requiring workers to sit through anti-union films, or truly dirty tricks. In his book Confessions of a Union Buster Martin Leavitt recalls his complicity in framing union activists by planting illegal drugs or stolen items in their lockers or cars.

The Right to Strike Out. In the US, the strike is actually often a weapon against unions. Managers may hire permanent replacement workers during a strike, and since 1974 have quadrupled this use of scab labor. 25,000 US workers in large strikes were replaced in 1990 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (most were trying to fight erosion of health benefits). A bill banning striker replacement has twice been approved by the House, but has failed due to filibusters in the Senate. In July the bill failed by an even greater margin than it did during the Bush administration.

A Shriveled Media Arm. According to media critics Cohen and Solomon, 53 percent of newspaper editors say they generally side with management in labor disputes, while only 8% favor labor. Not surprising, since management buys ads, which make up the lion's share of revenue for US dailies. Particularly in European countries, there are pro-labor newspapers which are outspokenly supported by unions. US unions seem afraid to match this. A recent subscription drive by the Washington Free Press among Seattle area union leaders was disappointing.

MEXICO. At a Sony Corporation plant in Nuevo Laredo, Mexican police attacked 250 workers during a peaceful demonstration. Some were arrested or hospitalized. The workers were protesting the election procedures of their government-controlled union, the Confederation of Mexican Workers. Workers running for union positions were given only eight hours to prepare slates, and elections were not conducted by secret ballot. Send protests to Carl Yankowski, Sony President, One Sony Drive, Park Ridge NJ 07656. (Labor Notes)


Have a Labor-related story to tell? Good news or bad.. send it to Doug Collins WAfreepress@gmail.com and he'll tell the world.

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Contents on this page were published in the August/September, 1994 edition of the Washington Free Press.
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